Saturday 12th November – Friday 18th November 2022.

Introduction:                                         

…  a sought after winter grebe …

Divers & Grebes:

Black-necked Grebe is a rare bird, on and around the coast of Anglesey, with the last record probably relating to a bird that wintered on the Inland Sea into January 2017.  News of one on the flooded enclosure to the right of the path to the river at Cors Ddyga RSPB (13^th - 18^th) was warmly welcomed and the bird has been enjoyed by many.  On occasions, the bird would come quite close and at least once ventured on to the inner drainage channel that runs alongside the cycle track.

Sightings of Great Northern Divers included 1 in the bay at Cemlyn (12^th), up to 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (2 from 12^th-13^th, with 1 on 17^th & 18^th), 1 at Holyhead fish quay (13^th), up to 2 at the Inland Sea (2 on 17^th, 1 on 13^th) and 2 that flew past Point Lynas (18^th).  Sightings of Red-throated Divers included 2 that flew west past Cemlyn (12^th), up to 15+ seen off Benllech (15+ on 16^th, 6 on 12^th), 1 off Holyhead fish quay (13^th), 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (13^th) and 5 that flew past Point Lynas (18^th).  A Slavonian Grebe was at Beddmanarch Bay (12^th-13^th).

Passerines and others:

Up to 3 Tree Sparrows were in a mixed finch flock at Llanfwrog (3 on 13^th, 1 on 16^th), with up to 5 Water Pipits at Cors Ddyga RSPB (1 on 12^th, 14^th – 16^th, 2 on 18^th – 5 reported by warden but date unspecified).  Up to 4 Snow Buntings remained on the rough ground at the base of Holyhead breakwater (4 on 12^th&14^th, 3 on 15^th, 2 on 16^th), with 1 also seen at Cemlyn (15^th).

The excellent run for Firecrest and Black Redstart continued.  Sightings of Firecrest included 1 at the Pentre Berw water treatment plant (12^th), 1 near Cerrig yr Adar, Rhoscolyn (15^th) and 2 at Llyn Coron (16^th).  Black Redstarts were seen on the rough ground at the base of Holyhead breakwater (12^th), at Amlwch Port (14^th), at Newborough (17^th) and at Point Lynas (18^th).  A Ring-Ouzel was seen between Garreg Lwyd and Bryn Ffysiwn, Rhoscolyn (12^th &16^th), while another flew across a road at Llanfairynghornwy (17^th).

A Cetti’s Warbler was in scrub behind Cymyran beach (13^th), with another in scrub at Porth Eilian (17^th) while others could be heard calling all week at Cors Ddyga RSPB.  A Chiffchaff was at South Stack (12^th), with 1 at Rhoscolyn (16^th), 2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (16^th) and 2 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (16^th).  A female Blackcap was near Llafur, Rhoscolyn (15^th).

There was a single Twite at Holyhead breakwater (12^th & 14^th), with 1 at Porth Trecastell (14^th).  35 Siskin were at South Stack (12^th), c. 30 Siskin were seen near to the Cymyran estuary (12^th) and 4 were feeding in alders around the rough ground at Octel, Amlwch Port (12^th).

Sightings of Kingfisher included 1 at Traeth Dulas (13^th), 1 at Malltraeth (13^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14^th).  There was a notable pre-roost assembly of 28 Collared Doves on overhead wires at Llanynghenedl (13^th).

Waders:

Up to 22 Purple Sandpipers were at Cemlyn (22 on 13^th, 18 on 12^th).  A Common Sandpiper was seen at Holyhead Harbour (14^th & 16^th), with another at Church Island (14^th).  A Green Sandpiper was at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  222 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (15^th), with 20 at the Cymyran estuary (12^th) and 8 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (15^th).  4 Knot were at Beddmanarch Bay (12^th).

15 Jack Snipe were flushed from the saltmarsh at the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (13^th), with 1 at Porth yr Ych, Rhoscolyn (12^th), 1 at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (13^th) and up to 2 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (2 on 17^th, 1 on 16^th).  200+ Common Snipe were at the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (13^th), with 30 at the Alaw estuary (13^th), 30 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (14^th) and 6 at Porth yr Ych, Rhoscolyn (12^th).  There was a marked increase in the number of Woodcock reported with 1 at Rhoscolyn (13^th), 1 at Cymyran (13^th), 1 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (14^th), 2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14^th) and 1 at Pentraeth (16^th).

