Saturday 18th June – Friday 24th June 2022.

Intro:

… tell the waders that astronomical summer has just started …

Waders:

An early smattering of waders on various estuarine habitats suggests some early returning birds.  2 Redshank on the Alaw estuary (24^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (24^th) were the first for some time.  There were up to 4 Greenshank at the Alaw estuary (4 on 20^th, 1 on 24^th), 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Malltraeth cob pool (23^rd-24^th) and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits on the Alaw estuary (23^rd&24^th).  The number of Curlew and Oystercatchers appears to be increasing.  Up to 27 Curlew were on the Alaw estuary (27 on 23^rd, 9 on the 20^th), with 18 at Traeth Dulas (23^rd).  Up to 213 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (213 on 23^rd, 163 on 20^th), with 31 at Traeth Dulas (23^rd).

A Grey Plover was at Traeth Dulas (23^rd), 4 Ringed Plovers were at Porth-y-Mor (19^th) and a Little Ringed Plover was seen again at RSPB Cors Ddyga (19^th).  A Turnstone was at Porth-y-Mor (19^th), up to 4 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (4 on 23^rd, 3 on 24^th) and a Common Sandpiper was at Cemlyn (24^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

2 Roseate Terns were at Cemlyn (22^nd), while 121 Sandwich Tern chicks were ringed with BTO rings and Orange flags (20^th).  The 2022 flags have 3 letters in black starting with the letter C - previous ringing efforts during 2019 started with the letter A.  News emerged during the week that the BBRC have accepted the records of Sooty Tern at Cemlyn in 2020 and Elegant Tern at Cemlyn in 2021.

Gulls appear to be on the move.  Traeth Dulas had an adult Mediterranean Gull (23^rd) and a 1^st summer (24^th).  Juvenile Black-headed Gulls are appearing at various estuaries – perhaps from the Cemlyn colony – with 2 on the Alaw estuary (20^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (23^rd&24^th).

5 Puffins were on the sea at South Stack (22^nd), with other sightings from boat trips around Puffin Island (20^th).  Sightings of Black Guillemot included 1 at Porth Eilian (19^th) and 1 at Porth-y-Mor (19^th).  20 Gannets were seen between Wylfa Head and Middle Mouse (18^th), with 10 off Porth-Y-Mor (19^th).

Passerines and others:

A Lesser Whitethroat was at Amlwch Port (19^th).  Sightings of Hooded Crows included 1 at Cors Bodeilio (19^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (23^rd).  There was a belated report of 2 Kingfishers seen along the Afon Cefni between the Pet Place store at Llangefni and the A5 (17^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was at the Cefni estuary (21^st&23^rd), as was a male Marsh Harrier (21^st).  In what was a quiet week for sightings of Red Kites, 1 was seen over fields near Traeth Lligwy (19^th) and another over Gadfa (22^nd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The annual pre-moult gathering of Geese at RSPB Valley Wetlands has begun with 814 Greylag Geese, 123 Canada Geese and 5 Barnacle Geese (19^th).  It is always worth checking any Barnacle Geese for coloured darvic rings as last summer saw a number of birds from the feral breeding populations in the Lake District.  Three broods of Shelduck – totalling 19 young – were at the Alaw estuary (20^th), whilst a 14 strong creche of young Shelducks were at the Cefni estuary (22^nd).  A female Red-breasted Merganser with a brood of 7 young was at Traeth Dulas (24^th).

Divers & Grebes:

No sightings of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Bitterns were seen in flight at RSPB Valley wetlands (19^th) and a juvenile Great Egret was at Garreg Lwyd, Rhoscolyn (21^st).  9 Little Egrets were at Traeth Dulas (24^th) with up to 6 on the Alaw estuary (6 on 23^rd, 5 on 20^th).

2022 Year List:

There were no new additions to the year list which remains at 198.

Saturday 11th June – Friday 17th June 2022.

