Anglesey Bird News: January 2023

Friday 27 January 2023

Week: Saturday 21st January - Friday 27th January 2023.

Three new species for the 2023 Anglesey bird list – taking it up to 145.

Black-throated Diver is a scarce bird on and around Anglesey, so news of 1 seen off Benllech seafront (22^nd) and then presumably the same bird south of Moelfre (27^th) was very much welcomed. There are usually a few Barnacle Geese to be had on the island – be they remnants of the small feral breeding population that existed around Valley wetlands, birds moving in from the feral population in the Lake District, or wild birds on passage. Despite there having been a few sightings during 2022, any birds on the island had done a good job of keeping hidden during the month of January until 4 were seen at Llyn Coron 26^th-27^th). Twite is another bird that can be quite difficult to catch up with on the island, so 8 seen on coastal fields between Aberffraw and Bodorgan (18^th), then 6 (21^st) were good records.

*Swans, Geese & Ducks:*	* Ring-necked Duck *	· Female continued its stay at Llyn Cefni (21^st-22^nd, 26^th-27^th) – mainly on the eastern basin, but occasionally on western
	Whooper Swan	· 10 at Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (22^nd) · 28 in field next to Tal Llyn Church above Llyn Padrig · 25 on fields SW of Maenaddwyn (26^th) · 1 at Cors Ddyga (26^th-27^th)
	Barnacle Goose	· 4 at Llyn Coron (26^th-27^th)
	Pink-footed Goose	· Up to c. 150 at Cors Ddyga (150 on 21^st, c. 100 on 22^nd. 23^rd, 26^th)
	Long-tailed Duck	· Up to 3 off Benllech seafront (3 on 26^th, 2 on 21^st, 24^th)
	Scaup	· 3 on the Inland Sea (26^th-27^th)
	Eider	· Up to 32 off Benllech seafront (32 on 22^nd, 2 on 21^st) · 17 off Traeth Bychan (22^nd)
	Goldeneye	· 2 at Llyn Cefni (22^nd) · 5 at Llyn Coron (26^th)
	Goosander	· 16 at Llyn Coron (26^th)
*Waders:*	Green Sandpiper	· 1 at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (27^th)
	Purple Sandpiper	· 19 at Cemlyn (22^nd) · 4 at Trearddur Bay (23^rd)
	Dunlin	· c. 200 in high tide roost on seawall at Beaumaris (22^nd)
	Grey Plover	· 45 at the Alaw estuary (25^th)
	Jack Snipe	· 1 at The Range, Holyhead (24^th)
	Snipe	· 8 at The Range, Holyhead (24^th)
	Woodcock	· 1 at Llyn Coron (21^st) · Up to 2 at Cors Ddyga (2 on 21^st, 1 on 23^rd) · 4 at Talwrn (27^th)
	Greenshank	· 7 at the Alaw estuary (27^th)
	Bar-tailed Godwit	· 77 at the Alaw estuary (25^th)
*Seabirds & gulls:*	Razorbill	· 1 off Traeth Bychan (22^nd)
	Mediterranean Gull	· Adult winter off Penrhos beach car park (23^rd)
	Lesser Black-backed Gull	· 1 on the Alaw estuary (25^th) – still a scarce bird on Anglesey during the winter.
Divers & Grebes:	* Black-throated Diver*	· 1 seen off Benllech seafront (22^nd) then presumably the same seen south of Moelfre (27^th)
	Great Northern Diver	· 1 at Beddmanarch bay (23^rd, 26^th & 27^th) · 1 at the Inland Sea (26^th)
	Red-throated Diver	· 2 off Benllech seafront (22^nd) · 1 off Traeth Bychan (22^nd)
	Slavonian Grebe	· 1 viewed distantly from Beaumaris (21^st) · 1 at the Inland Sea (26^th) · Up to 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 26^th, 1 on 27^th)
*Passerines & others:*	Firecrest	· 1 at Llyn Cefni (21^st) · 2 at Newborough Forest (25^th&26^th)
	Chiffchaff	· Up to 4 at Cors Ddyga – Pentre Berw water treatment plant (4 on 26^th, 1 on 22^nd) · 3 at Octel / Amlwch Port water treatment plant (23^rd)
	Cetti’s Warbler	· 1 at Llyn Coron (26^th) · 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (27^th) · 1 from the cycletrack south of Llangefni (27^th)
	Water Pipit	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (22^nd)
	Dipper	· 1 on the Afon Cefni at Llangefni as viewed from the Town Hall car park (27^th)
	Twite	· Belated report of 8 on fields between Aberffraw and Bodorgan on 18^th, with 6 on 21^st
	Kingfisher	· 1 at the Cefni estuary (21^st) · 2 at Llyn Cefni (26^th) · 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (27^th)
*Raptors:*	Hen Harrier	· 1 ‘ring-tailed’ at Cefni estuary (21^st) · 1 ‘ring-tailed’ at Cors Ddyga (26^th)
	Marsh Harrier	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (27^th)
	Red Kite	· 2 at Cors Ddyga (27^th)
	Barn Owl	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (21^st, 23^rd) · 1 near Llangefni water treatment plant (27^th)
*Herons, Egrets & allies:*	* Cattle Egret *	· 1 seen on Ynys Welltog, off Church Island, Menai Bridge (25^th)
*Herons, Egrets & allies:*	Great Egret	· Up to 2 at Cors Ddyga (2 on 23^rd, 1 on 22^nd&26^th)