47 Grey Plover were at the Alaw estuary (15^th), with 6 at Cemlyn (12^th).  There were 93 Common Ringed Plover at Beddmanarch Bay (17^th) and 16 Golden Plover were at Cymyran (13^th).  369 Lapwing were at the Alaw estuary (15^th), with 160 at Cymyran (13^th), 85 at the Inland Sea (17^th) and 50 at South Stack (12^th).  A Ruff was at Cors Ddyga RSPB (15^th).

11 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (15^th), with 5 at the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (13^th), 1 at Church Island (14^th), 1 at the Inland Sea (17^th) and 5 at Traeth Dulas (18^th).  Counts of Redshank included 113 at Cymyran (13^th), 85 at Traeth Dulas (13^th) and 37 at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  Up to 100 Black-tailed Godwits were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (100 on 15^th, c.50 on 14^th), while 31 were on a flooded field at Valley cross roads (13^th), 15 were at the Gorad flood, Valley (12^th) and 8 were at Beddmanarch Bay (17^th).  14 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  172 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (15^th) with 59 at Cymyran (13^th).

Up to 141 Curlew were at Cymyran (141 on 13^th, 90 on 15^th), with 133 at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  News was received this week that a colour ringed Curlew seen at Traeth Dulas on the 5^th July and 6^th August was part of a programme set up to understand autumn movements from breeding grounds in Northumbria and Lancashire.  14 Curlew were tagged with GPS-transmitters paid for by local landowners. 10 birds were caught and tagged in Northumbria (South Tynedale) and 4 in Lancashire (Forest of Bowland). Amazingly, 2 of the 14 birds are wintering within a few kms of each other at Traeth Dulas, 1 from Lancashire and 1 from Northumbria. The colour ringed bird reported from Traeth Dulas was a male from Lancashire and had been ringed at its breeding site during May.  The bird’s satellite tag had shown that it had left its breeding site in the Forest of Bowland on the 21^st June, and arrived at Traeth Dulas later that day.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A Whooper Swan was at Gorad flood, Valley (12^th), with the same or another seen nearby at the Inland Sea (13^th & 17^th).  41 Mute Swans were at the Inland Sea (17^th), with 7 at the Gorad flood, Valley (12^th) and 5 at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  The 5 Barnacle Geese were seen again on fields to the west of the west car park at Cemlyn (12^th), while 5 Egyptian Geese were seen at Llyn Coron (16^th).  Sightings of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 311 at the Inland Sea (17^th), 123 at the Alaw estuary (15^th) and 72 at Cymyran (13^th). 

The male and female Long-tailed Ducks were seen again off Benllech (12^th-15^th), while a female Common Scoter was on the Inland Sea (17^th).  There was a noticeable increase in the number of Goldeneye reported which included 14 at the Inland Sea (17^th), 2 at Llyn Llywenan (17^th) and 1 that flew past Point Lynas (18^th).  There were 298 Wigeon at the Alaw estuary (15^th), with 293 at Cymyran (13^th).  The Alaw estuary also held 28 Teal (15^th) and 6 Pintail (15^th).  13 Gadwall were seen on the flooded field off Gorad Road, Valley (13^th).  A Goosander was at Cors Ddyga RSPB (16^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

A late Arctic Skua flew past Point Lynas (18^th), while 30 Gannets also flew past (18^th).  2 Black Guillemot were at Beddmanarch Bay (12^th), with 1 at Holyhead Harbour (16^th).

A Little Gull was seen off Beaumaris (13^th) and 2 flew past Cemlyn (18^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included 2 seen from Four-mile bridge (12^th), an adult winter at Traeth Dulas (13^th, 14^th, 18^th) and 4 at the Alaw estuary (15^th).  21 Great Black-backed Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (15^th), along with 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (15^th).   A late Sandwich Tern was seen at Beddmanarch Bay (13^th). 

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great White Egret was seen at Llyn Llywenan (15^th), with another at Cors Ddyga RSPB (17^th).  Sightings of Water Rail included 1 Valley cob (13^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (16^th).

Raptors:

Cors Ddyga RSPB was the place to be for raptors with 2 Marsh Harriers (14^th), a ring-tailed Hen Harrier (16^th), a Red Kite (16^th & 17^th) and a Barn Owl (14^th).

2022 Year List:

Black-necked Grebe was an addition to the 2022 year list which now stands at 223.