Saturday 15th January – Friday 21st January 2022

Intro:

… Glossy Ibis …

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The highlight for many will have been the 3 Glossy Ibis that we first reported late on the 14^th on wet fields north of Llyn Maelog.  A search on the Saturday morning quickly relocated the birds and save for a short movement to an adjacent field the birds – 2 adults and a juvenile – remained in the same area, much to the enjoyment of a steady stream of admirers (15^th – 19^th).  Subsequently, only 1 bird has been reported (20^th).

 Glossy Ibis, Llyn Maelog, 15^th January – photo: @birdinginasuit

There were no further reports during the week of the Cattle Egret in the cattle field to the north of Valley, but the field is still holding good numbers of Little Egret with up to 11 birds (16^th).  Great Egrets were seen at Llyn Llywenan (16^th) and at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th).

Passerines and others:

For the second year running, Anglesey has a winter record of Lesser Whitethroat.  One was photographed in a private garden in Holyhead (19^th) and as per last year’s bird is possibly of the Siberian blythi sub-species.  A Firecrest was found at a wooded stream opposite the main car park at Traeth Bychan (17^th), which also held a Chiffchaff (17^th).  Other sightings of Chiffchaff included a bird at the Pentre Berw water treatment plant (19^th&20^th) and 5 in the brassica field, north of Braint estuary car park (17^th) – 1 of which may have been of the Siberian sub-species tristis.  A female Blackcap was on a bird feeding station at Trearddur Bay (19^th).  There were still up to 6 Brambling in and around the aforementioned brassica field (17^th).  Both of last week’s Black Redstarts continued their stay with the Benllech bird being seen on Ty Traeth to the north of the beach car park (16^th) and the Amlwch Port bird being seen at the former Octel factory site (16^th).  Confirmation has been received that the small population of Tree Sparrows continues to hold on at a private site in the centre of the island (15^th-16^th).  The ‘Cattle Egret’ field north of Valley held a good variety of birds including 250 Chaffinch, 50 Linnet, 10 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting, 25 Meadow Pipit and 40 Redwing (18^th).  A Stock Dove was seen at Bodorgan (17^th), while Kingfishers were seen at Penrhos Coastal Park (18^th), the Inland Sea (19^th) and at 4-Mile Bridge (21^st).

Waders:

Both Green and Common Sandpipers were seen, with the former still being seen on the wet fields on the approach to Cors Crigyll (15^th) and the latter by the inflow at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead Harbour (16^th,18^th&20^th).  3 Ruff were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th-17^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 1 on the river at Malltraeth (18^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (20^th) and 6 at Traeth Dulas (19^th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga continues to hold a large flock of 300+ Black-tailed Godwits (17^th), while the ‘gorad’ flood at Valley had 46 birds (18^th).  60 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the Alaw estuary (20^th), which also held 4 Knot and 326 Lapwing (20^th).  Jack Snipe were flushed west of Octel, Amlwch Port (17^th), at The Range, Holyhead (19^th) and at Llyn Coron (19^th).  2 Woodcock were seen at Newborough Forest (17^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A new high count for Whooper Swans for the winter, with 53 birds seen from the Llangefni – Llanerchymedd road (20^th).  The male Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech seafront (21^st), where there was also 1 Eider and 140 Common Scoter (21^st).  A male and female Scaup were seen on Llyn Cefni (16^th), with the female seen again later in the week (19^th).  Another female Scaup was seen on the flooded field to the north of the path to the river at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th-17^th).  There were 18 Goosander on Llyn Coron (19^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Up to 2 Great Northern Divers were on the Inland Sea (2 on 18^th, 1 on 16^th), while 15 Red-throated Diver were seen from Benllech seafront (21^st).  Up to 4 Slavonian Grebes were in Beddmanarch Bay (4 on 17^th, 3 on 16^th, 1 on 20^th), with 1 on the Inland Sea (16^th&18^th).  40 Great-crested Grebes were seen off Benllech seafront (21^st).

Raptors:

Marsh Harriers were seen at Rhosneigr (15^th), RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th) and Llyn Coron (19^th).  Sightings of Red Kite included birds seen between Talwrn and Pentraeth (18^th), over Dulas (18^th) and over the Pentre Berw water treatment plant (19^th).

Seabirds:

Lesser Black-backed Gull is our earliest returning migrant; 1 at the Inland Sea was the first record of a sighting this year (18^th).  Mediterranean Gulls were seen off Penrhos Coastal Park (17^th& 20^th) and at Trearddur Bay (19^th).  Sightings of Black Guillemot included 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (16^th) and 1 at Traeth Lligwy (16^th).