Intro:

A 5-tern day …

Seabirds & gulls:

Marsh terns have always been scarce on Anglesey, so news of an adult summer plumaged Black Tern at Cemlyn (15th&16th) was most welcome.  A Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (16th) providing some observers with a ‘5 tern’ day.  Clutch counts at both Cemlyn and the Skerries have firmed up the estimates of tern numbers.  c. 4000 Sandwich Terns are at Cemlyn, c. 7000 Arctic Terns are on the Skerries with c.560 at Cemlyn, while c. 700 Common Terns are on the Skerries and c. 360 at Cemlyn.  The highest daily count of Roseate Terns on the Skerries has been 5.  There has been a heightened sense of concern about the risk of Avian flu given the terrible news of losses in the tern colonies in the Netherlands.  Darvic ring readings at Cemlyn and along the North Wales coast over recent years has shown how Sandwich Terns in particular can move between colonies with Dutch ringed birds being seen at Cemlyn during July last year.  Wardens are closely monitoring the situation and everyone is hoping that the Anglesey colonies escape this dreadful disease.

A 1hr seawatch from North Stack (12th) produced 138 Manx Shearwaters, 5 Gannets, 10 Kittiwakes, 5 Fulmars and 71 Sandwich Terns all of which were moving west.  The next day, a 2hr seawatch off South Stack (13th) produced 584 Manx Shearwaters, 21 Gannets, 151 Kittiwake, 15 Sandwich Terns and 14 Puffins.  Puffins numbered into double digits from a boat trip to Puffin Island (13th).  A single Common Tern was seen feeding over Llyn Maelog (15th).

Passerines and others:

Following on from last week’s Rose-coloured Starling at Llanfechell and Llanfairynghornwy, another - believed to have been a different bird - was seen at Cemaes (15th).  Whinchat is usually a spring passage migrant during May, so a mid- June sighting of 1 at RSPB South Stack (15th) was notable.  Grasshopper Warblers continue to sing at Cors Efail Newydd (11th-15th) and Cors Erddreniog (14th).  2 singing Cetti’s Warblers were at Llyn Maelog (15th), with 1 at Llyn Llywenan (16th).  A Spotted Flycatcher was at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (14th&15th), with a Northern Wheatear at the same site (14th).  A Hooded Crow was seen on fields between South Stack and The Range (13th).

Waders:

2 adult Little Ringed Plovers were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15th&16th) and 2 Ringed Plover were on the Alaw estuary (17th).  Staff at RSPB Cors Ddyga advise that the numbers of breeding pairs of Lapwing are again down on previous years, which they had anticipated due to reduced food on site following the kill off of soil invertebrates by the winter floods. Numbers have declined from a high of 76 pairs a few years ago to 42 pairs this year.  However, a benign spring has meant that those that have bred are doing well.  Staff have already recorded 46 fledged young from those 42 pairs and there are more to come.  Modelling has shown that 0.7 young per breeding pair are needed to maintain a stable population, so this year’s figure of more than one is excellent, and shows the Lapwing are ready to increase if the flooding issues can be resolved.

Sightings of Greenshank included 1 on the Alaw estuary (11th&17th) and 2 summer plumaged birds at Llyn Llywenan (16th).  8 Black-tailed Godwits were at the Cefni estuary (14th), with 1 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Alaw estuary (11th).  A Common Sandpiper was at Malltraeth (14th) and 6 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (17th).  Counts of Oystercatchers included up to 232 on the Alaw estuary (232 on the 17th, 154 on the 11th) and 30 at the Cefni estuary (14th).  45 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (17th) and 10 were at the Cefni estuary (12th).

Raptors:

Up to 2 male Ospreys were at the Cefni estuary (2 on 17th,1 on 14th).  Sightings of male Marsh Harriers included 1 over the Cefni estuary (14th) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15th).  16 Red Kites were over a field that was being cut for silage at Pig-y-Rhos, near Rhoscoch (15th) and is quite possibly the highest concentration of Red Kites known for the island.   Elsewhere, 5 Red Kites were over fields at Tregele (16th), 1 was over Tregaian (16th), 2 over the Llangefni junction of the A55 (16th), 1 over RSPB Cors Ddyga (16th) and 1 over Penysarn (17th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A drake Pintail at Malltraeth (14th) was an unusual record for June.  Goosander have started to be reported with a pair seen at Malltraeth (14th) and a pair at Cemlyn (15th).

Divers & Grebes:

No sightings of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A booming Bittern was heard at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15th).

