Saturday 14th – Friday 20th May 2022

Intro:

Spotted Flycatcher or Little Stint? ……. Let’s start with Spotted Flycatcher.

 

Passerines and others:

Whilst Spotted Flycatchers breed on the island in small number, it can still take a little bit of effort to see one either on passage or at a breeding site.   This week delivered far more sightings than one might reasonably expect, with up to 6 at Cemlyn (6 on 16th, 2 on 14th), 3 at Cafnan farm, near Cemlyn (3 on 16th, 2 on 14th&15th, 1 on 19th&20th), 2 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15th), 2 at the plantation, South Stack (16th), 2 at Rhoscolyn (18th), 1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (16th), 1 at the Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (16th), 1 at Penysarn (17th) and 1 at Coedana (20th).

The spring passage of Whinchats appears to be tailing off, with just 3 birds – 1 at a wet field between Cafnan farm and Pencarreg, Cemlyn (15th), 1 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15th) and 1 at Rhoscolyn (18th).  2 Tree Pipits flew over Hen Borth - Carmel Head (15th).

Lesser Whitethroats were seen between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15th) and at Talwrn (19th).  Stonechats already have fledged young with 2 broods at RSPB Cors Ddyga (14th) and 2 broods along the cycle track south of Llangefni (17th) – each with 4 chicks.  10+ Swifts were over RSPB Cors Ddyga (18th), with 5 over the cycle track south of Llangefni (17th).

Hooded Crows were seen away from their usual sites, with 1 at a garden feeding station in Tregele (17th) and 1 at Cemaes Bay (17th).

 

Waders:

The majority of sightings of both Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper on Anglesey involve juveniles in late summer / early autumn.  Spring birds are always noteworthy and this week delivered 3 Little Stints – new for the year – and a 2nd Curlew Sandpiper for the year.  The 1st Little Stint was found on the Alaw estuary (19th-20th), the 2nd at Cemlyn (20th) and the 3rd at Cymyran (20th) – an exceptional spring.  The 2nd Curlew Sandpiper for the year was at the Alaw estuary (18th-19th) and is presumed to be different to the 1 seen earlier in the spring between the 23rd-24th April.

3 Purple Sandpipers were seen on the Skerries (15th), while sightings of Common Sandpiper included 1 between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (15th), 1 at Holyhead harbour (16th) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (20th).

A Little Ringed Plover was seen again at RSPB Cors Ddyga (16th&18th), while reports of Ringed Plover included 71 at the Alaw estuary (18th), 20 at Cymyran (20th) and 15 at Traeth Dulas (15th).  17 Sanderling was a good count at the Alaw estuary (20th), while elsewhere there were up to 3 at Cemlyn (3 on 18th, 1 on 17th) and 3 at Cymyran (20th).  Sightings of Dunlin included 119 at the Alaw estuary (18th), 20 at Cymyran (20th) and 5 at Traeth Dulas (17th).  c. 20 Turnstones were at Cemlyn (19th), with 3 at the Alaw estuary (18th).  The spring passage of Whimbrel seems to have pretty much petered out with just 2 reports involving 2 over Llyn Penrhyn (17th) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (18th).  A single Redshank was at Cemlyn (16th) and a single Snipe at RSPB Cors Ddyga (14th).  Godwit numbers have plummeted with birds having moved off to their breeding grounds – just 1 Black-tailed Godwit was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (14th), while there was 1 Bar-tailed Godwit at Hen Borth (20th) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (20th).

 

Seabirds & gulls:

Cemlyn delivered a couple of interesting hybrids with a Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull (17th) and what was considered by some as a Roseate Tern x Common Tern (19th).  2 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls were at Cemlyn (16th&17th).  4 Black Guillemots at Holyhead Harbour (15th), with 3 off Penmon Point (16th).

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A Barnacle Goose flew east at the Range, Holyhead (17th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga (14th) has 6 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 4 Teal and 10 Tufted Duck.  A single drake Tufted Duck was at Cemlyn (20th).  In respect of sea ducks, 4 Common Scoter flew past the Range, Holyhead (18th) and several Eider were seen from Penmon Point (16th).

 

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Up to 2 Bitterns were heard ‘booming’ at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 16th, 1 on 15th).

 

Divers & Grebes:

Cemlyn produced the only reported sightings of Divers, with a Great Northern Diver (16th) and a Red-throated Diver (19th).

 

Raptors:

Hen Harriers are usually winter visitors, so 2 seen in mid-May is unusual.  A male was seen at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (18th) and a ring-tailed was seen at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (18th).  Sightings of Osprey included 1 over the Cefni estuary at Malltraeth (14th) - before flying off in the direction of Newborough forest – with another seen over Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (18th) before heading in direction of South Stack.  A Red Kite was seen over fields near Llyn Llywenan (15th), with another at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga (16th) also produced a Barn Owl, Peregrine and Marsh Harrier.

 

2022 Year List:

Little Stint was new for the year and takes the 2022-year list up to 193.