Saturday 16th April – Friday 22nd April 2022

Intro:

Wader fest …

Waders:

It is somewhat frightening to think that over 29 years have passed since the last occurrence of Black-winged Stilt on Anglesey, when 3 birds were present on pools towards Tyn Llan farm, Cemlyn from the 10-21^st April 1993 before moving on with a pair then settling at Frodsham, Cheshire and attempting to breed.  For those who may have missed those birds, a fresh opportunity to add Black-winged Stilt to Anglesey life lists came with a bird found late morning at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th).  Regrettably, it and other waders were spooked – perhaps by a raptor – at around 12:30 hrs.  Much to the disappointment of those who arrived later, efforts to relocate the bird were unsuccessful. Widely presumed to have been the same bird that had been present at Dafen scrapes, Llanelli Wetlands Centre WWT, Carmarthen from the 11^th – 16^th April, the bird’s next stop was Marshside RSPB, Lancashire from the 18^th – 22^nd.

Photo: Black-winged Stilt, RSPB Cors Ddyga, 17^th April 2022 – by Nigel Matthews (finder).

Not quite as rare, but a good early find nonetheless, was a Dotterel found among a flock of European Golden Plover in a cattle field on the approach to Traeth Penial, Llanfwrog (18^th).  Found early in the afternoon, the bird did the decent thing and stayed put until early evening at least allowing a small appreciative crowd to catch up with this bird.

Despite their numbers elsewhere in the UK, Avocet is still a scarce bird on Anglesey.  After a bird on the Alaw estuary earlier in the year, a second record for the year came in the form of a bird at Cemlyn (20^th) which stayed for much of the afternoon.

Back to RSPB Cors Ddyga, where up to 3 Little Ringed Plovers were seen (3 on 17^th&18^th, 1 in display flight on 22^nd).  Last year was the first time this species bred on the island and it is very much hoped that they will do so again.  Lapwings are way ahead of them, with the first chicks already having been seen (18^th).  There were up to 16 Golden Plover at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16 on 18^th, 12 on 16^th, 11 on 21^st), with up to 275 at Traeth Penial, Llanfwrog (275 on 21^st, 250+ on 18^th).  2 Ringed Plover were at the Alaw estuary (17^th).

A Green Sandpiper was seen again on the pool near the former Llandrygan school (16^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (16^th).  A number of migrant Common Sandpipers were seen including 3 that flew over Cors Erddreiniog (16^th) and 2 at the Inland Sea (16^th).  The wintering Common Sandpiper at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead continued its stay (21^st).  A single Sanderling was seen at Traeth Penial (18^th), while 4 Knot and 17 Dunlin were seen at the Alaw estuary (19^th).

There were up to 2 Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 21^st, 1 on 18^th), while sightings of Godwits included 31 Bar-tailed Godwits at the Alaw estuary (19^th), 3 Black-tailed Godwits at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th) and 17 Black-tailed Godwits at Tyddyn-y-Cob, Valley (19^th).  Whimbrel were very much on the move with 3 flocks of 20, 15 & 10 passing through the Alaw estuary (17^th).  Elsewhere, 1 was at the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (17^th), 2 were at the Range, Holyhead (17^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (19^th), 1 at Cemlyn (21^st), 3 at Traeth Llydan (22^nd), while calling birds were heard at Traeth Penial, Llanfwrog (18^th).  3 pairs of ‘bubbling’ Curlew were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th, 18^th).

Passerines and others:

A Hoopoe was seen in left hand field before Penmon Priory (17^th), but both the sighting of the Black-winged Stilt at RSPB Cors Ddyga and the spectre of Easter Sunday traffic around Penmon meant that few ventured out to search for it and the bird wasn’t relocated. 

A male Black Redstart was found in fields at Tyn Llan farm, Cemlyn (16^th), with a female / 1^st winter bird on the roof of the visitor centre at RSPB South Stack (17^th) and then around the cottage opposite (19^th).  A Ring Ouzel was seen in the dunes at Newborough Warren (20^th) and a male Whinchat was at Hen Borth (22^nd).

