Saturday 23rd July – Friday 29th July 2022.

Introduction:

Cory’s!!!

Seabirds & gulls:

While there have been good numbers of Cory’s Shearwaters off the west coast of Ireland and into the English Channel over recent weeks, it is a rare bird in the Irish Sea so the sight of 1 flying west off Cemlyn (29^th) was both unexpected and something to celebrate.  Breezy conditions earlier in the week produced the first Great Skua of the year at Cemlyn (26^th) together with an Arctic Skua (26^th).  1 hour seawatching sessions at The Range produced up to 708 Manx Shearwaters (708 on 25^th, 364 on 26^th), up to 26 Gannets (26 on 26^th, 7 on 25^th), up to 2 Fulmar (2 on 2th, 1 on 26^th) and up to 25 Kittiwakes (25 on 25^th, 6 on 26^th).

It wasn’t so long ago that one would have had to put in a lot of effort to see a Mediterranean Gull on Anglesey – often involving a solitary 1^st winter bird at the likes of Salt Island, Holyhead in the depths of winter.  Fast forward and you can now have a good chance of seeing one at any time during the year.  Late July has recently been particularly productive and reports this week included up to 43 on the Alaw estuary (43 on 24^th, 34 on 26^th, 14 on 25^th), up to 40 on the Inland Sea (28^th), up to 10 past or at Cemlyn (10 past on 25^th, 1 present on 24^th, 26^th & 27^th), up to 3 at Traeth Dulas (3 on 25^th, 2 on 24^th, 1 on 27^th), 1 that flew past the Skerries (24^th) and 1 at Penrhos Coastal Park (28^th).

An adult Black Tern was seen among a feeding flock of terns off the Skerries (24^th), while an adult and juvenile Roseate Tern were seen and photographed among the Common and Arctic Tern roost on rocks off the beach at Cemlyn (24^th).  60 Sandwich Terns were noted at the mouth of the Dulas estuary (24^th).

Waders:

Another good week for waders which included a Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn (25^th) and up to 5 Sanderling at the Alaw estuary (5 on 23^rd, 4 on 24^th).  Sightings of Common Sandpiper included up to 7 birds at the Alaw estuary (7 on 25^th, 5 on 27^th) and 2 at Traeth Dulas (24^th).  12 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (24^th), 14 Turnstone at Cemlyn (24^th) and a Snipe was at the Alaw estuary (28^th).  There was a Golden Plover at the Alaw estuary (24^th – 28^th), while counts of Ringed Plover included 24 on the Alaw estuary (28^th) and 2 at the mouth of the Dulas estuary (24^th).

Sightings of Greenshank included up to 14 at the Alaw estuary (14 on 25^th, 11 on 27^th), 2 at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands (23^rd) and 2 at Traeth Dulas (24^th).  Up to 14 Redshank were at the Alaw estuary (27^th), up to 9 were at Traeth Dulas (9 on 27^th, 2 on 24^th), 4 were at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands (23^rd) and 2 were at Malltraeth (27^th).  Sightings of Black-tailed Godwits included 12 at Malltraeth (25^th) and 6 at Cemlyn (26^th), while sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits included a maximum of 6 at the Alaw estuary (6 on 25^th, 5 on 27^th).  Whimbrel are starting to be reported more often with a maximum of 3 at the Alaw estuary (27^th-28^th), a maximum of 3 at the Inland Sea (27^th & 28^th), up to 2 at Malltraeth (2 on 25^th, 1 on 27^th) and 1 that flew past Point Lynas (26^th).  If Traeth Dulas can compete with the Alaw estuary on anything in respect of numbers then it probably has to be Curlew – there were 209 at Traeth Dulas (27^th), with up to 102 at the Alaw estuary (102 on 27^th, 43 on 25th & 26^th, 30 on 24^th).  Up to 262 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (262 on 25^th, 229 on 27^th, 226 on 24th, 129 on 26^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands was confirmed on the 23^rd and remained throughout the week (23^rd- 29^th).  Nearby, 5 Barnacle Geese were at Llyn Trafwll, RSPB Valley wetlands (23^rd) and there was an impressive count of 83 Mute Swans at Cefni reservoir (29^th).  The 3 Black Swans were seen again at the Inland Sea (27^th).

4 Teal were noted at the Inland Sea (28^th) and 2 were at Malltraeth (28^th).  c. 60 Gadwall were at the Cefni reservoir (29^th) including 1 recent brood with 8 ducklings.  Common Scoter were noted during a number of seawatching sessions with 180 past Cemlyn (26^th) and 6 past Point Lynas (26^th).

Passerines and others:

2 Yellow Wagtails seen at Cemlyn (25^th & 29^th) were noteworthy.  A Kingfisher was on the Alaw estuary (28th), a Cuckoo was at Malltraeth (28^th) and a Hooded Crow was at the Alaw estuary (25^th & 28^th).  5 Willow Warblers were at South Stack (28^th) with 1 at Breakwater Country Park (28^th).   Counts of Chiffchaff included 3 at South Stack (28^th) and 1 at Soldier’s Point (28^th).  A Whitethroat was at Breakwater Country Park (28^th) and several juvenile Sedge Warblers and Linnets were seen around Malltraeth cob (28^th), with 10 Swifts overhead (28^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was at Llyn Alaw (23^rd).

Raptors:

The headline raptor in terms of scarcity was a Hobby seen feeding on dragonflies over the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29^th).  An Osprey was seen over Porthdafarch, near Holyhead (23^rd), with presumably the same bird then seen over the Inland Sea in the morning (26^th) then later in the day over the Alaw estuary (26^th).  Another was seen at the Cefni estuary (25^th-27^th) and was considered a different bird to that which has summered.  A Marsh Harrier was seen at Llyn Trafwll (23^rd), with another at the Alaw estuary (27^th).  A Peregrine was seen at the Cefni estuary (25^th-28^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (27^th).  Sightings of Red Kite included 1 seen over Talwrn (23^rd) and 1 at Malltraeth (28^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great-crested Grebe continue to move back to saline habitats with 16 seen at the Inland Sea (24^th) and the 1^st Little Grebe returned to the Alaw estuary (27^th).

 

2022 Year List:

 

Cory’s Shearwater and Great Skua were both new additions to the 2022 year list which ticks up to 202.