Saturday 10th – Friday 16th December 2022.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

10 Whooper Swans were at Capel Coch (11^th), 3 were at Llyn Coron (15^th) and 5 were at Cemlyn (16^th).  A Black Swan was seen in flight at Malltraeth (10^th), then the same or another was at Capel Coch (11^th&15^th).

4 Barnacle Geese were at Llyn Coron (15^th).  Sightings of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 89 at Valley Cob (10^th) and 93 at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  A single Dark-bellied Brent Goose was also at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  14 Greenland White-fronted Geese were reported from the Cefni basin but the date was not specified.

A female Scaup was at Llyn Coron (15^th).  There were 4 Goldeneye at Llyn Maelog (11^th) and 4 at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  The Alaw estuary (11^th) also held 314 Wigeon, 92 Pintail, 30 Shelduck and 55 Teal.  2 Teal in Holyhead harbour (15^th) were thought to be a first and was part of a cold weather dispersal following freezing of many of the shallower areas on freshwater.

Sightings of Goosander included 12+ at Llyn Alaw (11^th), 1 at the Alaw estuary (11^th), up to 17 at Four-mile Bridge (17 on 16^th, 5 on 12^th) and 5 at Llyn Coron (15^th).  8 Red-breasted Mergansers were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Up to 6 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (6 on 16^th, 4 on15^th, 2 on 9^th), with 1 on the Inland Sea (11^th).  15 Little Grebes were at Malltraeth (16^th).  Sightings of Great Northern Divers included 2 on the Inland Sea (11^th), up to 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 15^th, 1 on 13^th & 16^th) and 1 at Holyhead harbour (14^th). A Red-throated Diver was in the bay at Cemlyn (16^th).

Passerines and others:

2 Water Pipits were at Cors Ddyga (15^th).  The excellent year for Black Redstarts continued with 1 at Salt Island car park, Holyhead (12^th), 1 on the roofs of the sheds at Tyn Llan farm (12^th), 2 at Rhoscolyn (14^th&15^th) and 1 on the roof of the Gadlys hotel at Cemaes Bay (16^th).  A Lesser Whitethroat was reported from Cors Ddyga (12^th).  There were up to 4 Chiffchaff around Cors Ddyga & the Petre Berw water treatment plant (4 on 15^th,2 on 11^th) and 1 at Llyn Coron (15^th).  Cetti’s Warblers were calling at Llyn Cerrig Bach (12^th) and at Cors Ddyga (14^th).  6 Siskin were at Penrhos Coastal Park (13^th).  Sightings of Kingfisher included 1 at the Alaw estuary (11^th), 2 at Holyhead harbour (12^th), 1 at Bodffordd (15^th), 1 at Malltraeth (15^th) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (16^th).  c. 100,000 Starlings were seen to come into roost at Cors Ddyga (14^th).

Waders:

4 Purple Sandpipers were at Trearddur Bay (10^th) and a Common Sandpiper was on rocks off Salt Island car park, Holyhead (12^th).  393 Dunlin were at the Alaw estuary (11^th) and 224 were at Traeth Dulas (16^th).  3 Sanderling were at Beddmanarch Bay (11^th) and 22 Knot and 5 Turnstones were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).

63 Grey Plover were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  Sightings of Golden Plover included 3 at the Alaw estuary (11^th) and 5 at Rhoscolyn (12^th).  13 Ringed Plover were at Trearddur Bay (10^th), 29 were at the Alaw estuary (11^th) and 33 were at Traeth Dulas (16^th).  185 Lapwing were at Rhoscolyn (12^th) and 61 were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  c. 50 Common Snipe were at Cors Ddyga (14^th), with 2 at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  5 Woodcock were seen at Newborough forest (13^th), with 1 also seen at Cors Ddyga (14^th).

c.100 Black-tailed Godwits came into roost at Cors Ddyga (14^th).  33 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the Alaw estuary (11^th), with 10+ at Beddmanarch Bay (11^th).  7 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (11^th), with up to 4 at Traeth Dulas (4 on 16^th, 2 on 11^th), 1 at Capel Coch (11^th-12^th) and 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (13^th).  68 Redshank were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).  77 Curlew and 109 Oystercatchers were at the Alaw estuary (11^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

Up to 5 Black Guillemots were at Holyhead harbour (5 on 12th, 2 on 14th, 3 on 15^th), with 1 off Benllech seafront (11^th).  A Razorbill was off Benllech seafront (11^th) and 1 was at Holyhead harbour (14^th).  A single Common Guillemot was also at Holyhead harbour (15^th).  2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Holyhead Bay - adult and 1^st winter (13^th), with 1 off the car park at Penrhos Coastal Park (15^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Sightings of Great White Egret included 1 at Llyn Llywenan (10^th), 1 at Llyn Alaw (11^th) and 1 that came in off the sea at Cemlyn (16^th).  Reports of Water Rail included 8 at Cors Ddyga (14^th), 1 at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (12^th), 2 at Twr reservoir, Holyhead (12^th), several calling at Llyn Cerrig Bach (12^th) and 1 on a pool at Penrhos Coastal Park (16^th).

Raptors:

Sightings of Marsh Harrier included up to 6 at Cors Ddyga (6 on 14^th, 4 on 15^th) and 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (12^th).  A Red Kite was seen over Dulas (13^th), with another at Cors Ddyga (15^th).  Reports of Merlin included 1 at Salt Island, Holyhead (12^th), 1 at Llyn Coron (15^th) and 1 on rocks near the east car park at Cemlyn (16^th).  A Little Owl was at Malltraeth (14^th), the first seen there by a local observer in decades.

 

2022 Year List:

There were no new additions to the 2022-year list which remains at 224.