*2022 Annual Report*	The 2022 Annual Report is available free of charge, but if you enjoy it and think it of value then it is suggested that you consider making a donation to the Cemlyn Wardens Appeal being run by the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Further details will be included as part of the introduction to the report. The 2022 report, plus those for 2021 and 2020 can be found at: ABN - Annual Reports (google.com)

Friday 20 January 2023

Week: Saturday 14th January - Friday 20th January 2023.

A week that included both the spectacle of large numbers of some of our commoner species and a sprinkle of rare and scarce ones. In respect of the former, there were 10’s of ‘000s of Golden Plover and Lapwing on flooded fields inland of Malltraeth cob, c. 5300 Guillemots were back on cliff ledges at South Stack and c.600 Black-tailed Godwits roosted at Cors Ddyga. A female Ring-necked Duck topped the rare and scarce list, with other additions to the 2023 year list including Sanderling, Common Sandpiper, Great Bittern, Short-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker and Lesser Redpoll which collectively took the list up to 142.

*Swans, Geese & Ducks:*	* Ring-necked Duck *	· Female on eastern basin of Llyn Cefni (20^th)
	Whooper Swan	· Up to 7 on flooded fields inland of Malltraeth cob (7 on 14^th, 3 on 15^th, 4 on 16^th)
	Mute Swan	· 18 at the Alaw estuary (18^th)
	Black Swan	· 1 at Llyn Dinam (20^th)
	Pink-footed Goose	· Up to 100 at Cors Ddyga (100 on 15^th&20^th, 60 on 16^th)
	Greylag Goose	· 190 at the Alaw estuary (18^th)
	Pale-bellied Brent Goose	· 95 at the Alaw estuary (14^th)
	Dark-bellied Brent Goose	· 1 at the Alaw estuary (14^th&18^th)
	Long-tailed Duck	· 1 off Benllech seafront (15^th)
	Scaup	· Up to 3 on the Inland Sea (3 on 17^th, 2 on 14^th) · Female on eastern basin of Llyn Cefni (20^th)
	Eider	· 1 off Benllech seafront (15^th)
	Common Scoter	· 200+ off Benllech seafront (14^th)
	Pintail	· 77 at the Alaw estuary (18^th)
	Pochard	· 14 at Llyn Penrhyn (17^th)
	Goldeneye	· 4 at the Alaw estuary (18^th) · 5 at Llyn Maelog (19^th)
	Red-breasted Merganser	· 3 at the Alaw estuary (18^th)
	Goosander	· Drake at Llyn Llywenan (14^th) · 9 at Llyn Coron (16^th) · Up to 3 at Valley wetlands (3 on 17^th, 1 on 20^th) · 2 at the Alaw estuary (18^th) · 2 at Llyn Maelog (19^th)
*Waders:*	Sanderling	· 3 on Cymyran beach (19^th)
	Green Sandpiper	· 1 at the Alaw estuary (18^th)
	Common Sandpiper	· 1 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (17^th)
	Purple Sandpiper	· 8 at Trearddur Bay (15^th)
	Golden Plover	· Several ‘000 on fields inland of Malltraeth cob (14^th)
	Lapwing	· Several ‘000 on fields inland of Malltraeth cob (14^th) · 253 at Llyn Maelog (19^th)
	Jack Snipe	· 1 at Traeth Dulas (14^th) · 1 at Cors Ddyga (18^th) · 1 at Cefni estuary (19^th)
	Woodcock	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (18^th) · 2 at Cefni estuary (19^th)
	Greenshank	· Up to 5 at the Alaw estuary (5 on 18^th, 3 on 14^th) · 1 at Traeth Dulas (19^th)
	Redshank	· 63 at the Alaw estuary (14^th)
	Bar-tailed Godwit	· 4 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th) · 35 at the Alaw estuary (14^th)
