Saturday 3rd September – Friday 9th September 2022.

Introduction:

6 species of Sandpiper…

Waders:

With only 6 previous records for Anglesey – and the last record being as long ago as 2013 – a Buff-breasted Sandpiper found at Cemlyn (4^th) was a very welcome addition to many a year list.  Not so scarce, but still a good bird was a Wood Sandpiper found at Valley cob – a.k,a. Valley doors (8^th-9^th).  Curlew Sandpiper are annual but it has been somewhat of a bumper year with up to 16 at the Alaw estuary (16 on 6^th, 12 on 5^th, 12 on 8^th, 10 on 7^th, 8 on 4^th, 5 on 3^rd&9^th), up to 14 at Malltraeth cob pool (14 on 8^th, 13 on 6^th, 12 on 9^th, 9 on 4^th, 4 on 3^rd, 3 on 5^th) and 2 at Valley cob (9^th).  2 Purple Sandpiper were at Cemlyn (4^th), with sightings of Green Sandpiper including 1 at the Cefni reservoir (4^th) and up to 2 at the Alaw estuary (2 on 7^th, 1 on 8^th).  To complete the 6 species, there were 2 Common Sandpiper at the Alaw estuary (2 on 6^th, 1 on 4^th & 5^th).

There were 5 species of Plover with the headlining bird being Anglesey’s 9^th American Golden Plover which continued its stay at Cemlyn (3^rd-9^th).  The bird could often be found on rocks off Tyn Llan beach – particularly towards high tide or on the fields adjacent to the shore.  25 European Golden Plover were also at Cemlyn (4^th), with 1 on The Range (5^th).  A Grey Plover was at the Alaw estuary (5^th), 14 Ringed Plover were at the Alaw estuary (6^th) and 7 Lapwing were at the Cefni reservoir (9^th).

Up to 2 Little Stint were at Malltraeth cob pool (2 on 3^rd & 5^th, 1 on 4^th, 6^th, 8^th & 9^th), while sightings of Sanderling included up to 16 at the Alaw estuary (16 on 5^th, 1 on 6^th) and 4 at Cemlyn (4^th).  Reports of Knot included up to 37 at the Alaw estuary (37 on 6^th, 13 on 5^th), up to 3 at Malltraeth cob pool (3 on 4^th, 1 on 3^rd&9^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (5^th).  200+ Dunlin were on the Inland Sea (3^rd), up to 95 were at the Alaw estuary (95 on 5^th, 40 on 6th, 7 on 4^th), 20 were at Cemlyn (4^th), 2 were at Valley cob (8^th) and 1 was at the Cefni reservoir (4^th).  5 Common Snipe were at the Cefni reservoir (4^th), while 5 flew over Traeth Dulas (6^th) and 1 was at Valley cob (8^th).  45 Turnstone were counted at Cemlyn (4^th).

It was a good week for Ruff with up to 9 at the Alaw estuary (9 on 3^rd, 2 on 5^th & 7^th, 1 on 8^th), 4 at Llyn Llywenan (8^th), up to 4 at the Cefni reservoir (4 on 9^th, 3 on 6^th, 2 on 4^th), up to 3 at Malltraeth cob pool (3 on 3^rd, 2 on 6^th, 1 on 9^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (8^th).  Up to 21 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (21 on 3^rd, 14 on 5^th & 6^th, 13 on 9^th, 12 on 4^th), up to 10 were at Traeth Dulas (10 on 6^th, 1 on 5^th, 8 on 7^th), 4 were at Valley cob (8^th), 2 were at Cemlyn (4^th) and 1 was at Llyn Llywenan (8^th).  17 Redshank were at the Alaw estuary (4th & 6^th) and 7 were at Valley cob (8^th).

10 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Cefni estuary (3^rd), 9 were at Valley cob (8^th), 5 were at Malltraeth cob pool (6^th), 5 were at Llyn Llywenan (8^th), 2 were at Traeth Dulas (6^th) and 2 were at the Inland Sea (8^th).  Up to 35 Bar-tailed Godwit were at the Alaw estuary (35 on 5^th, 23 on the 9^th, 18+ on 8^th, 14 on 6^th, 1 on 4^th), 20 flew past Point Lynas (9^th), 13 were on the Inland Sea (3^rd), 6 were at Red Wharf Bay (9^th) and 2 were at Traeth Dulas (7^th&9^th).  2 Whimbrel were at Traeth Dulas (3^rd & 6^th), with 1 at Cemlyn (4^th).  183 Curlew were at Traeth Dulas (5^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

Those watching the Buff-breasted Sandpiper had an added bonus when a juvenile White-winged Black Tern was found on the bricks around the main island, Cemlyn (4^th).  This was only the 8^th record for Anglesey, with the last having been a spectacular summer-plumaged adult at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn during June 2014.  Sightings of Arctic Skua included 1 seen off Cemlyn (3^rd) and 16 that flew past Point Lynas (9^th).  A Great Skua also flew past Point Lynas (9^th) as did a Balearic Shearwater (9^th).  A couple of Gannets were seen in unusual places – perhaps casualties of Avian Flu – with 1 on the Inland Sea (8^th) and one on a field north of Llanfairynghornwy (8^th).

