Saturday 22nd January – Friday 28th January 2022

Intro:

… steady as she goes … a week of little change, but enough to keep the interest going.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The 1^st winter Glossy Ibis was reported on the field between the railway line and caravan park, north of Llyn Maelog during the early part of the week (22^nd-26^th).  RSPB wardens advise that there have recently been up to 3 Great Egrets at RSPB Cors Ddyga, with specific reports during the week including 2 (26^th) and 1 (27^th). 1 was also seen at Llyn Llywenan (22^nd & 25^th), with 2 on wet fields north-west of the Rhosgoch turning off the B5111 (28^th).  A showy Water Rail was at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (25^th-27^th).

Passerines and others:

The first report of Yellowhammer for the year came from fields around the Braint estuary (23^rd), which also continues to hold up to 5 Brambling among a mixed finch flock of up to 600 birds together with 200+ Skylarks (23^rd).  RSPB wardens advise that up to 7 Chiffchaff have recently been seen from the road between RSPB Cors Ddyga and the Pentre Berw water treatment plant, with specific reports during the week including 1 at the Pentre Berw Water Treatment Plant (23^rd) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).  2 Blackcap were in a private garden at Benllech (28^th).  A male Black Redstart was in the small cove off the Salt Island car park, Holyhead Harbour (26^th), while the Benllech bird was seen again on ‘The Wendon’ at the seafront (28^th).  A Kingfisher was seen on the small pool adjacent to the car park at Penrhos Coastal Park (26^th&28^th), and both Dipper and Grey Wagtail were on the stream at Bodfordd (23^rd).  Hooded Crows were seen at RSPB South Stack (25^th) and on the Alaw estuary (27^th).

Waders:

Up to 2 Green Sandpipers were on the Alaw estuary (2 on 27^th, 1 on 25^th), with Common Sandpiper being seen at 2 sites – 1 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (22^nd) and 1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (26^th-27^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 9 birds on the Alaw estuary (27^th), 6 birds at Traeth Dulas (23^rd) and 1 at the Braint estuary (27^th).  645 Black-tailed Godwit were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th), which also had a Ruff (25^th-26^th).  A large flock of Golden Plover (>1000) were on fields off the old Aberffraw - Bodorgan road (27^th), with 1380 birds at Llyn Maelog (22^nd).  Counts of Lapwing included 193 at Llyn Maelog (22^nd) and 277 on the Alaw estuary (27^th).   Traeth Dulas had 102 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover (28^th), while 23 Ringed Plover were at Holyhead Bay (28^th).  37 Snipe were between Silver Bay and Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (23^rd), while sightings of Jack Snipe included 1 between Silver Bay and Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (23^rd), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th&26^th) and 1 at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (25^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The Whooper Swan herd was still on fields off the Llangefni – Llanerchymedd road (24^th), with other sightings including 4 on fields north of RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th), 7 on fields east of the Braint estuary (27^th) and 9 at Llyn Lygeirian (28^th).  28 Mute Swans were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th), with 23 on the Alaw estuary (27^th).  134 Pink-footed Geese flew in from the north and landed north of the Afon Cefni but flew off again after a few minutes heading in the direction of Llyn Coron (25^th).  A single Pink-footed Goose was with Canada Geese at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).  128 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Braint estuary (23^rd).

The drake Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech seafront (24^th), with the site continuing in its good form for Eider with 22 birds (22^nd).  76 Common Scoter were off Benllech seafront (25^th), with 20+ close inshore off Penmon Point (27^th).  The female Scaup was seen again on the Cefni reservoir (23^rd).  Sightings of Goldeneye included 14 birds on Llyn Maelog (22^nd) and 11 birds on the Cefni reservoir (23^rd).  The Cefni reservoir also held 97 Tufted Duck, 17 Gadwall, 213 Wigeon, 25 Shoveler and 129 Coot (23^rd).  There were 13 Goosander on Llyn Coron (27^th) and single birds at Llyn Llywenan (22^nd) and on the Afon Cefni, from Pont Bulkeley (26^th).

Divers & Grebes:

3 Great Northern Divers were reported off Cemlyn (23^rd), with 1 off Benllech seafront (22^nd, 25^th, 27^th-28^th).  Benllech seafront also delivered a Black-throated Diver (22^nd & 27^th) and up to 50 Red-throated Diver (50 on 23^rd, 16 on 25^th).  2 Slavonian Grebes were off Penrhos Coastal Park (26^th, 28^th), 21 Little Grebe were at the Cefni reservoir (23^rd) and 46 Great-crested Grebes were off Benllech seafront (25^th).

Raptors:

RSPB wardens advise that up to 5 Marsh Harriers have recently been seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga, with specific reports during the week including 3 (25^th) and 2 (26^th).  Elsewhere, Marsh Harriers were seen at Llyn Coron (22^nd) and RSPB Valley (22^nd).  It was a good week for sightings of Hen Harrier (all ‘ring-tailed’ – i.e. 1^st winter or female birds), with reports from 4 sites with 1 at Llyn Coron (22^nd), 1 over the Cefni estuary as viewed from the Newborough end of the cob (25^th), 1 at Cors Goch (27^th) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th).  A Red Kite was seen from RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th).  Peregrine Falcons were seen on the Cefni estuary (25^th), RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th) and from Penrhos Coastal Park (28^th).  Sightings of Merlin included 1 at Llyn Coron (22^nd), 1 at Llanfaethlu (22^nd), 2 on the Braint estuary (23^rd),1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th), 1 off Penrhos Coastal Park (26^th) and 1 at Cors Goch (27^th).  There was a belated report of a Goshawk seen by 2 wardens as it flew over RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th).  A Short-eared Owl was seen hunting the fields north of the Afon Cefni between the two bridges adjacent to RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).

Seabirds:

A Black Guillemot was seen off Benllech seafront (26^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included an adult winter bird off Penrhos Coastal Park (26^th), 3 on the Alaw estuary (27^th), 1 at 4-mile bridge (28^th) and 1 at Cemaes Bay (28^th).  A Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the Alaw estuary (27^th) – the first for the year at that site.

Other wildlife of note:

A pod of 11 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moved south off South Stack (27^th), while an Otter was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).