Saturday 22nd October – Friday 28th October 2022.

Introduction:                                         

…  Fabulous Firecrests …

Passerines and others:

It has been somewhat of a bumper year for Firecrests, with at least 14 birds seen on the island this year so far.  In 2020 there were just 4 records, with 5 in 2021.  Sightings this week included 2 at South Stack (22^nd), up to 4 at Wylfa woods (4 heard on 23^rd, 3 seen on 24^th, 2 seen on 22^nd&27^th), 1 at Moelfre in bushes by the RNLI car park (27^th) and 1 at Brynteg (27^th).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was at a private garden north of Llanfairynghornwy (23^rd-28^th), with another in trees surrounding a patch of rough ground to the west of access road to Octel, Amlwch Port (24^th).  5 Chiffchaff were at Wylfa woods (24^th), with 1 at Soldier’s Point (24^th) and 1 at South Stack (25^th).  A Willow Warbler was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (27^th).  Sightings of Blackcap included 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (23^rd-f), 2 at Wylfa woods (24^th), 1 west of the access road to Octel, Amlwch Port (24^th - f), 1 near the former Octel social club (25^th - m) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (26^th&27^th – m).

It was a good week for Ring Ouzel with 1 at South Stack (22^nd) and up to 3 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (3 on 23^rd, 1 from 25^th-28^th).  A Woodlark flew over Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (25^th), a Tree Sparrow flew west at Point Lynas (28^th) and up to 3 Lapland Buntings flew over South Stack (3 on 23^rd, 1 on 25^th).  Other flyovers at South Stack (23^rd) included 3 Brambling and 42 Siskin. 

A Sand Martin was at Traeth Lligwy (25^th) and a Barn Swallow was seen at Llanbadrig (24^th).  A Treecreeper at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (26^th) was only Ken Croft’s 2^nd site record in 48 years!  Up to 2 Kingfisher were at Holyhead Harbour (2 on 23^rd, 1 on 25^th), 1 was at Cemlyn (23rd) and 1 was near the bridge at Malltraeth (27^th).

Waders:

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Traeth Dulas (25^th) and a Common Sandpiper was at Holyhead Harbour (25^th).  A single Knot was at the Alaw estuary (24^th), as were 95 Dunlin (24^th) and 10 Turnstone (24^th). 

35 Grey Plover were at the Alaw estuary (24^th), 89 Ringed Plover were at the Alaw estuary (24^th) and 44 Lapwing were seen in flight over Gadfa (27^th).  A Ruff was at the Alaw estuary (24^th), as were 22 Bar-tailed Godwits (24^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 1 at Pont Cadnant, near Menai Bridge (23^rd), up to 8 at Traeth Dulas (8 on 28^th, 5 on 24^th) and 2 at the Alaw estuary (24^th).  30 Redshank were at Traeth Dulas (24^th), with 23 at the Alaw estuary (24^th).  49 Curlew were at the Alaw estuary (24^th) and 266 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (24^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech (22^nd), while other sea ducks included 3 Eider off Benllech (22^nd), a Eider duck off Beddmanarch Bay (26^th) and 66 Common Scoter off Benllech (22^nd).  A female Goldeneye was at Cemlyn (23^rd) and there was a report of a drake Scaup at Llyn Penrhyn (date unspecified).

2 Whooper Swans continued their stay at Twr reservoir, South Stack (23^rd – 27^th), as did 2 on fields off the approach road to Cemlyn (23^rd).  57 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Alaw estuary (24^th).  196 Wigeon were at the Alaw estuary (24^th), 39 Pintail were at the Alaw estuary (24^th), while counts of Teal included 200+ at Llyn Coron (23^rd) and 61 at the Alaw estuary (24^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

Sightings Mediterranean Gull included 1 at Pont Cadnant, near Menai Bridge (23^rd), 2 at Traeth Dulas (24^th) and 7 at the Alaw estuary (24^th).  A Black Guillemot was at Holyhead Harbour (25^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Water Rail was heard at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (25^th-26^th) – the first of this autumn period.

Raptors:

A Short-eared Owl flew over Point Lynas (24^th), while 2 were seen to fly in over the sea at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (27^th).  A Marsh Harrier was at Llyn Coron (23^rd), with another at Llyn Llywenan (27^th). Sightings of Merlin included 1 at Henborth, Cemlyn (23^rd), 1 at South Stack (24^th), 1 at Llyn Llywenan (27^th) and 1 at Point Lynas (28^th).

Divers & Grebes:

A Great Northern Diver was seen off Cemlyn (23^rd), with another at Beddmanarch Bay (23^rd) and 1 off Porth y Mor, near Lligwy (28^th).  Sightings of Red-throated Divers included 3 off Benllech (22^nd), 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (23^rd) and 1 off Porth-y-Mor (28^th).

2022 Year List:

There were no new additions to the 2022-year list which remains at 215.