Saturday 27th November - Friday 3rd December 2021

Intro:

… Storm Arwen delivers a phalarope and multiple Little Gulls  …

Waders:

In terms of scarcity, a Grey Phalarope found in Red Wharf Bay (28^th) was the scarcest bird and it was Anglesey’s 2^nd record of the year after a bird found at Cemlyn on the 16^th July. 

 

Grey Phalarope, Red Wharf Bay, 28^th November – by Rhys Jones

Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits continue to be seen with the most easily accessible birds being on the Gorad flood, Valley where up to 70 birds were reported (29^th).  The Common Sandpiper previously reported in Holyhead Harbour was seen again near the outflow at Soldier’s Point (1^st) and a Purple Sandpiper was at Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (3^rd).

Gulls and Terns:

Good numbers of Little Gulls were seen with 6 seen in the lee of Ynys Moelfre (27^th) and later 8 birds, including 3 1^st winter birds off Traeth Bychan (27^th).  Whilst it is likely that some of the same birds may have been seen from both sites, they nonetheless represents very good counts for the island.  Elsewhere an adult winter plumaged Little Gull was seen in a mixed flock of gulls in the more sheltered waters off Gallows Point, Beaumaris (27^th) with the flock also including 1 adult Mediterranean Gull – all ‘scoped from the relative comfort of the car from the layby west of the point (a handy site for inclement weather, with an impressive high tide roost of Oystercatchers and always with the possibility of a scarce grebe or seaduck).

Seabirds:

Up to 4 Black Guillemots were seen in Holyhead Harbour (4 on 3^rd, 3 on 30^th).  A possible arcticus sub-species of Black Guillemot was seen and photographed off Bangor pier (2^nd) and would have been viewable from the Anglesey site around the Gazelle.

Divers & Grebes:

2 Great Northern Diver were seen off Penmon (28^th), with another in Holyhead Harbour (30^th).  The harbour also held a Red-throated Diver (30^th, 3^rd).  Up to 2 Slavonian Grebes were seen in Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 28^th) and 1 on the Inland Sea (2^nd), although local birders believe that there have been at least 5 birds in the area.

Passerines and others:

Up to 2 Snow Buntings were on the shingle ridge at Llanddona beach (2 on 28^th, 1 on 29^th) and the male Black Redstart was seen again at Octel, Amlwch Port (3^rd).

Snow Bunting, Llanddona beach, 29^th November – by J Martin Jones

A late Barn Swallow was at Rhoscolyn (28^th) and a leucistic Common Starling was at Gorad beach, Valley (28^th).  Common Kingfishers were seen on the seaward side of Cadnant bridge, Menai Bridge (27^th), on the Afon Cefni at The Dingle, Llangefni (27^th) and at Holyhead harbour (3^rd).   A Hooded Crow was at The Range, South Stack (29^th) and another was at the Alaw estuary (2^nd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Sightings of Whooper Swans included 23 birds off the Llangefni to Llanerchymedd road (1^st), 5 at Cemlyn (28^th) and 4 seen to fly over RSPB South Stack (29^th).  23 Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2^nd), while reports of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 32 birds at Lleiniog (27^th) and 8 at Traeth Lligwy (28^th).  The drake Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech seafront (29^th-30^th), with sightings of Eider including birds off Lleiniog (27^th), Trwyn y Penrhyn, Penmon (27^th) and 3 off Benllech seafront (30^th).  182 Pintail were counted at the Alaw estuary (2^nd).

Raptors:

A Ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th), as were 3 Marsh Harriers (30^th).  A Merlin was seen at Amlwch Port (3^rd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No particular reports of note.

Forthcoming week – 4^th December – 10^th December?

There is a historical record of Wales’ first Little Bustard being short at Llanabo (9^th) in 1884, while more recently a Royal Tern was found at Traeth Dulas (10^th) in 2018.