Thanks:

A big thanks to all those who continue to contribute news of their sightings and in particular this week to the wardens of the various Anglesey reserves for sharing their insight into the number of breeding terns and lapwing.

 

2022 Year List:

Black Tern was new for the year and takes the Anglesey year list up to 198.

Saturday 4th June – Friday 10th June 2022.

Intro:

Rosy Pastor …

Passerines and others:

Following a number of UK records this year, and a good few records on Anglesey over recent years, it seemed likely that it would only be a matter of time before a Rose-coloured Starling was added to this year’s Anglesey list.  An adult duly obliged in being found at Llanfechell (9^th), although the residential nature of its chosen location made access sensitive.  What is presumed to be the same bird was today some 10 miles away at Llanfairynghornwy (10^th).

There were still a few summer migrants to be found including a female Yellow Wagtail at Hen Borth (4^th), with 2 later in the day at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (4^th).  Northern Wheatears were seen at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (6^th), Cemlyn (9^th), Soldier’s Point (10^th) and up to 3 at South Stack (3 on 6^th, 1 on 8th).  One of the birds at South Stack (6^th) was seen to have a darvic ring and it was later confirmed to have been ringed on the Calf of Man during July ’21.  Grasshopper Warblers continue to sing with 1 at Rhoscolyn (6^th), 1 at Cors Efail Newydd, near Benllech (6^th&7^th) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (7^th).  A Crossbill flew over South Stack (8^th).  Hooded Crows around the Holyhead area included 1 at South Stack (4^th, 6^th) and 2 at The Range (6^th).

Waders:

It was a good week for waders.  Up to 10 Sanderling were at Silver Bay / Traeth Llydan, nr Rhoscolyn (10 on 6^th, 5 on 8^th) and 2 were at the Alaw estuary (4^th,6^th).  At least 1 Little Ringed Plover was at RSPB Cors Ddyga with 2 chicks (7^th), while 2 Grey Plovers were at the Alaw estuary (4^th, 6^th).  84 Dunlin were on the Alaw estuary (6^th) and 2 Snipe – a scarce sight on Anglesey during the month of June – were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th).  A Greenshank was at the Alaw estuary (4^th, 6^th), 5 Black-tailed Godwits were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th) while sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits included 2 at the Alaw estuary (4^th, 6^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (4^th, 7^th& 8^th).  The Alaw estuary held 10 Curlew (6^th) and 196 Oystercatcher (6^th).  Add in the breeding Lapwing at RSPB Cors Ddyga and Ringed Plover at Cemlyn and you have quite a respectable list of waders for early June.

Seabirds & gulls:

A 2^nd spring record of Arctic Skua involved 1 seen off Trearddur Bay (6^th).  A single Puffin was seen at RSPB South Stack (4^th), with several seen by RSPB staff (6^th-9^th).   24 Manx Shearwaters flew west past Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (10^th).  A Roseate Tern was seen at Cemlyn on several dates (7^th-9^th), with the movement of terns into the lagoon pulling in 2 Kittiwakes that were seen on and around the main island (7^th).  A 1^st summer Mediterranean Gull continues to be seen at Cemlyn (7^th).

Raptors:

5 Marsh Harriers were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th), while sightings of Red Kite included 1 over the A5025 near the Valley crossroads (4^th) and 1 at Holyhead Mountain (4^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

2 female Eider were off Moelfre (9^th), while the 2 Black Swans were still on the Inland Sea (10^th).  Not too far away over the Menai Strait, another Black Swan was at the ‘Spinnies’, Aber Ogwen (10^th) – somewhat strange that there have been so many sightings this year!  17 Mute Swans were at the Alaw estuary (6^th).

Divers & Grebes:

No sightings of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

8 Little Egrets were at Cemlyn (8^th).

2022 Year List:

Rose-coloured Starling takes the 2022-year list up to 197.

Saturday 28th May – Friday 3rd June 2022.

Intro:

Pom Skua, a good number of Red Kites and a pair of non-natives that quite reasonably caused some interest nonetheless.

Seabirds & gulls:

A Pomarine Skua was seen and photographed 20 miles off the Anglesey coast (31^st), while a 1^st summer Little Gull was seen and photographed at Cemlyn (30^th).  A Roseate Tern – an un-ringed bird – was seen on several occasions at Cemlyn and photographed (31^st-3^rd).

