Saturday 1st October – Friday 7th October 2022

Introduction:                                         

… windy and wet …

Seabirds & gulls:

In a week where the weather has been dominated by strong winds and rain, seabirds have led the line in respect of the scarcer sightings.  Cemlyn produced the best seawatching of the week with a Leach’s Petrel (5^th), a Sooty Shearwater (2^nd), a Balearic Shearwater (2^nd), 19 Manx Shearwaters (2^nd), 2 Arctic Skuas (2^nd) and 2 juvenile Sabine’s Gulls (6^th).  An adult Sabine’ Gull flew past Raven’s Point, Trearddur Bay (6^th).  There was a belated report of a 1^st calendar year Yellow-legged Gull at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (29^th), while 34 Mediterranean Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (6^th).  3 Arctic Terns flew past Cemlyn (2^nd).

Passerines and others:

A Yellow-browed Warbler was in willows around Cwm Lake at South Stack (1^st-2^nd), while a Lesser Whitethroat was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (5^th).  Sightings of Chiffchaff included 5 around Cwm lake (1^st) and 4 at Wylfa woods (1^st), while 2 Blackcap were at Wylfa woods (1st).  A Spotted Flycatcher was at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (5^th).  2 House Martins were over Tyn Llan fields Cemlyn (1^st), with several Swallows still over Llyn Llywenan (6^th) and 1 over Porth Eilian (3^rd). 

There was a noticeable influx of Skylarks including 15 that flew west over Cemaes (1^st), 50 that were seen to come in over the sea at Cemlyn (2^nd) and 120 on the large arable field between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (2^nd).  Up to 2 Kingfishers were at the Alaw estuary (2 on 2^nd, 1 on 6^th), with 1 on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (4^th) and 1 at Holyhead Harbour (7^th).  A Hooded Crow was at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (1^st).

Waders:

2 Little Stints were at Traeth Dulas (4^th), with a Curlew Sandpiper at Valley cob (2^nd).  A Green Sandpiper was near the clapper bridge at the Llanfachraeth end of Alaw estuary (2^nd).  10 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (6^th), as was a single Snipe (6^th).

200 + European Golden Plover were at Cemlyn (1^st), but there were no sightings during the week of the American Golden Plover. It could still be in the area as the European Golden Plovers were split across several groups around the Tyn Lan – Cemlyn area and it would be relatively easy for it to be overlooked.

Sightings of Grey Plover included 4 at Traeth Dulas (4^th) and 2 at Cemlyn (1^st).  Up to 2 Ruff were on the beach at Cemlyn (2 on 2^nd, 1 on 5^th).  40 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the Alaw estuary (6^th).  Up to 17 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (17 on 6^th, 9 at Llanfachraeth end on 2^nd), with up to 4 at Traeth Dulas (4 on 6^th, 1 on 4^th) and 1 at Valley cob (2^nd).  11 Redshank were at Traeth Dulas (6^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No records of note.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

50 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Beddmanarch Bay (4^th), with a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose also present (4^th).  4 Pintail were at the Alaw estuary (6^th), 7 Gadwall at Valley cob (4^th) and 168 Teal were at the Alaw estuary (6^th).

Raptors:

A juvenile Osprey – with 3^rd primary missing on 1 wing – was at Malltraeth (1^st-7^th).  A Red Kite was over Talwrn (5^th), a female Marsh Harrier at Llyn Llywenan (2^nd) and a Merlin at Cemlyn (3^rd&5^th).

Divers & Grebes:

A Black-throated Diver was seen off Cemlyn (5^th), with sightings of Red-throated Diver including 8 past Cemlyn (2^nd), 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (4^th) and 1 past North Stack (7^th).

 

2022 Year List:

Leach’s Petrel, Sooty Shearwater and Yellow-legged Gull were new for the year.  A submission to the WBRC is still awaited in respect of a Ring-billed Gull at Gorad beach on the 27^th February, so this is being taken off the 2022-year to date tally pending a submission.  There is therefore a net increase of 2 in up to 213.