Saturday 10th September – Friday 16th September 2022.

Introduction:                                         

Waders hogged the headlines during the early part of the week, but a visitors from warmer climes gatecrashed the latter part of the week.

Waders:

A juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was found during a WeBS count at Llyn Coron and stayed a few days (11^th – 13^th) during which time it drew a steady stream of admirers.  Last week’s Wood Sandpiper stayed into this week at Valley cob (12^th-14^th), while the American Golden Plover continued its stay at Cemlyn (10^th-16^th).

Malltraeth continues to be the top spot for Curlew Sandpiper with birds being seen on the cob pool, the Cefni estuary and the Afon Cefni.  15 were seen on the cob pool (10^th), up to 14 on Cefni estuary (14 on 11^th, 4 on 12^th) and up to 8 were on the Afon Cefni (8 on 13^th, 4 on 2 on 10^th).  Elsewhere, 4 were seen at Red Wharf Bay (10^th) and 3 were at the Alaw estuary (14^th).

2 Green Sandpiper were at Llyn Llygeirian (16^th), while sightings of Common Sandpiper included 2 at Rhoscolyn (13^th), 1 at Malltraeth (13^th) and 1 at Llyn Coron (13^th).  12 European Golden Plover were at Cemlyn (15^th), with single birds noted at South Stack (11^th) and at The Range, Holyhead (16^th).

23 Sanderling were at Traeth Cymyran (14^th), while sightings of Knot included 6 at Red Wharf Bay (10^th), 1 at Malltraeth cob pool (10^th) and 4 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th).  Dunlin numbers are still quite low with the highest reports counts being 19 at Rhoscolyn (12^th), 15 at Malltraeth (12^th) and up to 15 at the Alaw estuary (15 on 14^th, 3 on 12^th).  Reports of Common Snipe included 2 at Llyn Llywenan (10^th), 1 at Traeth Dulas (10^th) and 2 at Cors Ddyga (11^th).  4 Turnstone were noted along the coastline at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (13^th).

There were up to 4 Ruff at Malltraeth cob pool (4 on 10^th, 1 on 14^th), with up to 3 at the Cefni reservoir (3 on 16^th, 2 on 13^th) and 1 at Valley cob (13^th&14^th).  11 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (14^th), with up to 7 at Traeth Dulas (7 on 10^th, 5 on 12^th&13^th, 1 on 14^th), up to 4 at Valley cob (4 on 14^th, 1 on 12^th), 1 at Carmel Head (11^th) and 1 at Rhoscolyn (13^th).  104 Redshank were at Malltraeth (12^th), with up to 29 at the Alaw estuary (29 on 14^th, 10 on 12^th) and up to 8 at Valley cob (8 on 14^th, 6 on 12^th).  Reports of Black-tailed Godwit included 4 at Red Wharf Bay (10^th), 4 at Valley cob (14^th), 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th), 1 at Traeth Dulas (10^th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).  Up to 25 Bar-tailed Godwit were at the Alaw estuary (25 on 12^th, 22 on 14^th), with up to 6 at Traeth Dulas (6 on 12^th, 4 on 11^th, 1 on 10^th&14^th)

A Whimbrel was at Traeth Dulas (14^th).  Up to 82 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (82 on 14^th, 45 on 12^th), with 64 at Rhoscolyn (13^th) and 13 at Valley cob (14^th).  Up to 526 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (526 on 14^th, 516 on 12^th).

Passerines and others:

A second Hoopoe for Anglesey in 2022, following a spring bird seen on the 17^th April at Penmon.  That bird wasn’t relocated, partly due to the fact that attention was drawn away by a Black-winged Stilt found the same morning at Cors Ddyga.  The fact that it was Easter Sunday also offered up the prospect of traffic congestion on coastal roads.  This week’s bird was reported from the coastal footpath near Porth Wen (15^th) and fortunately on this occasion it was relocated and showed well until early evening.

There were 2 Pied Flycatchers in sycamores in the White Eagle car park in Rhoscolyn (16^th).  A Spotted Flycatcher was at Carmel Head (11^th) with 1 also at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (13^th & 15^th).  A Tree Pipit flew over at Carmel Head (11^th), with reports of birds at South Stack (1 on 10^th& 1 on 11^th).  2 Whinchat were at Rhoscolyn (15^th), with sightings of Northern Wheatear including 2 at Rhoscolyn (13^th), up to 2 at Soldiers Point (2 on 10^th, 1 on 13^th), 2 at The Range, Holyhead (11^th&16^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (10^th&13^th).

