Anglesey Bird News: Saturday 1st January

Intro:

… off to a bit of a flyer …

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda; Happy New Year. The year has got off to a bit of a flyer, with 138 species seen so far, with 2 species added already that weren’t reported in 2021.

Waders:

Following last year’s sighting of an Avocet over Porth Cwyfan and then at the Braint estuary, the same or another was found on the Alaw estuary which stayed at least 3 days (1^st-3^rd). It was only the 2^nd record for this location, following a bird on the 17^th December 1978.

A Green Sandpiper, carried over from 2021, was seen again on wet fields near Cors Crigyll (3^rd&5^th). Purple Sandpipers were added to many a year list, with up to 25 birds at Cemlyn (25 on 6^th, 10 on 1^st), up to 5 birds at Trearddur Bay (5 on 6^th, 3 on 2^nd), 2 at Moelfre (1^st), 2 on the headland behind Holyhead breakwater (3^rd) and 1 at Porth Nobla (4^th). Knot were reported from several locations with 250+ in a high tide roost directly east of the old outdoor swimming pool, Beaumaris (2^nd), 65 at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st) and 45 on the Alaw estuary (1^st). The Alaw estuary also held 2 Sanderling (1^st-2^nd) and 421 Dunlin.

RSPB Cors Ddyga was the place to see Black-tailed Godwits with 650+ birds (650+ on 1^st, 540 on 2^nd), with good numbers also at the flooded field off Lon Spencer, Valley (2^nd). There were 116 Bar-tailed Godwits on the Alaw estuary (1^st). Reports of Greenshank included 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st), 1 at Church Island (1^st), 1 on the Afon Ffraw (4^th) and 3 on the Alaw estuary(1^st-2^nd). 3 Ruff were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd).

There were 1000+ European Golden Plover on coastal fields at Bodorgan (5^th), while sightings of Grey Plover included 50 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st) and 5 birds on the Alaw estuary (1^st). There were 22 Ringed Plover on the Alaw estuary (1^st), which also held 254 Lapwing (1^st).

Reports of Jack Snipe included 2 at Red Wharf Bay (1^st), 1 at Traeth Dulas (1^st&6^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (1^st) and 1 at Llyn Coron (4^th). 4 Woodcock were seen at Mynydd Bodafon (1^st), with 1 at RSPB Cor Ddyga (4^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Cattle Egret was again in a cattle field north of Valley (4^th-6^th), with some speculating that this bird may well have been around the island for some 2 years. Given a recent report of a flock of 304 Cattle Egrets in just one flock on the Somerset levels, it is perhaps a little surprising that they remain as scarce as they do on the island. Sightings of Great Egrets included 2 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st-2^nd) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (5^th&6^th). On to a bird that wasn’t reported last year; Glossy Ibis, with 3 birds seen circling Traeth Dulas before flying off to the south east (4^th) – hopefully, there is still a chance that these birds might be relocated.

Passerines and others:

Last week’s Black Redstart at Benllech did the decent thing and stayed for the start of the new year (1^st-2^nd). Winter warblers included a Chiffchaff at Soldier’s Point (1st) and another at Llyn Coron (3^rd&5^th). A male Blackcap was a bit of a surprise in coastal bushes at Valley (2^nd), whilst Cetti’s Warblers were seen or heard at Llyn Cerrig Bach (1^st-2^nd) and Llyn Coron (3^rd). Up to 4 Brambling were in a mixed finch flock in and around a brassica field near the Braint estuary car park (2^nd-7^th), while 9 Siskin were at Penrhos Coastal Park (4^th). A Dipper was singing on the Afon Cefni at Bodfordd (4^th), while another was at Llyn Frogwy (5^th). A Stock Dove was seen at Aberffraw (4^th), while Hooded Crows were at the Alaw estuary (1^st) and at Henborth (4^th) with a possible hybrid at the end of Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay (6^th). Kingfishers were seen at Penrhos Coastal Park (4^th) and at Malltraeth (4^th).

A Grey Partridge was accidentally flushed at a field gate north of Llyn Coron, close to the village of Soar (5^th) and is the 2^ndspecies that was not recorded in 2021.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Whooper Swans were seen across the island, with the largest herd being of 40+ birds east of Pont Glan-rhyd, off the Llangefni to Llanerchymedd road. Elsewhere, 9 were on fields west of Cors Crigyll (3^rd), 4 were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2^nd), 3 were on fields north of Llyn Alaw (1^st&4^th), 2 were at Llyn Cefni (5^th) and 1 was on the Alaw estuary (1^st). The ever-elusive flock of c.20 Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen again in flight from Llyn Coron towards Malltraeth (1^st), while 17 Pink-footed Geese were on wet fields south of the A5025 near Burwen (1^st) with 3 remaining on fields south of Plas Cemlyn (1^st-7^th).

