Saturday 3rd – Friday 9th December 2022.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The headline bird was a drake Green-winged Teal seen on the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (3^rd).  Unfortunately, it was seen by just the single observer and further efforts to relocate it have proved unsuccessful – for now!.  The record has been accepted by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee based on the written submission made.  4 Whooper Swans were on fields between Rhosgoch and Carreglefn (5^th), while 4 were at Llyn Coron (3^rd) and 1 was at the Inland Sea (9^th).  16 Pink-footed Geese flew over Llangefni (8^th), while sightings of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 30 at Red Wharf Bay (4^th) and 14 on the beach at Rhosneigr (7^th).

A female Eider was on the Inland Sea (8^th), while a single Common Scooter was at Beddmanarch Bay (7^th-9^th) and 3 Goldeneye were at Llyn Maelog (7^th).  29 Teal and 17 Gadwall were on Llyn Maelog (7^th) and 4 Pintail were at Llyn Coron (7^th).         

Divers & Grebes:

The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was seen again at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd), but has not been reported since.  Up to 5 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (5 on 7^th, 2 on 8^th&9^th, 1 on 6^th).  Sightings of Great Northern Divers included up to 3 on the Inland Sea (3 on 7^th, 2 on 4^th&5^th, 9^th, 1 on 3^rd) and up to 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 8^th, 1 on 5^th-7^th).

Passerines and others:

Up to 5 Water Pipits were at Cors Ddyga RSPB (5 on 3^rd, 1 on 8^th), with 1 seen from Lon Las Cefni between Llangefni and the A55 (5^th).  A Firecrest was at Cerrig yr Adar, Rhoscolyn (3^rd).  Up to 3 Black Redstarts continue to be seen in the Rhoscolyn area (3 on 6^th, 2 on 7^th), with 1 at Octel, Amlwch Port (9^th).  Sightings of Chiffchaff included 1 at South Stack (3^rd) and 1 at Llyn Maelog (4^th).  A Cetti’s Warbler was calling near to the RSPB offices at Cors Ddyga (3^rd), with another at Llyn Maelog (8^th).  A late Barn Swallow was at Red Wharf Bay (4^th).  Dipper and Kingfisher were seen daily along the Afon Cefni adjacent to the Council offices at Llangefni (5^th-8^th), while other sightings of Kingfisher included 1 at the Inland Sea (4^th&5^th) and 1 at Holyhead Harbour (8^th).

Waders:

The Curlew Sandpiper was seen again at Cors Ddyga RSPB (3^rd).  A Green Sandpiper flew over Capel Coch and called (6^th), while Common Sandpipers were seen at Moel y Don (3rd), near Church Island (3rd) and at Holyhead harbour (5^th). 

An estimated 4000 European Golden Plover were on Trefri fields, near Aberffraw (7^th).  89 Dunlin were at Treath Dulas (3^rd).  A Jack Snipe was at Lon Las Cefni between Llangefni and the A55 (8^th), while 45 Common Snipe were on the flooded ‘Lapwing field’ at Cors Ddyga RSPB (3^rd).  5 Woodcock were seen to fly out of Newborough forest (3^rd) and 1 was flushed from a private garden at Llanddona (8^th).  Up to 56 Black-tailed Godwits were at the Gorad flood, Valley (56 on 8^th, 20 on 4^th), with 30 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (3^rd).  A Greenshank was on a wet roadside field at Capel Coch (6^th&8^th).

Seabirds & gulls:

A Black Guillemot was at Beddmanarch Bay (7^th&8^th), with another at Holyhead harbour (8^th).  A Razorbill was on the Inland Sea (4^th&9^th), with 1 at Holyhead harbour (8^th).  

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Bittern was seen at Llyn Maelog (4^th).  Sightings of Great White Egret included 1 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (8^th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (8^th).  A Water Rail was noted at Holyhead Breakwater Quarry Country Park (5^th).

Raptors:

A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at Malltraeth (5^th) and another was at seen at Cors Ddyga RSPB (8^th).  Sightings of Marsh Harrier included up to 2 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 8^th), up to 2 at Llyn Maelog (2 on 4^th, 1 on 3^rd), 1 at Malltraeth (4^th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (8^th).  Sightings of Red Kite included 2 at Cors Ddyga RSPB (3^rd), 1 at Talwrn (3^rd) and 1 at Dolmeinir (5^th).  A Peregrine was at Cors Ddyga RSPB (3^rd), with another at Malltraeth (5^th).  3 Kestrels were at Cors Ddyga RSPB (8^th).

General interest:

Published on Wednesday 7^th December 2022, ‘the latest assessment of the status of all 220 species of bird that regularly occur in Wales – Birds of Conservation Concern 4 – shows that 60 species are now of ‘highest conservation concern’ and have been placed on the assessment’s Red List’.  (RSPB 2022).  For further details see: https://rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/new-research-shows-more-than-one-in-four-birds-in-wales-in-serious-trouble/

 

2022 Year List:

Green -winged Teal was a new addition to the 2022-year list which ticks up 1 to 224.