It is always difficult at this time of year to know whether summer migrant warblers are birds that have bred locally or whether they are birds from elsewhere that are moving through on their southbound journey.  There was a singing Chiffchaff at the Octel water treatment plant (13^th), with 1 at South Stack (11^th) and 3 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (15^th).  3 Blackcap were at South Stack (16^th), with 2 at the Octel water treatment plant (13^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (15^th).  A Common Whitethroat was at South Stack (16^th).  Resident Cetti’s Warblers were heard at Cors Ddyga (11^th) and Llyn Coron (11^th).  A Grey Wagtail was at Soldiers Point (10^th) and 2 Goldcrest were at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (10^th).

Up to 3 Kingfishers were on the Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (3 on 13^th, 1 on 12^th), with 1 at Traeth Dulas (10^th) and 1 at Cors Ddyga (11^th).  A Hooded Crow was at Traeth Dulas (14^th) with another at Hen Borth (15^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

A northerly aspect to the wind duly brought a number of sightings of skuas.  2 Great Skuas flew past Point Lynas (16^th), with 1 past Point Lynas (15^th) and 1 past Cemlyn (16^th).  4 Arctic Skuas flew past Point Lynas (16^th), with 3 past Point Lynas (15^th), 2 past Point Lynas (10^th), 1 past South Stack (13^th) and 1 was seen off Benllech (14^th).

17 Mediterranean Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (17 on 14^th, 9 on 12^th), with 1 Beddmanarch Bay (14^th) a 2^nd calendar year bird at Traeth Dulas (10^th) and a 1^st winter bird at Traeth Dulas (14^th).  A juvenile Arctic Tern was at the Alaw estuary (12^th).  There were sightings of Puffin off Point Lynas (1 on 15^th & 1 on 16^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Great Egret were at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (14^th), with another at the Inland Sea (14^th) and 1 was seen in flight at Llyn Llywenan (13^th).  25 Little Egrets were counted at the Inland Sea (14^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The 3 Black Swans continued their stay at the Inland Sea (14^th), with 10 Mute Swans also at this site (14^th).  13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th), with 2 at the Alaw estuary (12^th).  A single Pink-footed Goose flew over the Anglesey coastal path at Bull Bay (16^th).

4 Garganey at Llyn Cefni (15^th) – 3 at west end and 1 at east end, with 1 at Llyn Coron (12^th) and 1 at Llyn Llygeirian (16^th).  300+ Teal were on the Mitigation Pool, Inland Sea (14^th), with 67 at Valley cob (14^th) and 57 at the Alaw estuary (14^th).  15+ Wigeon were at Beddmanarach Bay (14^th), with 8 at Valley cob (14^th) and 3 at Red Wharf Bay (12^th).  A Goosander was at Malltraeth (13^th).  Sightings of Common Scoter included 42 seen off Benllech (14^th), 8 that flew past Bull Bay (14^th) and 30 that flew past Point Lynas (15^th).

Raptors:

There were several reports of an Osprey between Malltraeth and Cors Ddyga which may well relate to a juvenile that has been said to be showing well around Malltraeth cob and the Afon Cefni.  There was a sighting at Cors Ddyga (15^th) and at Malltraeth cob and over the Afon Cefni (13^th,15^th&16^th).  Marsh Harrier sightings included single birds at Cors Ddyga (11^th), at Llyn Coron (12^th) and at Llyn Llywenan (13^th).  Red Kites were seen at Malltraeth (16^th) and over Llangefni (16^th).  A Goshawk was seen at Cemlyn (10^th) and a roosting Barn Owl was at Carmel Head (11^th).

Divers & Grebes:

2 Great Northern Diver flew past Point Lynas (16^th), while sightings of Red-throated Diver included up to 4 past South Stack (4 on 15^th, 1 on 14^th, 1 on 16^th), 2 past Point Lynas (2 on 10^th, 1 on 15^th, 2 on 16^th) and 2 past Cemlyn (16^th).  25 Great Crested Grebes were on the Inland Sea (14^th).

2022 Year List:

Red-necked Phalarope was new for the year and takes the 2022 year list up to 209.