Saturday 26th February – Friday 4th March 2022.

Intro:

New for the year – Ring-billed Gull and Sand Martin.

Seabirds & gulls:

You have to go all the way back to 2008 for the last ‘twitchable’ Ring-billed Gull on Anglesey – a 2^nd winter bird that could be found at the Penrhos Coastal Park car park between the 23^rd February and the 7^th April.  Given a noticeable increase in the number of records across the UK and Ireland this year – following on from a considerable number of quieter years – it was good to hear news that Norman Rowbotham had found a 1^st winter bird at Gorad beach, Valley, during a low-water WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) count (27^th).  Unfortunately, it was found late in the afternoon and time didn’t permit for others to reach the site before darkness.  It may well be that the bird had been in the area for a few days, as Ken Croft had noted a possible off Penrhos Coastal Park (16^th), but it unfortunately disappeared when he went to his car for his ‘scope.  Whilst his views had been brief, they were sufficient to raise his suspicion that it might be a Ring-billed and for him to record it as such in his note book at the time.  Thus far, the bird hasn’t resurfaced despite some searches.  Nonetheless, there is always a chance that the bird might be still around the Holyhead area, so keep you mind open to the possibility of one being about.

The Holyhead area also had a number of sightings of Mediterranean Gulls with up to 4 at Beddmanarch Bay (3^rd) – 2 adults, 1 2^nd winter, 1 1^st winter, 2 adult birds in Holyhead harbour (2^nd), a 2^nd winter off Penrhos Coastal Park (28^th) and 1 bird at Trearddur Bay (1^st).

Sightings of Black Guillemot included 1 in Holyhead harbour (1^st) and 3 at Porth-y-Mor (4^th).  A 3hr seawatch off The Range, Holyhead (4^th) produced 2 Gannets, 5 Fulmars and 923 auks (4^th).

Passerines and others:

Had it not been for the Ring-billed Gull, this week’s blog would have led with news of an early Sand Martin over Llyn Pen-y-Parc, near Beaumaris (27^th).  Whilst there have been February records in the past, it is more often the case that we wait well into the month of March for the first birds to arrive.  A male Black Redstart is still at the former Octel site, Amlwch Port (27^th), a Grey Wagtail was at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (2^nd) and 80 Skylarks were on a field by Bwlan farm, Aberffraw (1^st).  A Hooded Crow was seen again at South Stack (1^st).  There are still good number of winter thrushes about - 50 Redwing and 10 Fieldfare were sharing the field with the Skylarks near Bwlan farm, Aberffraw (1^st).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The Cattle Egret continues to be seen in a field off the B5109, 500m from junction with A5025 at Llanynghenedl (27^th-4^th).  It is often associating with up to 13 Little Egrets.  Sightings of Great Egrets included up to 2 birds at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 26^th, 1 on 4^th) and up to 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 26^th, 2 on 1^st, 1 on 2^nd).  A male Bittern was heard ‘booming' on two occasions at RSPB Cors Ddyga after 1725hrs (1^st).  A Water Rail was seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (4^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

4 Whooper Swans continue to be seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  1 Whooper Swan was on the Alaw estuary (3^rd), as were 26 Mute Swans (3^rd).  Sightings of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 190 on the Alaw estuary (3^rd) and 36 off Benllech seafront (26^th).  A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen off Penrhos Coastal Park (28^th-1^st).

The drake Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech seafront (1^st), from where 6 Eider were also seen (26^th).  A female Scaup was still at Llyn Cefni (1^st), as were 4 Goldeneye (1^st).  14 Pintail were on the Alaw estuary (3^rd) and 6 Goosander were at Llyn Coron (26^th).

Divers & Grebes:

2 Red-throated Divers were seen off Benllech (1^st), with 2 seen past The Range, Holyhead (4^th).  Up to 2 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 28^th, 1 on 1^st, 2 on 3^rd).

Waders:

The wintering Common Sandpiper continues its stay at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (26^th, 27^th, 1^st, 2^nd & 4^th).  Sightings of Purple Sandpipers included 18 at Cemlyn (27^th), up to 8 at Trearddur Bay (8 on 1^st, 3 on 2^nd) and 3 at The Range, Holyhead (4^th).  24 Knot were at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th), with 5 on the Alaw estuary (3^rd).  8 Grey Plovers were at Cemlyn (27^th), with 5 on the Alaw estuary (3^rd).  150+ Black-tailed Godwits remain at RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th), while 38 were at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th).  76 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen at the Alaw estuary (3^rd).  Sightings of Greenshank included up to 2 at Traeth Dulas (2 on 26^th, 1 on 4^th), 2 on the Alaw estuary (3^rd), 1 on the Afon Ffraw at Aberffraw (1^st) and 1 along the Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (2^nd).  A single Whimbrel was seen in flight past Cemlyn and called several times (27^th).  Sightings of Jack Snipe included birds at The Range, Holyhead (4^th) and at Llyn Coron (4^th).

Raptors:

Up to 3 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 1^st, 2 on 2^nd, 1 on 26^th), while sightings of Hen Harrier included birds at Cors Erddreiniog (1^st), RSPB Cors Ddyga (2^nd) and Llyn Coron (4^th).  A Red Kite was seen over Wylfa woods (27^th) and a Merlin was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st, 2^nd).

Other wildlife of note:

2 Risso’s Dolphins were noted heading west past Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (1^st).