A 3-hour seawatch off South Stack (30^th) produced 2242 Manx Shearwaters, 17 Fulmars, 136 Gannets and 91 Kittiwakes.  A 1hr sea-watch off The Range (1^st) produced 229 Manx Shearwaters. 26 Gannets, 80 Kittiwakes and 2 Fulmars.

Up to 11 Puffins were seen at or off South Stack (11 on 30^th, 5 on 1^st & 2^nd), with 3 off The Range (1^st) and 3 on the sea off Cemlyn (3^rd).  A Black Guillemot flew past South Stack (30^th), while 2 were at Holyhead Harbour (1^st).  Cemlyn had an adult Mediterranean Gull (31^st) and a 1^st summer bird (31^st, 1^st).

Waders:

Both a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint were at the Alaw estuary (31^st).  Sightings of Sanderling included 8 at the Alaw estuary (30^th) and 3 at Porth Nobla (30^th).  Little Ringed Plovers have bred successfully again this year, with at least 1 – possibly 2 young seen with an adult at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  Counts of Ringed Plover included 14 at the Alaw estuary (30^th), 3 at Cemlyn (31^st) and 2 at the Alaw estuary (1^st).  Up to 6 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (6 on 2^nd, 5 on 30^th), with up to 3 at Cemlyn (3on 31^st, 2 on 1^st).  2 Turnstones were at Cemlyn (31^st).  Up to 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 29^th, 2 on 1^st), while sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits included 2 at the Alaw estuary (2^nd) and 1 at Cemlyn (3^rd).  Up to 79 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (79 on 30^th, 15 on 2^nd), while 4 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (2^nd) and 1 flew over South Stack (2^nd).

Raptors:

Over the last few years, late spring has brought some good counts of Red Kites which must involve some movement on to the island from either elsewhere in the UK or further afield  The week started with 1 over Brynsiencyn (29^th) and 1 at Tregele (31^st, 1^st).  Sightings then increased on the 2^nd, with 3 at Carmel Head, 2 over the Alaw estuary and 1 over Holyhead Mountain (2^nd).  Today (3^rd) has brought 4 over Llanddaniel, 1 over Llanerchymedd and 1 over Llantrisant church. 

An Osprey was seen on the Cefni estuary as viewed from Malltraeth (28^th, 1^st).

Passerines and others:

A ringed Grasshopper Warbler was seen near Cafnan farm, near Cemlyn (28^th) – with very little ringing of passerines on Anglesey the mind boggles as to where the bird had been caught and ringed.  Elsewhere, a Grasshopper Warbler was at Carmel Head (2^nd) and another at Cors Efail Newydd near Benllech (3^rd).

A Spotted Flycatcher was in the plantation at South Stack (2^nd), while there are still a few Wheatears being seen with 2 at Holyhead Mountain (2^nd) and 2 at Carmel Head (2^nd).  Sightings at South Stack included a Reed Warbler singing in a privet hedge (1^st) - somewhat out of place, a Tree Pipit (2^nd) and a Yellow Wagtail sp (3^rd).  At least 10 singing Cetti’s Warblers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  4 Swifts were seen over Llyn Llywenan (28^th), which also had a calling Cuckoo (28^th).  Another Cuckoo was at Carmel Head (2^nd).  Sightings of Hooded Crows around the Holyhead area included 1 at South Stack (28^th, 29^th, 1^st) and up to 2 at The Range (2 on 30^th, 1 on 28^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The drake Garganey was seen again at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th) and 4 Common Scoter flew past South Stack (30^th).  2 Black Swans are journeying around the island – they were first seen at Malltraeth cob (31^st), then at Llyn Llywenan (2^nd) before being seen today at the Inland Sea (3^rd).  Whilst an introduced species and not on the British list, it is always worth making a note of such species if only to contribute to a wider understanding of their numbers, breeding success and possible implications for native species.  The Rare Birds Breeding Panel has been considered breeding records of rarer non-native species since 1996.

Divers & Grebes:

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver flew past Cemlyn (3^rd) and a Red-throated Diver flew past South Stack (30^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No sightings of note.

 

2022 Year List:

Little Gull and Pomarine Skua takes the 2022-year list up to 196.