Saturday 9th April – Friday 15th April 2022

Intro:

Well, those southerly winds certainly helped …

Passerines and others:

It was a good week for spring migrants, with 11 new species for the Anglesey year list.  Ring Ouzel is a scarce passage migrant to Anglesey, but 4 were seen this week with a female at Porth-y-Garan, Rhoscolyn (11^th), a male and female at Bwa Du, Rhoscolyn (13^th) and a female on the coastal footpath between Llanbadrig and Llanlleiana (15^th).  Grasshopper Warblers were fresh onto the island with 1 - possibly 2 - at Cemlyn (12^th), 3 at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (13^th), 1 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15^th), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th) and 2 at RSPB Valley wetlands (15^th).  The first Sedge Warbler was back at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th) with at least 6 birds the following morning at Llyn Penrhyn (14th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (15^th).  3 Reed Warblers were also at Llyn Penrhyn (14^th), with 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th).  A Greater Whitethroat was at Cestyll Gardens, near Cemlyn (14^th) and a Garden Warbler was at Newborough Forest (14^th).  A Yellow Wagtail was heard calling overhead at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (11^th), while 3 Tree Pipits were heard over Llanlleiana (14^th) with 13 logged between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15^th).  An early Common Swift was seen over the dunes between Rhosneigr and Llanfaelog (12^th).  A Common Cuckoo was heard calling early morning at Lligwy (13^th) and the same or another bird was heard during the evening calling from land on the east side of Traeth Dulas (13^th).  Finally, a Whinchat was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th).

Swallows and Sand Martins are now back in good numbers and were reported from multiple sites.  House Martins were reported in smaller numbers, but 65 seen among a mixed flock of hirundines at Llyn Llygeirian (12^th) was noteworthy.

Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Northern Wheatears are also being reported in good numbers and from multiple sites - 20+ Northern Wheatears at the Range, Holyhead (12^th) was a good count as was 17 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15^th).  A Siberian Chiffchaff was seen in a plantation at Carmel Head (15^th).  Reports of Cetti’s Warblers included 1 at Carreglwyd marsh, near Rhydwyn (10^th), up to 9 at RSPB Valley Lakes (9 on 14^th, 7 on 13^th, 1 on 10^th), 3 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (11^th) and 1 at Llyn Llygerian (12^th).  White Wagtails were reported from a number of sites and included 2 at Penmon pool (9^th), 5 on newly ploughed fields off Gorad Road, Valley (12^th), up to 7 at Cemlyn (7 on 13^th, 3 on 12^th) and 120 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15^th).  5 Crossbills flew over at Carmel Head (10^th).  30 Fieldfares were seen to head NE over Llandegfan (9^th) – it can’t be long before our winter thrushes depart.  Sightings of Hooded Crows included 1 at Carmel Head (10^th), 1 at South Stack (11^th, 13^th) and up to 3 were at the Range, Holyhead (3 on 13^th, 1 on 11^th & 12^th, 2 on 14^th).  A Kingfisher was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th).

Waders:

Little Ringed Plover is still a scarce bird on Anglesey, so 1 on the Alaw estuary (10^th) was a good find – as was 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th).  Staying with plovers, there were 190 Golden Plover at Traeth y Gribin, Valley (10^th) and up to 230 at the Alaw estuary (230 on 15^th, 100 on 9^th).  A Grey Plover was at the Alaw estuary (12^th) while reports of Ringed Plover included 23 at Traeth y Gribin (10^th), 4 at the Alaw estuary (12^th) and 2 between Lligwy and Treath Dulas (15^th).

A Green Sandpiper was seen again on pool near the former Llandrygarn school (13^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (14^th).  Sightings of Common Sandpiper included the wintering bird at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (9^th, 15^th), 1 at Cemlyn (12^th) and 1 at Malltreath (12^th).  22 Purple Sandpipers were at Llanddwyn (14^th), 4 were on rocky islets off Trearddur Bay (14^th) and up to 2 were on the tideline of the beach east of the Trwyn, Cemlyn (2 on 12^th, 1 on 13^th).  Sightings of Sanderling included 2 at Traeth y Gribin, Valley (10^th) and 1 on the Alaw estuary (10^th).  Up to 7 Knot were at the Alaw estuary (7 on 9^th, 6 on 10^th).  4 Dunlin were seen at the Alaw estuary (12^th), with 2 at Traeth y Gribin, Valley (10^th).

Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits included up to 57 on the Alaw estuary (57 on 10^th, 49 on 9^th, 1 on 12^th) and 37 at the Inland Sea (10^th), while reports of Black-tailed Godwits included up to 58 at Inland Sea (58 on 12^th, 1 on 10^th), 4 at the Alaw estuary (12^th), 1 at Cemlyn (11^th), 2 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th) and 125 on Malltraeth cob pool (14^th).  There were up to 3 Greenshank at the Alaw estuary (3 on 12^th, 1 on 14^th), 2 at Traeth Dulas (13^th) and 1 on the estuary at Aberffraw (12^th).  25 Redshank were counted on the Alaw estuary (14^th).  The wintering Whimbrel was seen again at Cemlyn (12^th), while the first passage migrant birds included 8 at the Alaw estuary (12^th) and 3 at Llanddwyn (15^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

25 Mute Swans were at the Alaw estuary (12^th).  Counts of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 277 at the Alaw estuary (277 on 10^th, 43 on 12^th), 165 at the Alaw estuary / Beddmanarch Bay (9^th), 45 at the Inland Sea (10^th), 4 at Traeth y Gribin, Valley (10^th), 2 off Moelfre (13^th) and 18 at Newborough beach (15^th).  2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were also off Penrhos Coastal Park (12^th).  2 Barnacle Geese were at Llyn Llywenan (11^th) and 7 Pink-footed Geese were at RSPB Valley wetlands (15^th).

12 Pintail were at the Alaw estuary (12^th), with pairs being seen at Llyn Llywenan (14^th) and RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th).  Sightings of Pochard included 22 birds at RSPB Valley lakes (14^th), 2 pairs at Llyn Cerrig Bach (11^th) and a pair at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).  Llyn Llywenan also held 2 pairs of Shoveler (10^th), 15 Tufted Duck (10^th) and a drake Goldeneye (10^th).

61+ Eiders were seen offshore between Trwyn y Penrhyn and Penmon Point (9^th), with 11 off Moelfre (11^th).  7 Common Scoter flew past the Range (9^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

Up to 9 Puffins were seen at South Stack (9 on 10^th, 4 on 9^th), with several also seen from Penmon Point (9^th).  There were 4 Black Guillemots at Penmon point (9^th) and 2 at Porth Penmon (9^th).  Reasonable numbers of the commoner seabirds were seen around the coast.  137 Manx Shearwaters were seen during a 2hr seawatch off the Range (9^th), with other sightings including 17 Gannets, 5 Fulmars and 50 Kittiwakes.  23 pairs of Kittiwakes were noted on Ynys Moelfre (13^th), with 20 Gannets fishing offshore.  Sandwich Tern numbers at Cemlyn have now built up to c. 600 (12^th) although daily totals are varying quite markedly.  3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cemlyn (12^th) and 2 were at the Alaw estuary (12^th).

Divers & Grebes:

6 Red-throated Divers flew past the Range (9^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th) and a booming Bittern was heard at the southern end of the reserve (14^th).

Raptors:

Sightings of Osprey included single birds at Malltraeth (11^th, 12^th, 14^th).  4 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th), with 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (11^th) and a female at Llyn Llywenan (11^th).  Sightings of Red Kites included 1 over the Alaw estuary (9^th), 1 at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (10^th), 1 over Llangefni (11^th), 1 over Bryngwran (13^th), 1 over Mynydd Eilian (12^th-13^th), 1 over Lligwy (14^th) and 1 over Bodeilio (14^th).  Merlins were seen at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (11^th) and at the Range, Holyhead (12^th). Sighting of Short-eared Owls included 1 on the Range, Holyhead (11^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (11^th) and 2 on the coastal path south-east of Valley (13^th).

 

Big thanks:

I just want to take the opportunity to once again thank all those who share their sightings by whatever means to enable this weekly summary to be put together.  I know from personal feedback that the summary is enjoyed by both local birders and those who visit the area.  It would be impossible to weave in every sighting into the summary, but I hope that it strikes the right balance of scarcer and more common species to give a rounded feel of what has been seen over the past week.

 

2022 Year List:

Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Greater Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Common Swift, Common Cuckoo, and Whinchat were all new for the year and takes the 2022-year list up to 177.