Saturday 17th September – Friday 23rd September 2022.

Introduction:                                         

This year’s first land-based sighting of a Pom ...

Seabirds & gulls:

Pomarine Skua was on the year list courtesy of an adult seen and photographed some 20 miles offshore on the 31^st May.  This week notched up the first land-based sighting with a juvenile seen off Point Lynas (23^rd), along with 3 other probable sightings.  Reports of Arctic Skua were a little thin on the ground with just 2 past Cemlyn (19^th) and 2 past Point Lynas (19^th) together with 1 unidentified skua.  An adult and a 1^st winter Mediterranean Gull were at Traeth Dulas (17^th), with an adult at Penrhos Coastal Park (21^st).  A late Puffin was off Tyn Llan beach, Cemlyn (20^th).

Waders:

A Little Stint was an excellent find at Church Island, Menai Bridge (23^rd), while up to 8 Curlew Sandpiper were at Malltraeth cob and estuary (8 on 21^st, 5 on 23^rd, 4 on 19^th, 1 on 18th), with up to 4 at the Inland Sea (4 on 21^st, 3 on 22^nd), 2 on the Alaw estuary (17^th) and 1 at Valley cob (23^rd).  Sightings of Green Sandpiper included 1 on the east basin of the Cefni reservoir (19^th), 1 on the Alaw estuary (20^th&22^nd), 1 along the Afon Cefni, at Cors Ddyga (21^st) and 1 at the Inland Sea (22^nd).  3 Common Sandpiper were on the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (23^rd).

The American Golden Plover was seen again off Tyn Llan beach, Cemlyn (18^th-23^rd).  Cemlyn also held up to 85+ European Golden Plover (85+ on 21^st, 80 on 19^th), with 1 at Malltraeth cob (23^rd) and 1 at South Stack (23^rd). 7 Grey Plover were at the Inland Sea (21^st), with 1 at Holyhead Bay (19^th), 1 past Point Lynas (19^th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (22^nd).  8 Ringed Plover (19^th) were at Holyhead Bay (19^th), with 3 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (23^rd).  20 Lapwing were at Llyn Llywenan (17^th), with 5 at the west basin of Cefni reservoir (19^th).

3 Sanderling were at Cemlyn (19^th) and 322 Dunlin were at the Inland Sea (21^st).  Sightings of Ruff included 1 at Llyn Llywenan (17^th) and 1 at Malltraeth cob (21^st).  20 Greenshank were on the Alaw estuary (21^st), with 4 at Traeth Dulas (22^nd), 1 at Llyn Llywenan (17^th&22^nd), 2 at Valley cob (18^th), 1 at Church Island (19^th&23^rd) and 1 at Malltraeth (23^rd).  64 Redshank were at the Inland Sea (21^st), with 29 at Church Island (19^th), 17 at the Alaw estuary (20^th) and 9 at Valley cob (18^th).

6 Black-tailed Godwit were at Llyn Llywenan (17^th) and 2 were at Valley cob (18^th&23^rd).  Up to 25 Bar-tailed Godwit were on the Alaw estuary (25 on 23^rd, 14 on 20^th), with up to 6 at Traeth Dulas (6 on 22^nd, 5 on 20^th, 3 on 17^th).  A Whimbrel was at Traeth Dulas (17^th), with 1 at Cemlyn (19^th) and 1 at Rhoscolyn (23^rd).  77 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (20^th), with 5 at Valley cob (18^th).  423 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (20^th).

Passerines and others:

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (21^st) and a Northern Wheatear was at Cemlyn (19^th).  A Lesser Whitethroat was at South Stack (23^rd), as was a Common Whitethroat (23^rd).  c. 12 Chiffchaff – including 4 singing – were around the west basin at Cefni reservoir (19^th), with other sightings including 2 at the Amlwch water treatment plant (20^th), 1 at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (21^st), 1 at South Stack (21^st & 23^rd), 3 along the disused railway line between Llangefni and the A55 (22^nd) and 2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (23^rd).   c. 2 Blackcap were around the west basin at Cefni reservoir (19^th) and a Cetti’s Warbler was at Hen Borth (19^th). 