The commoner warblers - Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Greater Whitethroats were back in good numbers and reported from multiple sites.  Grasshopper Warblers arrived in reasonable numbers and included 5 Rhydwyn (16^th), 2 at Cors Erddreiniog (16^th), 2 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th), 1 at RSPB Valley wetlands (16^th), 1 just west of Octel, Amlwch Port (17^th), 1 at Cors Efail Newydd, near Benllech (17^th) and 1 below the dam wall at Llyn Cefni (21^st).  Following a wintering Lesser Whitethroat at Holyhead, the first migrant birds included 1 singing west of the harbour, at Amlwch Porth (17^th), 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (18^th, 20^th), 2 at Llyn Alaw (21^st) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (21^st).  A Garden Warbler was at Newborough forest (18^th) and another was heard singing at Llyn Llywenan (20^th).  Reports of Cetti’s Warbler included 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th), 4 at Llyn Maelog (19^th), 1 below the dam wall at Llyn Cefni (20^th), 1 at Llyn Alaw (21^st) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (21^st).

Hen Borth (16^th) had a Yellow Wagtail, a fly over Tree Pipit and 100+ White Wagtails.  2 White Wagtails were seen at South Stack (20^th). 2 Common Crossbills were seen in flight at Newborough Warren (20^th).

There were further reports of Common Cuckoos calling, including 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th),1 at Bodffordd (17^th), 1 between Cemaes and Llanfechell (20^th) and 1 at Llanrhyddlad (21^st).  Sightings of Hooded Crow included 1 at the Range, Holyhead (16^th, 17^th &19^th), 2 at RSPB South Stack (17^th) and 4 at Hen Borth – 1 of which sported a metal ring on its ring leg (22^nd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

213 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen on the Inland Sea (16^th), with 58 at the Alaw estuary (19^th).  There were 4 drake Pochard at Llyn Penrhyn (16^th), 9 Wigeon at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16^th), up to 25 Shoveler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25 on 17^th, 22 on 16^th, 15 on 21^st), up to 75 Teal at RSPB Cors Ddyga (75 on 21^st, 50 on 17^th, 45 on 16^th) and 4 Gadwall at RSPB Cors Ddyga (21^st).  An Eider was in the bay at Cemlyn (21^st) and 11 Common Scoter were seen during a 1hr seawatch off the Range, Holyhead (19^th).  A touch of exotica came in the form of a Black Swan on the sea off the Trwyn, Cemlyn (21^st).

Seabirds & gulls:

The first returning Common Tern was seen at Cemlyn (19^th – 21^st), where there were up to 700 Sandwich Terns (19^th) although daily numbers fluctuate.  There was just the 1 report of a Puffin – 1 bird on the cliffs at RSPB South Stack (19^th).  The aforementioned 1hr seawatch off the Range, Holyhead (19^th) produced 228 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Fulmars, 12 Gannets and 12 Kittiwakes.

Divers & Grebes:

4 Red-throated Divers seen over a 1hr seawatch off the Range, Holyhead (19^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Up to 3 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 18^th & 22^nd, 2 on 16^th&17^th) – 1 of which was in breeding plumage, while 12 Little Egrets were noted at the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (17^th).  3 ‘booming’ Bitterns were heard at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 17^th, 2 on 19^th), where a wailing Water Rail was also heard (19^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen over the lake at RSPB Cors Ddyga (22^nd), with the same or another around Malltraeth (22^nd).  Up to 2 Marsh Harriers were also seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 16^th& 18^th, 1 on 21^st).  It wasn’t so long ago that Red Kite was an exceptional bird to see on the island.  How things have changed for the better with multiple sightings each week which this week included 1 over Bryngwran (16^th), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th), 1 over Cemaes beach (18^th), 1 over Talwrn (20^th) and 1 over Llyn Llywenan (21^st).  2 Merlins were seen at Hen Borth (16^th).

 

2022 Year List:

Black-winged Stilt, Dotterel, Hoopoe and Common Tern were all new for the year and takes the 2022-year list up to 181.