Saturday 24th September – Friday 30th September 2022.

Introduction:                                         

… sibe warblers & winter thrushes …

Passerines and others:

There is always a sense of anticipation during late September about the possibility of a Yellow-browed Warbler and this week delivered 2 of these delightful vagrants from Siberia with 1 at a private garden at Valley (25^th-26^th) and 1 heard calling at Wylfa woods (25^th). 

A Lesser Whitethroat continued to be seen at South Stack (25^th-29^th), with the site also having a Common Whitethroat (25^th).  Reports of Chiffchaff included up 5 birds at Wylfa woods (26^th), 2 around the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th), 1 at Rhoscolyn (24^th), 1 at Gadfa (28^th), 1 at Mynydd Parys (28^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (27th & 29^th).  2 Blackcap were around the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th), with 2 at Wylfa woods (26^th), a male and a female were at Amlwch water treatment plant (24^th) and 1 was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (26^th).  A Goldcrest was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (29^th).

There was just the 1 report of a Northern Wheatear – a bird at The Range (24^th).  Swallows continue to be seen in small numbers while 6 House Martins were over the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th).  South Stack (25^th) delivered the 1^st Lapland Bunting of the autumn.  Winter thrushes are starting to return with a number of Fieldfares reported over Brynteg (25^th) and a nocturnal movement of Redwing was heard at Tregele (29^th).  A Kingfisher was by the Valley tidal door (25^th), while 1 was at the Afon Cefni (29^th) and 2 at Malltraeth (29^th).  27 Red-billed Chough were at South Stack (27^th), with a flock of 25 at The Range (25^th).  A Hooded Crow was at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25^th) with another on field between Four Mile Bridge and Rhoscolyn (25^th)

Seabirds & gulls:

Although the wind was in the north for much of the week, the number of Skua sightings was a little disappointing.  Great Skuas have been scarce this year – perhaps reflecting population declines due to Avian Flu – with just 1 past Cemlyn (26^th) and 1 past Point Lynas (27^th).  The number of Arctic Skuas was only a little better with 3 past Point Lynas (24^th), 2 past Cemlyn (25^th), 3 past Point Lynas (26^th), 1 past North Stack (26^th) and 1 past Point Lynas (27^th).  There were reasonable numbers of commoner seabirds still to be had, with a 1-hour seawatch off Point Lynas (25^th) producing 180 Gannets, 150 Kittiwakes, c. 1500 auks and c. 30 Manx Shearwaters.

A Sabine’s Gull was seen to fly past Bull Bay (27^th) and a Little Gull past Point Lynas (28^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included 53 at the Alaw estuary (28^th), 1 at Traeth Dulas (24^th), 1 at the Cymyran estuary (24^th), 1 at Penmon (28^th) and 2 that flew past Point Lynas (28^th).  3 Black Guillemots were at Holyhead harbour (29^th), with 2 winter plumaged birds in the bay at Cemlyn (25^th) and 2 juveniles at Porth-y-Mor (29^th). 

Waders:

Up to 8 Curlew Sandpipers were in the Malltraeth area, with 8 on the Cefni estuary (29^th) and up to 5 on the cob pool (5 on 24^th, 3 on 24^th).  Elsewhere, 1 was at the Alaw estuary (24^th) and 1 was at Valley cob (27^th- 29^th).  5 Green Sandpipers were on the eastern basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th), with 2 Common Sandpipers at Church Island (24^th) and 1 at the Afon Cefni, Malltraeth (29^th).

The American Golden Plover was seen again at Cemlyn (24^th-25^th).  80+ European Golden Plover were also at Cemlyn (24^th), with 33 at the Alaw estuary (28^th), 30+ on the Cefni estuary (29^th) and 1 at Porth-y-Mor (29^th).  14 Grey Plover were between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th), with 1 at Traeth Dulas (24^th&27^th).  Sightings of Ringed Plover included 56 at the Cymyran estuary (24^th), 30 between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th) and 10 at Porth-y-Mor (29^th).  6 Lapwing were on the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th).

A Sanderling was near Llanddwyn island (25^th), while sightings of Dunlin included 232 between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th) and 16 at the Cymyran estuary (24^th).  2 Snipe were at the Inland Sea (24^th), with 1 at the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th).  2 Ruff were at Beddmanarch Bay (29^th) and 2 were on the Cefni estuary (29^th). 

11 Greenshank were between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th), 10 were at the Alaw estuary (28^th), 6 were at Traeth Dulas (24^th), 3 were at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th), up to 3 were at Valley cob (3 on 24^th&27^th, 2 on 28^th, 1 on 29^th) and 1 was at Church Island (24^th).  28 Redshank were between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th), 9 were at Traeth Dulas (24^th), 8 were at Valley cob (24^th), 7 were at the Alaw estuary (28^th) and 7 were at the Cymyran estuary (24^th).  Sightings of Black-tailed Godwit included 3 at Valley cob (24^th) and 1 at the Inland Sea (24^th).  20 Bar-tailed Godwit were at the Alaw estuary (28^th), with 6 at Traeth Dulas (24^th).

355 Curlew were roosting at Penmon Pool at High Tide (28^th), with other counts including 62 between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th), 46 at the Alaw estuary (28^th), 36 at the Cymyran estuary (24^th) and 14 at The Range (25^th).  514 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (28^th), with 82 between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was at the Inland Sea (24^th) and another was at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

4 Whooper Swans flew in off the sea and over Cemlyn (25^th), while a single bird was at Cemlyn (29^th).  29 Pink-footed Geese flew over the Alaw estuary (24^th), while 3 were on fields near Cemlyn (27^th).  22 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Alaw estuary (28^th), with both Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese being seen at Beddmanarch Bay (29^th) and 1 seen in flight past Point Lynas (28^th).

A WeBS count between Inland Sea between Four-mile Bridge and Cymyran (25^th) produced 100 Wigeon, 67 Teal and 3 Pintail.  9 Wigeon were at Traeth Dulas (24^th), 8 were at the Alaw estuary (28^th) and up to 8 were at Valley Cob (7 on 28^th, 4 on 24^th).  The western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th) held c. 30 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, c. 175 Teal and c. 50 Gadwall.  9 Gadwall were at Valley Cob (24^th), with the site also having up to 24 Teal (24 on 28^th, 13 on 24^th).  A drake Eider was in the bay at Cemlyn (25^th).  14 Goosander were at the Inland Sea (24^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was at Malltraeth (25^{th &} 30^th), while 2 Red Kites were over RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th).  A Marsh Harrier was at Llyn Llywenan (29^th), with another at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th).  A Merlin was watched chasing Meadow Pipits at South Stack road (29^th).

Divers & Grebes:

2 Great Northern Divers flew past Point Lynas (29^th).  Sightings of Red-throated Divers included 7 past Cemlyn (25^th), 1 past Point Lynas (25^th), 1 past Point Lynas (26^th), 2 past Point Lynas (27^th) and 2 past Amlwch Port (27^th).  c. 40 Little Grebe were on the western basin of the Cefni reservoir (24^th).

 

2022 Year List:

Yellow-browed Warbler and Sabine’s Gull were new for the year and takes the 2022 year list up to 211.