Saturday 30th July – Friday 5th August 2022.

Introduction:

A gift from the Mediterranean …

Seabirds & gulls:

The wind moved to the NW late in the week and produced some good seawatching.  Balearic Shearwater was a new bird for the year with 1 past Wylfa Head at 8.15am (4^th), 1 past Point Lynas at 8.30am (4^th) and 1 past Cemlyn (5^th).  A Cory’s Shearwater was reported off Rhoscolyn (4^th).  5 Arctic Skuas were seen to fly past Cemlyn, with 3 (5^th) and 2 (4^th).  c. 2000 Manx Shearwater flew west past Point Lynas over 90 minutes (4^th), with other counts including up to 773 past The Range during seawatches of 1hr duration (773 on 31^st, 182 on 4^th).  Up to 47 Gannets flew past The Range (47 on 31^st, 9 on 4^th), with 300 Kittiwakes past Point Lynas (4^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included 4 juveniles (3^rd) and 2, 2^nd summer birds (5^th) at Traeth Dulas.  3 Common Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (3^rd) – the 1^st returning birds at this site.

Waders:

A Little Ringed Plover and chick (presumably from the 2^nd brood) were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th-31^st), with sightings of Common Ringed Plover including 8 at the Alaw estuary (1^st) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (2^nd).  A Purple Sandpiper was at Cemlyn (3^rd), with sightings of Common Sandpiper including up to 4 at Traeth Dulas (4 on 30^th, 2 on 2^nd, 1 on 5th) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (3^rd).  Up to 14 Sanderling were at the Alaw estuary (14 on 3^rd, 4 on 1^st), while sightings of Dunlin included up to 12 at the Alaw estuary (12 on 1^st, 5 on 3^rd) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (2^nd).  12 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (3^rd), with 9 at Malltraeth (31^st-1^st).  The Alaw estuary also hosted 17 Redshank (3^rd).  24 Black-tailed Godwits were at Malltraeth (31^st-1^st), with up to 7 at Traeth Dulas (7 on 31^st, 3 on 2^nd).  Up to 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the Alaw estuary (3 on 1^st, 2 on 3^rd), with 1 at Traeth Dulas (2^nd).  Sightings of Whimbrel included 4 at Malltraeth (31^st-1^st), 2 at Red Wharf Bay (31^st), 1 at the Alaw estuary (1^st&3^rd) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (5^th).  6 Lapwing were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st), up to 127 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (127 on 1^st, 106 on 3^rd) and up to 375 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (375 on 3^rd, 276 on 1^st).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The drake Ring-necked Duck was seen at Llyn Penrhyn on several days (30^th-4^th).  Llyn Penrhyn also had 10 Pochard (1^st), 12 Gadwall (1^st) and c. 30 Tufted Duck (1^st). 

Up to 9 Common Scoter flew past The Range (9 on 31^st, 3 on 4^th).

Passerines and others:

A Yellow Wagtail was seen at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (1^st-2^nd), with another seen in flight over RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th).  2 Blackcaps and a Common Whitethroat were at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (3^rd).  Sightings of Kingfisher included 1 at Llyn Penrhyn (1^st), 1 at Traeth Dulas (5^th) and 2 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th).  A Dipper was at the Dingle, Llangefni (1^st).

Sightings of Hooded Crows included 2 on the Alaw estuary (3^rd) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (30^th, 31^st, 2^nd).  7 Jays were seen at the edge of woodland above Red Wharf Bay near Pentraeth (31^st).  60 Swallows were over the saltmarsh at Red Wharf Bay (31^st), with 15 House Martins seen over Llyn Penrhyn (1^st).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Purple Heron was seen to fly over the main reedbed at RSPB Cors Ddyga - as viewed from the Morfa Mawr track - on two dates (3^rd & 5^th).  A Great Egret was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th), while 14 Little Egrets were at Traeth Dulas (31^st).

Raptors:

An Osprey was at Malltraeth (31^st-1^st), while Marsh Harriers were seen at Llyn Penrhyn (1^st) and at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th).  A Red Kite was seen over Bryn Refail (4^th).

Divers & Grebes:

6 Great-crested Grebe were at Llyn Penrhyn (1^st).

2022 Year List:

Balearic Shearwater was a new addition to the 2022 year list which ticks up to 203.