	Black-tailed Godwit	· c. 600 roosting at Cors Ddyga (18^th-19^th)
	Curlew	· 145 at the Alaw estuary (18^th) · 358 at Traeth Dulas (19^th)
*Seabirds & gulls:*	Black Guillemot	· 1 off Benllech seafront (15^th) · 1 at Holyhead Fish quay (15^th) · Up to 4 at Holyhead harbour (4 on 19^th, 3 on 18^th)
	Guillemot	· 5300 back on cliff ledges at South Stack (17^th)
	Razorbill	· 5 back on cliff ledges at South Stack (17^th)
	Mediterranean Gull	· 2^nd winter on fields south of Mona (14^th) · Adult winter off Penrhos beach car park (15^th & 19^th) · Adult winter at Llyn Coron (16^th)
	Common Gull	· c. 600 at Traeth Dulas (19^th)
	Kittiwake	· 1 in Holyhead harbour (
Divers & Grebes:	Great Northern Diver	· Up to 3 at Beddmanarch bay (3 on 19^th, 2 on 14^th) · Up to 2 in Holyhead harbour (2 on 19^th, 1 on 15^th &18^th)
	Red-throated Diver	· 1 off Benllech seafront (15^th)
	Slavonian Grebe	· 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th)
	Great Crested Grebe	· 60+ off Benllech seafront (14^th) · 3 at Holyhead harbour (18^th)
*Passerines & others:*	Firecrest	· 1 at Llyn Llywenan (17^th)
	Chiffchaff	· 4 at Octel / Amlwch Port water treatment plant (15^th) · 2 between Cors Ddyga and Pentre Berw water treatment plant (16^th & 19^th)
	Blackcap	· Male on garden feeders at Amlwch Port (13^th - 15^th) · Male on garden feeders at Holyhead (15^th)
	Cetti’s Warbler	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (19^th) · 1 at Valley wetlands (20^th)
	Black Redstart	· Male at Octel, Amlwch Port (15^th) · Male at South Stack (15^th&19^th) · Female / immature at South Stack (16^th, 19^th &20^th)
	Water Pipit	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (18^th & 20^th)
	Green Woodpecker	· 2 separate reports of a bird heard calling from near Tyn-y-Gongl (9^th & 15^th)
	Lesser Redpoll	· At least 4 in woods behind Llangoed village hall (17^th)
	Hooded Crow	· 1 at Traeth Dulas – on exposed mud towards the mouth of the estuary (19^th)
	Kingfisher	· 1 at the Afon Cadnant near Menai Bridge (17^th) · 1 at Cemlyn (20^th) · 1 on seaward side of bridge at Malltraeth (20^th)
*Raptors:*	Hen Harrier	· 1 ‘ring-tailed’ at Cors Ddyga (16^th) · 1 ‘ring-tailed’ at Cefni estuary (19^th)
	Marsh Harrier	· 1 at Llyn Llywenan (14^th) · 5 at Cors Ddyga (18^th) – 2m, 1f, 3 juv.
	Red Kite	· 1 near Pentre Berw (16^th)
	Merlin	· 1 at Llyn Coron (16^th) · 1 at the Braint estuary (17^th) · 1 at Llyn Llywenan (17^th) · 1 at Cors Ddyga (19^th)
	Peregrine	· 3 at the Cefni estuary (19^th)
	Short-eared Owl	· 1 at Llyn Penrhyn, Valley Lakes RSPB (20^th)
	Barn Owl	· 1 at Cors Ddyga (15^th&19^th) · 1 at Tregele (19^th)
*Herons, Egrets & allies:*	Great Bittern	· 2 heard ‘booming’ at Valley Lakes RSPB (20^th)
*Herons, Egrets & allies:*	Great Egret	· 1 at Llyn Llywenan (14^th) · 2 at Cors Ddyga (19^th)

*2022 Annual Report*	The 2022 Annual Report is available free of charge, but if you enjoy it and think it of value then it is suggested that you consider making a donation to the Cemlyn Wardens Appeal being run by the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Further details will be included as part of the introduction to the report. The 2022 report, plus those for 2021 and 2020 can be found at: ABN - Annual Reports (google.com)