Saturday 19th February – Friday 25th February 2022

Intro:

Bittern or Velvet Scoter?  Both are new for the 2022 Anglesey year list that now stands at 149.  Let’s start with the Bittern.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Whilst they have undoubtedly been hiding away in the island’s reedbeds over the winter, it was something of a surprise that no birds had been reported during the year to date – that is until the first confirmed record came in of a male ‘booming’ at RSPB Valley wetlands (22^nd).  Many will be looking forward to some warmer evenings to hear this wonderful sound emanating from the reedbeds at the likes of RSPB Cors Ddyga and RSPB Valley wetlands. 

The Cattle Egret was seen again in the roadside field 800m north-east of Valley (19^th, 22^nd, 25^th), with sightings of Great Egrets including 1 at Llyn Llywenan (22^nd) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).  A Water Rail was seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (21^st) and others heard at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Velvet Scoter is a scarce bird on Anglesey and many local birders will have fond memories of the drake that lingered off Benllech between the 3^rd -15^th March 2000 prior to the first national lockdown.  None were reported in 2021, but this week there was a further sighting of a drake off Benllech seafront (21^st).

Sightings of Whooper Swans included 52 birds north of the Llangefni – Llanerchymedd road and 4 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).  36 Mute Swans at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th) was a notable count.  Reports of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 264 at the Alaw estuary (21^st), 69 at Penmon pool (23^rd) and 5 at Traeth Dulas (20^th).

Back to Benllech seafront, where there was a further sighting of the drake Long-tailed Duck (23^rd), along with up to 15 Eider (15 on 19^th, 3 on 21^st) and 30 Common Scoter (19^th).  Elsewhere, 7 Eider were seen between Aberlleiniog and Trwyn-y-Penrhyn, Penmon (23^rd) and 6 past Penmon Point (25^th).  On inland waters, there were 2 female Scaup on Llyn Cefni (24^th) and 8 Goldeneye (24^th).  A pair of Goosander were on Llyn Penrhyn (22^nd) and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were at Holyhead harbour (21^st).

Divers & Grebes:

Sightings of Great Northern Divers included 2 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (19^th), 2 between Aberlleiniog and Trwyn-y-Penrhyn, Penmon (23^rd), 1 on the Inland Sea (22^nd) and 1 off Benllech seafront (23^rd).  Records of Red-throated Divers included up to 7 birds off Benllech seafront (7 on 23^rd, 1 on 19^th), 2 at Holyhead Harbour (21^st) and 1 between Aberlleiniog and Trwyn-y-Penrhyn, Penmon (23^rd).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 19^th, 2 on 24^th, 1 on 22^nd), with 2 on the Inland Sea (22^nd).  60 Great-crested Grebes were seen off Benllech seafront (19^th).

Waders:

The wintering Common Sandpiper was seen again at the freshwater outlet at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead harbour (19^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 24^th). 18 Purple Sandpipers were at Cemlyn (21^st) and 25 Knot were on the Alaw estuary (21^st).  Counts of Grey Plover included 62 on the Alaw estuary (21^st) and 12 at Cemlyn (21^st).  RSPB Cors Ddyga continues to hold 200+ Black-tailed Godwits (22^nd), while the Alaw estuary held 75 Bar-tailed Godwits (21^st).  Sightings of Greenshank included 2 birds at the Alaw estuary (21^st) and 2 at Traeth Dulas (19^th).  There was a good count of 45 Redshank at Traeth Dulas (19^th).  25 Snipe and 2 Woodcock were seen at Talwrn (21^st), with a further sighting of a Woodcock at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th).  3 Jack Snipe were flushed from the shore at Llyn Coron (24^th).

Seabirds:

Sightings of Black Guillemots included 9 birds in Holyhead harbour (21^st), 5 between Aberlleiniog and Trwyn-y-Penrhyn, Penmon (23^rd), up to 2 off Benllech seafront (1 on 17^th, 2 on 23^rd) and 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (17^th, 22^nd).  Small numbers of Gannets were seen off the coast with 3 seen off Benllech seafront (19^th) and 7 past South Stack (24^th).  3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cemlyn (21^st).

Passerines and others:

A Dipper was on the Afon Cefni at Market Place, Llangefni (23^rd) and a Kingfisher was at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead harbour (23^rd).  Reports of Grey Wagtails included 1 on the Afon Cefni at Market Place, Llangefni (23^rd), 1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (22^nd, 24^th) and 2 by the RSPB offices at RSPB Cors Ddyga (24^th).  Cetti’s Warblers were heard singing at Llyn Penrhyn (22^nd), with at least 3 singing birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 25^th, 1 on 24^th).  A flock of 28 Linnets at RSPB South Stack was the first of the spring for one of the wardens (22^nd).  There were 11 Chough at South Stack (22^nd) and 2 at Llyn Penrhyn (22^nd).  Hooded Crows were seen at the Alaw estuary (21^st), Hen Borth (21^st) and South Stack (22^nd).

Raptors:

Up to 3 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 25^th, 2 on 24^th), a Goshawk was seen over Llyn Pen-y-Parc, while Red Kites were seen over Penysarn (22^nd) and Malltraeth cob (24^th).  A Merlin was also at Malltraeth cob (24^th) and a Short-eared Owl was seen at Aberffraw (24^th).