Up to 13 Mediterranean Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (13 on 6^th, 4 on 4^th, 1 on 9^th), with up to 6 at Traeth Dulas – up to 2 adult winter (1 on 3^rd, 2 on 9^th) and up to 4 1^st calendar years (4 on 3^rd, 1 on 6^th, 7^th & 9^th) and 2 1^st calendar years were at Borth Wen (6^th).  A Puffin was seen to fly past Point Lynas (4^th).

Passerines and others:

A Spotted Flycatcher was at The Range, Holyhead (5^th).  Sightings of Whinchat included 2 between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (9^th), 1 at Cemlyn (3^rd-5^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (3^rd&9^th) and 1 at the Breakwater Country Park (7^th).  Reports of Northern Wheatear included 12 at The Range (5^th), up to 2 at Cemlyn (2 on 4^th, 1 on 3^rd), 1 at the Alaw estuary (3^rd), 1 at Soldier’s Point (7^th) and 1 the Breakwater Country Park (7^th). 

Reports of Common Whitethroat included 2 at Carmel Head (7^th), 1 – possibly 2 – at Cae Llyn, Rhoscolyn (6^th), 1 at Cestyll gardens near Cemlyn (4^th), 1 at The Range (5^th), 1 at the Breakwater Country Park (7^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (9^th).  Up to 3 Chiffchaff were at South Stack (3 on 5^th. 1 on 3^rd), with 1 at the Breakwater Country Park (5^th) and 1 at Valley cob (8^th).  2 Willow Warblers were at Carmel Head (7^th).  In a further sign of Autumn, an observer had their 1^st Goldcrest of the autumn at the Breakwater Country Park (7^th).  Cetti’s Warblers were singing at Valley cob (8^th), Valley wetlands RSPB (8^th) and Llyn Maelog (9^th).   90 Goldfinch were at Carmel Head (7^th).  A juvenile Cuckoo was at Hen Borth (4^th), while sightings of Kingfisher included up to 3 at the Alaw estuary (9^th), 2 at Malltraeth cob pool (4^th), 2 at Cemlyn (3^rd-9^th), 1 at Valley cob (8^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (9^th).  A Common Swift was seen over the Alaw estuary (8^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The Cattle Egret was seen again in fields north of Cors Ddyga (3^rd&9^th), while sightings of Great Egret included 1 at Llyn Alaw (3^rd) and 1 at the Inland Sea (9^th).  A Water Rail was seen at the Alaw estuary (5^th), with 2 at Malltraeth cob pool (6^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A female-type Mandarin flew off the beach at Hen Borth (9^th) and headed inland.  The 3 Black Swans remained on the Inland Sea (3^rd&9^th), while the first 5 returning Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the Inland Sea (8^th).  3 Garganey were at the Cefni reservoir (4^th & 6^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (3^rd).  450 Teal were at the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (9^th), with 43 at the Alaw estuary (6^th) and 6 at Valley cob (8^th).  20 Wigeon were on the Inland Sea (3^rd), with 1 on Malltraeth cob pool (6^th).  Up to 7 Pintail were at the Alaw estuary (7 on 4^th, 4 on 9^th), while 5 were at Llyn Maelog (9^th), 2 were on the Inland Sea (3^rd) and 2 were at the Cefni reservoir (9^th).  2 Shoveler were on the Inland Sea (3^rd).  4 Goosander were on Llyn Maelog (9^th) and 161 Common Scoter flew past Point Lynas over a 2hr seawatch (9^th).

Raptors:

A juvenile Hobby was seen chasing hirundines at Malltraeth cob pool (3^rd).  Up to 2 Marsh Harrier were at the Alaw estuary (2 on 4^th, 1 on 6^th), while 2 were at Llyn Llywenan (7^th) and 1 at Cors Ddyga (9^th).  An Osprey was at the Alaw estuary (3^rd), with a number of sightings (9^th) perhaps relating to the same bird – Malltraeth cob pool, over Cors Ddyga and over the Afon Cefni.  A Red Kite was seen near Llannerchymedd (4^th), with 1 seen feeding on prey on a road near Pentraeth (7^th) and another over Cors Bodeilio (9^th).

Divers & Grebes:

A Great Northern Diver flew past Point Lynas (9^th) and a Red-throated Diver flew past Cemlyn (9^th).

 

2022 Year List:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper and White-winged Black Tern were both new for the year and takes the 2022 year list up to 208.