Saturday 27th August – Friday 2nd September 2022.

Introduction:

Always good to have an American wader locally …

Waders:

This week’s headline bird was a moulting adult American Golden Plover found at Cemlyn and the bird was still present late afternoon today (31^st- 2^nd).  It was initially found on a small islet off the shore near Tyn Llan, but could often also be seen on nearby fields.  The record has already been accepted by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee.  Up to 9 European Golden Plover were at Cemlyn (9 on 30^th, 8 on 31^st – was 1 of the 9 possibly the AGP?), while 8 flew over Malltraeth cob pool (28^th).  Up to 5 Lapwing were at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (5 on 27^th, 4 on 1^st, 3 on 31^st).

Up to 3 Little Stint were at Malltraeth cob pool (3 on 2^nd, 2 on 1^st), with the same site also having up to 3 Curlew Sandpiper (3 on 27^th, 2 on 2^nd, 1 on 29^th&31^st).  A Green Sandpiper was at South Stack (27^th), while up to 2 were at the Alaw estuary (2 on 29^th, 1 on 1^st), up to 4 were at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (4 on 29^th, 2 on 27^th & 2^nd) and 1 was at Llyn Llygerian (2^nd).   There was a Common Sandpiper at Llyn Coron (27^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (29^th&1^st).

There were 12 Sanderling at Newborough beach – north of Llanddwyn (30^th), with 1 at Cemlyn (31^st).  Up to 3 Knot were at Malltraeth cob pool (3 on 27^th, 2 on 1^st), with 2 at the Alaw estuary (1^st), 1 at Cemlyn (31^st) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (1^st).  Malltraeth cob pool pulled in up to c. 250 Dunlin (c. 250 on 27^th, c. 240 on 30^th, c. 190 (28^th) and c.150 (1^st).  A Common Snipe was at Malltraeth cob pool (27^th&28^th), with 1 at The Range (30^th), 2 at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (1^st), 2 at Llyn Llygerian (1^st) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (1^st).

There were several sightings of Ruff, with up to 2 at Malltraeth cob pool (2 on 31^st, 1 on 27^th, 28^th, 1^st & 2^nd), 1 at Llyn Coron (27^th), 1 at Llyn Cefni (27^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (29^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (31^st).  Sightings of Greenshank included up to 17 at the Alaw estuary (17 on 29^th, 14 on 1^st), 1 at Cefni reservoir (27^th), 1 at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th), up to 5 at Traeth Dulas (5 on 31^st, 2 on 1^st, 1 on 30^th), 1 at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (30^th), 1 at Cemlyn (31^st) and 1 at Valley cob (2^nd).  c.100 Redshank were at Malltraeth cob pool (c.100 on 27^th, 80+ on 28^th, c.60 on 30^th & 1^st) and up to 28 were at the Alaw estuary (28 on 29^th, 17 on 1^st).

Up to 27 Black-tailed Godwits were at Valley cob (27 on 29^th, 21 on 2^nd), with up to 15 at Malltraeth cob pool (15 on 1^st, 9 on 27^th, 8 on 28^th, 3 on 31^st), 6 on the Cefni estuary (31^st) and up to 5 at the Alaw estuary (5 on 29^th, 2 on 1^st 29^th).  Up to 21 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the Alaw estuary (21 on 1^st, 4 on 29^th).

Reports of Whimbrel included 1 at Silver Bay (30^th) and 1 at the Cefni estuary (31^st). 

Up to 176 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (176 on 29^th, 97 on 1^st), with 128 at Traeth Dulas (30^th).  Up to 533 Oystercatcher were at the Alaw estuary (533 on 29^th, 326 on 1^st).

Passerines and others:

A Pied Flycatcher at South Stack (30^th) was a new addition to the 2022 year list, while a Common Redstart at Cors Ddyga RSPB (2^nd) was only the 3^rd for the year.   A Spotted Flycatcher at South Stack (30^th).  Chiffchaff was the most frequently reported warbler with 5 - 2 of which were singing - at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (1^st), up to 4 at South Stack (4 on 30^th, 2 on 27^th), 4 at the Breakwater Country Park (27^th) and 1 at The Range (30^th).  A solitary Willow Warbler was at South Stack (27^th&30^th).  Sightings of Blackcap included 1 at South Stack (27^th&30^th) and 2 at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (1^st).  7 Common Whitethroat were at South Stack (30^th) and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Cors Ddyga RSPB (2^nd).