Photo: Pink-footed Geese, Plas Cemlyn, 4^th January – Martin Jones.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen at a number of coastal locations across the island and included 330 at Traeth Melynog (1^st), 244 on the Alaw estuary (1^st), 90 south of Four-mile Bridge (2^nd), 72 at Lleiniog (6^th) and 18 at Traeth Dulas (6^th). 3 Barnacle Geese were on fields west of Cors Crigyll (3^rd), with another on fields near Llyn Padrig (3^rd). A Snow Goose, most probably destined to be considered of likely captive origin, was seen on fields near Bryngwran (4^th).

The drake Long-tailed Duck made a re-appearance off Benllech seafront (3^rd) and the female Scaup on the north-east basin of Llyn Cefni stayed put into the new year (1^st, 5^th). A pair of Eider were off Benllech seafront (3^rd), with other birds seen at Moelfre (4^th). 15 Common Scoter were off Benllech seafron (7^th). An exceptional count of 630 Shoveler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st) was noteworthy. 9 Goosander were at Llyn Coron (5^th), with up to 7 at Llyn Trafwll (7 on 2^nd, 2 on 1^st).

Divers & Grebes:

The top prize amongst the divers and grebes was a Black-throated Diver seen off Porth Nobla (4^th). Great Northern Divers were noted at several locations and included 3 birds off Benllech (3 on 3^rd, 2 1^st-2^nd), 2 on the Inland Sea (1^st), up to 2 in Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 2^nd, 1 on 1^st&7^th), 1 off Red Wharf Bay village (1^st), 1 at Holyhead Fish Quay (1^st), 1 in Holyhead Harbour (2^nd,4^th&7^th), 1 off Porth Nobla (4^th) and 1 off Gallows Point, Beaumaris (6^th). A Red-throated Diver was in Holyhead Harbour (3^rd), with others seen off Moelfre (4^th) and Benllech seafront (1^st). 2 Slavonian Grebes were seen at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st), with 2 on the Inland Sea (1^st) and away from their Holyhead stronghold there was 1 off Moelfre (4^th). 60 Great-crested Grebes were counted off Benllech (1^st).

Raptors:

A Ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd&4^th), as were up to 3 Marsh Harriers (3 on 2^nd, 2 on 5^th, 1 on 1^st). 2 Red Kites were seen over the A55 near the Rhosneigr turning (1^st), with another over Llyn Cefni (4^th). Sightings of Merlin included birds at the Alaw estuary (1^st), at Bodorgan (3^rd) and at the saltmarsh on the Cefni estuary (4^th). Up to 2 Short-eared Owls were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 4^th, 1 on 3^rd&5^th), with sightings of single birds at the Alaw Estuary (1^st) and at Aberffraw (2nd). A Barn Owl was at RSOB Cors Ddyga (4^th).

Seabirds:

6 Fulmars were back on the ledges at RSPB South Stack (2^nd), with 2 at cliff nest sites at Moelfre (7^th). 3 Gannets were offshore at RSPB South Stack (2^nd). Sightings of Black Guillemot included 6 in Holyhead Harbour (2^nd), 4 in Holyhead Fish Quay (1^st), 4 at Moelfre (7^th), 3 at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 7^th, 2 on 2^nd, 1 on 1^st) and 1 off Benllech (7^th). c.100 Common Guillemots were actively feeding between the headland and Ynys Moefre (7^th), while 4 Common Guillemots were in Holyhead Harbour (2^nd). 85 Cormorants were counted off Moelfre (7^th).

Gulls and Terns:

Single Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Traeth Dulas (1^st), Cemlyn (1^st), the Alaw estuary (1^st), at Holyhead Fish Quay (1^st), at Holyhead Harbour (3^rd) and at Penrhos Coastal Park (4^th). 15 Great Black-backed Gulls were off Moefre (7^th).

2021 and 2020 annual reports of bird sightings

PDF copies of the 2021 and 2020 annual reports of bird sightings on Anglesey can be downloaded at:

https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/annual-reports/2021-annual-report

https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/annual-reports/2020-annual-report

If you enjoy the reports, please consider making a donation to the Cemlyn Wardens appeal (North Wales Wildlife Trust). Details at:

https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/cemlyn-appeal