There was a good passage of Pipits and Wagtails at South Stack (23^rd) which included 233 Meadow Pipits, 17 alba White/Pied Wagtails and 21 Grey Wagtails.  A Grey Wagtail was also seen at Rhoscolyn (23^rd).  100+ House Sparrows were at Mynachdy Farm (18^th) and 8 Greenfinch were at Church Island (23^rd).

It isn’t that long ago that Anglesey year listers would plan a January trip off the island to Aber Ogwen to see a Kingfisher.  Albeit somewhat anecdotal, it does appear that you are far more likely to see one on the island than was the case 20-30 years ago.  Sightings this week included 1 at the Alaw estuary (17^th), 1 at Llyn Llygeirian (18^th), 1 at the west basin of Cefni reservoir (19^th), 2 at Malltraeth (19^th), 1 at Holyhead Harbour (21^st) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (22^nd). 

8 Stock Doves were on a ploughed field alongside Gorad Road, between Valley and Llanynghenedl (23^rd), as was a White Wagtail (23^rd).  A Hooded Crow was between Henborth, Cemlyn and Llanfairynghornwy (21^st) and another was in fields alongside the road from Four Mile bridge to Rhoscolyn (23^rd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Sightings of Great Egret included single birds at the Cefni reservoir (19^th), the Inland Sea (19^th, 21^st & 22^nd) and over Malltraeth cob (21^st).  81 Little Egret were at the Inland Sea (19^th) and this is thought to be the highest count at any one site on the island.  A Water Rail was at the west basin of Cefni reservoir (19^th) with another at Malltraeth (19^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

3 Black Swans were at the Inland Sea (21^st), as were 15 Mute Swans (21^st).  12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were off Penrhos Coastal Park (21^st) and 3 flew past Point Lynas (19^th).  4 Barnacle Geese were at Llyn Llywenan (17^th&21^st), while 179 Canada Geese were at the Inland Sea (20^th).

300+ Wigeon were at the Inland Sea (21^st), with c.15 on the east basin at Cefni reservoir (19^th) and c. 15 on west basin (19^th).  There were c.10 Shoveler on east basin at Cefni reservoir (19^th), with c. 6 on the west basin (19^th).  17 Pintail on the Inland Sea (20^th) were at a traditional winter site, but 6 at the Cefni reservoir were a little more unexpected (19^th). 

Up to 24 Goosander were on the Inland Sea (24 on 21^st, 16 on 19^th), with 14 at Malltraeth (19^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (19^th-23^rd).  An impressive count of Coot was had at the Cefni reservoir with 230 on the east basin (19^th) and 130 on the west basin (19^th).  161 Common Scoter flew past Point Lynas (19^th) with 14 past Cemlyn (19^th).

Raptors:

It continues to be a good time for sightings of Ospreys with 2 at Cors Ddyga (17^th) and 2 around Malltraeth (17^th-23^rd).  Up to 4 Red Kites were over silage fields at Talwrn (4 on 17^th, 1-2 18^th-19^th), with 3 at Llanbedrgoch (21^st) and 1 at the Cefni reservoir (19^th).  Up to 2 Marsh Harriers were at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 22^nd, 1 on 17^th&21^st), with 1 around the west basin at Cefni reservoir (19^th) and 1 over the marsh between Llangefni and the A55 (23^rd).

Divers & Grebes:

9 Red-throated Divers were seen to fly past Point Lynas (19^th) and 1 flew west past North Stack (23^rd).  Up to 32 Great Crested Grebe were on the Inland Sea (32 on 21^st, 30 on 23^rd).

 

2022 Year List:

There were no new additions to the 2022 year list which remains at 209.