Saturday 19th March – Friday 25th March 2022.

Intro:

The fine weather brought an influx of migrants with 6 new species for the year.

 

Seabirds & gulls:

The first Puffin of the year was back at RSPB South Stack (19th) with subsequent sightings of up to 9 birds (9 on 22nd, 5 on 23rd).  Sightings of Black Guillemots included 2 at Porth Eilian (20th), 14 at Holyhead Harbour (21st), 5 at Holyhead fish quay (22nd), 3 at Beddmanarch Bay (21st) and up to 3 at Cemlyn (3 on 24th, 2 on 23rd).

Also new for the year list was the first Sandwich Tern seen at Cemlyn (22nd) with subsequent sightings of up to 2 birds (2 on 24th, 1 on 23rd).  Site preparations at Cemlyn are well advanced, if not complete, with the rope barrier up on the shingle ridge, roseate tern nest boxes out on the islands and the electric fences around the islands are operational.  There are good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls at Cemlyn – which are very vocal - with up to 14 birds present (14 on 23rd, 4 on 24th).

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The third new addition to the year list came in the form of Garganey where birds arrived in Anglesey as part of a significant early influx into the UK.  6 birds were at Malltraeth cob pool (19th), with another drake at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20th, 21st, 25th).

Our wintering Swans and Geese won’t be with us for too much longer.  5 Whooper Swans flew over Cemlyn (20th), with presumably the same birds being seen a few days later at Llyn Llygerian (22nd).  170 Pink-footed Geese circled RSPB Cors Ddyga before landing on fields west of the Afon Cefni (21st).

Sightings of Eider included 16 at Ynys Moelfre (19th) and 8 off Penmon point (20th).  A Scaup was at Llyn Coron (23rd), while Cemlyn had 59 Wigeon (24th) and 10 Shoveler (24th).

 

Passerines and others:

It was a good week for passerines which collectively added 3 new species to the year list.  Willow Warbler was new for the year with several birds reported (23rd), with 1 at South Stack, 2 at Cemlyn, 1 at Llyn Coron and 1 at Amlwch Port.  Chiffchaffs are now plentiful and seem to be belting out their song from most areas of suitable habitat - 7 were at South Stack (19th, 22nd).  The first migrant Blackcaps are appearing, including 1 at South Stack (25th) and 2 at Wylfa woods (25th).  5 or 6 singing Cetti’s Warblers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20th), with another bird singing at Llyn Llywenan (25th).

Also new for the year list was a Lapland Bunting that flew over RSPB South Stack and headed North-east (23rd), while 2 Snow Buntings were seen at Cemlyn (20th).  The first House Martin of the year was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (21st). 

The West coast enjoyed a significant influx of Black Redstarts, with 12 seen on Bardsey Island (23rd).  On Anglesey, there were up to 3 at South Stack (3 on 23rd, 2 on 22nd, 2 on 25th) and 1 on a roof top at Mynydd Bodafon (24th).  Northern Wheatears were seen at many sites across the island including 4 at RSPB South Stack (22nd).  31 Siskin were seen at South Stack (22nd).  Stock Dove is a scarce bird on Anglesey, so 5 seen over Cemlyn (20th) was a good count - 1 was also seen over South Stack (24th).  Sightings of Hooded Crows included up to 2 at South Stack (2 on 19th & 23rd, 1 on 20th, 21st, 22nd, 25th) and 1 at Cemlyn (23rd).  A Kingfisher was seen at Llyn Coron (23rd).

 

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The Cattle Egret continues to be seen NE of valley and north of the A5025 (19th, 22nd).  Up to 4 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 20th, 3 on 21st), with 1 at Llyn Llywenan (19th).

 

Divers & Grebes:

A number of the wintering Slavonian Grebes are coming into summer plumage with 2 birds still at Beddmanarch Bay (21st-22nd).  They won’t be around for too much longer, with the latest report over the previous 2 years being of 1 on the Inland Sea on the 19th April ’20.  Once they leave, it will be late October before they return (18th in ’20, 23rd in ’21).   A Red-throated Diver was seen off Cemlyn (24th).

 

Waders:

The wintering Common Sandpiper was seen again at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead Harbour (19th & 21st), with sightings of Purple Sandpipers included 6 at Trearddur Bay (21st) and up to 3 at Cemlyn (3 on 24th, 1 on 21st).  A Sanderling was on the beach to the east of the Trwyn at Cemlyn (21st).  Counts of Golden Plover included 280+ at RSPB Cors Ddyga (280+ on 20th, 205 on 21st) and up to 42 at Cemlyn (42 on 24th, 14 on 21st).  Up to 2 Ruff were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 21st, 1 on 20th, 1 on 22nd) with 1 at Malltraeth (20th).  There were up to 205 Black-tailed Godwit on Malltraeth cob pool (205 on 21st, 200 on 20th).  Traeth Dulas had 2 Greenshank (23rd) and 59 Redshank (23rd).  Reports of Dunlin included 11 at Traeth Dulas (23rd) and 3 at Cemlyn (23rd).  There were also 4 Ringed Plovers at Cemlyn (24th).

 

Raptors:

The first Osprey of the year was seen over Malltraeth (21st) where it stayed for approximately 45 minutes before moving on.  Hopefully, it will be the first of many and perhaps a few will decide to summer.  Up to 4 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 20th & 21st), while a ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at Cors Bodeilio (25th).  Sightings of Red Kites included birds at RSPB South Stack (19th), Mona airfield (20th), at Gadfa (23rd) and over Holyhead mountain (24th).  A Barn Owl was heard over Holyhead Mountain (22nd).

 

2022 Year List:

Puffin, Sandwich Tern, Willow Warbler, Lapland Bunting, House Martin and Osprey were all new for the year and takes the 2022-year list up to 164 – 75% of the mean of the annual total for the previous 2 years.

Possible candidates for addition to the year list in the forthcoming week or so include Little Ringed Plover, Ring Ouzel and an early Cuckoo – although the advancing cold front and associated fall in temperatures may dampen things down for a while.  Birds that have eluded us so far this year include Rose-coloured Starling, Twite, Iceland, Glaucous and Little Gulls.  Any or all of these would be warmly welcomed.