Saturday 29th October – Friday 4th November 2022.

Introduction:                                         

…  shrikes and buntings …

Passerines and others:

Any week with a shrike is noteworthy; a week with two is truly exceptional.  Firstly, a late Red-backed Shrike was at Pentre Iago, Rhoscolyn (1^st) but unfortunately could not be relocated.  A Great Grey Shrike at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (4^th) was a little more co-operative and was watched by a small crowd over the course of the afternoon (4^th).  A 2nd Richard’s Pipit for the year was found and photographed in fields surrounding the chapel at Rhoscolyn (31^st). 

The Yellow-browed Warbler continued its stay at a private garden north of Llanfairynghornwy (29^th - 31^st), while sightings of Firecrest included 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30^th), 1 in the scrub behind the beach car park, Benllech (31^st), 1 in the woods at Lleiniog (4^th) and 1 at Llyn Coron (4^th).  Up to 2 Chiffchaff were as at a private garden north of Llanfairynghornwy (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 30^th), with 2 at Wylfa woods (2^nd).

There was a bit of a winter feel courtesy of the arrival of buntings and Black Redstarts.  Snow Buntings are always popular and their arrival started slowly with 1 on the rough ground at the base of Holyhead breakwater (31^st – 1^st), 1 at Newry Beach Road, Holyhead (2^nd) and 1 that was seen to fly over Mynydd Bodafon (3^rd).  By the end of the week the number at Holyhead Breakwater had increased to 7 (3^rd&4^th), with the Snow Buntings perhaps also contributing to pulling down at least 2 Lapland Buntings (4^th).  A single Twite was seen on the same rough ground at the start of the breakwater (1^st), then increasing to 2 (4^th).  3 Twite were also seen on the road from Llyn Coron to Aberffraw (4^th).

There was also a marked arrival of Black Redstarts with 1 at Point Lynas (31^st), 1 at South Stack (1^st), 1 at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (1^st), 1 at Holyhead breakwater (3^rd), 1 at Newry Beach Road, Holyhead (4^th), 1 at Porth y Garan, Rhoscolyn (4^th), 1 at the Church, Rhoscolyn (4th) and 3 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (4^th).  A Northern Wheatear was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (4^th).

A belated report emerged of a Turtle Dove photographed at a garden in Cemaes Bay on the 11^th October.  Sightings of Kingfishers included 1 at Traeth Dulas (3^rd), 1 at Cemlyn (3^rd) and 1 at Holyhead harbour (3^rd).  A Stock Dove was at Llyn Coron (4^th) and 2 hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crows at Bull Bay (3^rd).

Waders:

A Green Sandpiper was at Traeth Dulas (31^st & 3^rd), while the Common Sandpiper remained at Holyhead harbour (31^st & 4^th).  A Jack Snipe was at Cors Erddreiniog (4^th), 40 Dunlin were at Traeth Dulas (31^st), with 18 at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (4^th). 

A Grey Plover was at Cemlyn (3^rd), with the same site also having 300+ European Golden Plover (31^st).  20 Lapwing were at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (4^th).

There were 14 Black-tailed Godwits on the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (31^st), with 10 on the flooded field off Lôn Spencer, Valley (3^rd).  Up to 5 Greenshank were at Traeth Dulas (5 on 31^st, 1 on 3^rd) as were up to 45 Redshank (45 on 3^rd, 40 on 31^st).  51 Curlew were at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (4^th)

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Up to 13 Whooper Swans were at Llyn Alaw (13 on 29^th, 1 on 3^rd), with 10 at Llyn Coron (4^th), 2 on fields off the approach road to Cemlyn (29^th, 31^st & 2^nd) and 1 at Twr reservoir, South Stack (31^st) – with possibly the same bird seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (1^st) and off Salt Island, Holyhead (3^rd).

The Long-tailed Duck was seen again off Benllech (31^st).  Sightings of Goldeneye include a drake and duck on the Inland Sea and a duck at Cemlyn (3^rd).  5 Eiders and 30 Common Scoter flew past Point Lynas (4^th).  The drake Scaup was seen again at Llyn Penrhyn (29^th) and 60 Wigeon were at Borth Wen, Rhoscolyn (4^th),

Seabirds & gulls:

7 Little Gulls were seen to fly past Point Lynas (4^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included an adult winter at Traeth Dulas (31^st), 1 on the lagoon at Cemlyn (2^nd), 2 off the car park at Penrhos Coastal Park and 1 that flew past Point Lynas (4^th).  Up to 2, 1st winter Arctic Terns were at Cemlyn (2 on 2^nd , 1 on 3^rd ). A late Manx Shearwater flew past South Stack (1^st).  There were 3 winter-plumaged Black Guillemots at Holyhead harbour (4^th)

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Water Rail was heard squealing at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (31^st & 4^th), with another in the willow scrub behind Hen Borth (3^rd) and 1 at Rhoscolyn (4^th).

Raptors:

A Short-eared Owl was seen at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (31^st), a Red Kite was at Talwrn (30^th & 2^nd) and sightings of Marsh Harriers included 1 at Llyn Llywenan (3^rd) and 1 at Llyn Coron (4^th).  Sightings of Merlin included a female near Wylfa woods (31^st), 1 at Cae Llyn, Rhoscolyn (2^nd), 1 at South Stack (3^rd) and a male between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (3^rd).

Divers & Grebes:

A Great Northern Diver flew past South Stack (1^st), while sightings of Red-throated Diver included 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (30^th) and 4 that flew past Point Lynas (4^th).

2022 Year List:

Turtle Dove, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike and Twite were new additions to the 2022 year list which leaps up to 219.