Sightings of Whinchat included 1 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (1^st) and 1 at Cemlyn (1^st&2^nd).  There were 14 Northern Wheatear at The Range (30^th), with 2 at Cemlyn (31^st) and 1 at Point Lynas (28^th).  c. 35 House Martins at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (1^st), as were c.15 Sand Martins.  Reports of commoner finches included c. 60 Linnet at Point Lynas (28^th), 30 Linnet at Malltraeth cob pool (30^th), c. 275 Goldfinch at Point Lynas (28^th) and 50 Goldfinch at Cors Bodeillio (1^st).  32 Mistle Thrushes were counted between Talwrn and Llanbedrgoch (31^st).

A Hooded Crow was at Traeth Dulas (31^st), with another at the Alaw estuary (1^st).  A flock of 18 Chough were at South Stack (30^th).  A juvenile Cuckoo was at Cors Ddyga RSPB (2^nd).  Kingfishers appear to have had a good year on Anglesey with this week’s sightings including 1 at Valley cob (29^th), 4 at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (29^th&30^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Cattle Egret was seen in fields north of the river at Cors Ddyga RSPB (28th – as viewed from stone bridge & 2^nd – as viewed from the metal bridge).  10 Grey Herons were at Cefni reservoir (27^th).  Up to 2 Water Rail were at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (2 on 1^st – 1 seen, 1 on 27^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

A Cory’s Shearwater was seen flying west past Point Lynas (1^st), while a Balearic Shearwater was seen feeding off the point (29^th).  3 Arctic Skuas were seen to fly past Cemlyn (31^st), with 2 past Bull Bay (31^st).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gull included an adult at Traeth Dulas (30^th), an adult at Beddmanarch Bay (31^st) and a juvenile at Traeth Dulas (31^st).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Up to 62 Mute Swans were counted at Cefni reservoir (62 on 27^th, 47 on 31^st).  4 Barnacle Geese were at Malltraeth (28^th), with up to 3 at Llyn Coron (3 on 27^th, 2 on 29^th).  A Pink-footed Goose was at Malltraeth (28^th-29^th).

Up to 2 Garganey were at the east end of the Cefni reservoir (2 on 27^th, 1 on 2^nd), while Teal are returning in some numbers with up to 186 noted on the Alaw estuary (186 on 1^st, 3 on 29^th), c.60 at Malltraeth cob pool (27^th) and 35 at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (1^st).  10 Wigeon were on Malltraeth cob pool (31^st) and 5 were at the Cefni reservoir (31^st).  Up to 60 Gadwall were also at the Bodfordd end of the Cefni reservoir (60 on 27^th, 25 on 1^st) as were 3 Shoveler (27^th).  30 Common Scoter flew past Point Lynas (28^th).  A Goosander was at the Alaw estuary (29^th).

Raptors:

Sightings of Marsh Harriers included 1 at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th), up to 3 at Llyn Llywenan (3 on 29^th, 2 on 31^st) and 1 at Llyn Coron (31^st).  An Osprey was seen to fly along the Menai Strait (29^th), with another at Rhoscolyn (1^st).  Up to 2 Red Kites were at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 29^th, 1 on 31^st), with 1 seen at Trefdraeth (1^st) and 1 between Talwrn and Pentraeth (2^nd).  The recent sighting of a Black Kite at Llyn Coron has been accepted by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee.

Divers & Grebes:

The high concentration of Little Grebes at the Cefni reservoir continued with a count of 41 reported (31^st).  30+ were noted on the eastern basin (27^th), with c.20 seen on the western basin (1^st).

 

2022 Year List:

American Golden Plover and Pied Flycatcher were both new for the year and takes the 2022 year list up to 206.