Saturday 30th April – 6th Friday May 2022

Intro:

It was another good week for waders, but passerines take top place given a good showing of summer migrants that contributed 2 new additions to the 2022 Anglesey year list.

Passerines and others:

The first week of May usually delivers our first Spotted Flycatcher and 1 duly obliged in being found at the plantation, South Stack (4^th).  Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn delivered a male Common Redstart (5^th) and was the place to be for various races of Yellow Wagtail.  Following on from last week’s white-throated Blue-headed Wagtail, with views either favouring a ‘channel wagtail’ – integrate between Blue-headed flava and ‘British’ flavissima or something having at least some Iberian iberiae genes, this week produced a more standard Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail flava (4^th) and 1 possibly up to 2 ‘British’ Yellow Wagtail flavissima (3^rd-5^th).  18 White Wagtails were at the Alaw estuary (4^th) and 2 Tree Pipits flew over Carmel Head (2^nd).

In what is turning out to be a great spring for Whinchat on passage, sightings included 1 at Porth y Garan, Rhoscolyn (2^nd), up to 2 at Tyn Llan fields (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 5^th), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd), 1 on the Range, Holyhead (4^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (4^th), 1 Hen Borth (6^th) and 2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (6^th).

3 Garden Warblers were heard in song at Newborough Forest (3^rd), with another at the plantation at South Stack (4^th).  Cetti’s Warblers were reported at Llyn Maelog (30^th).  There are still good numbers of Wheatears moving through with 17 at South Stack (2^nd), 8 at the Alaw estuary (4^th) and 6 on the rocks at Bull Bay (6^th).  A pair of Common Crossbills were seen at Newborough Forest (1^st).  A Swift was seen over RSPB Valley wetlands (2^nd), with 3 over RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd).  Cuckoos were head calling at Holyhead mountain (3^rd) and near Llaneilian church (3^rd).  Up to 2 Hooded Crows were near the Range, Holyhead (1 on 30^th&2^nd, 2 on 4^th) and a Dipper was on the Afon Cefni at the Dingle, Llangefni (3^rd).

Waders:

A Wood Sandpiper was seen briefly near Tyn Llan farm, Cemlyn before flying off NE (3^rd), with another seen on the 2^nd field beyond the 2^nd bridge at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd) and then presumably the same bird being seen on a field between the 2 bridges at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th).  2 Common Sandpipers were at the Alaw estuary (4^th) and 2 were at Malltraeth (4^th).

At least 1 Little Ringed Plover was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th, 1^st, 2^nd), up to 85 Ringed Plover were at the Alaw estuary (85 on 1^st, 52 on 2^nd) with 32 at the Inland Sea (6^th) and 80 Golden Plover were on the Alaw estuary (30^th).  2 Sanderling were at the Inland Sea (6^th), 2 Knot were on the Alaw estuary (30^th), while counts of Dunlin included up to 96 Dunlin at the Alaw estuary (96 on 2^nd, 62 on 4^th), 54 on the Inland Sea (6^th) and 3 at Traeth Dulas (6^th).  The importance of grilling all groups of waders at this time of year can perhaps be illustrated by the fact that a Greater Sand Plover has been present not too far away at Tramore, Waterford between the 2^nd-5^th.  It hasn’t been seen today – Anglesey for the forthcoming week? - now, that would be a nice addition to the Anglesey list!

2 Ruff were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd), as was a single Redshank – a scarce bird by the month of May.  Sightings of Black-tailed Godwits included up to 75 at Malltraeth cob pool (75 on 2^nd, 60 on the 3^rd, 50 on 5^th), 5 that flew over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (3^rd) and up to 3 at Traeth Dulas (3 on 30^th, 1 on 6^th).  43 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the Alaw estuary (1^st).

Whimbrel were seen at multiple locations and included 26 Whimbrel at Porth y Cwch, Rhosneigr (30^th), 21 in flight over Gadfa (2^nd), up to 20 at the Alaw estuary (20 on 2^nd, 10 on 4^th), 3 at Penmon Point (1^st), 3 at the saltmarsh, Llandonna (30^th) and 2 at Traeth Dulas (30^th, 6^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The last of the winter wildfowl included 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at the Inland Sea (3^rd) and 3 pairs of Wigeon at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd).  Up to 61 Shelduck were at Traeth Dulas (61 on 5^th, 50+ on 6^th) and a single drake Eider was off Benllech (1^st).

Seabirds & gulls:

A 1hr seawatch off the Range, Holyhead (4^th) produced 29 Manx Shearwaters, 44 Gannets, 6 Kittiwakes and 1 Fulmar.  Sightings of Mediterranean Gull included 1 at Cemlyn (2^nd) and a 2^nd summer at the Alaw estuary (4^th).  A Puffin was seen at RSPB South Stack (2^nd), while sightings of Black Guillemots included up to 2 at Bull Bay (2 on 1^st, 1 on 6^th) and 8 at Holyhead fish quay (2^nd).       

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th, 1^st), while a Bittern was seen to fly from Llyn Penrhyn and onwards in the direction of Llyn Trafwll (2^nd).  The same or another was heard booming at Llyn Trafwll (2^nd), with at least 1 also still ‘booming’ at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st. 3^rd).

Divers & Grebes:

A Great Northern Diver flew past South Stack (3rd).

Raptors:

A Red Kite was seen near RAF Valley (30^th) with another over Penysarn (3^rd).  A male Hen Harrier was at South Stack (5^th-6^th) and a Marsh Harrier was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th).  An Osprey was at Malltraeth (3^rd-5^th) and a Merlin was at Alaw estuary (2^nd).

2022 Year List:

Spotted Flycatcher and Common Redstart were new for the year and takes the 2022-year list up to 189.