Anglesey Bird News: Week: Saturday 4th May 2024

No sooner had last week’s summary been posted and news (together with accompanying photographs) broke of a female Pallid Harrier (seen over the Skerries (3^rd) which then headed for the mainland – there have been no further reports. After reports of good numbers of Roseate Terns back off the Irish coast, Cemlyn had its first for the year (6^th) seen among the many Sandwich Terns. A Snow Goose seen on fields off the approach road to South Stack and at Twr reservoir (6^th) was un-ringed and in pristine condition. Snow Goose is on the British list in categories AC2E* - wild birds, self-sustaining feral populations and escapes that have bred. Most years would see a Snow Goose on Anglesey considered an escapee from a collection and placed in Cat E (categories D &E don’t form part of the British list), but there has been several reports of birds – including sizeable flocks – about the north West of England etc. It is also the second successive year where Snow Goose has been seen around South Stack with 3 birds seen to fly in off the sea on the 12^th June 2023. Whilst it is impossible to be certain, the view being taken is that it is more likely a wandering feral bird which should be considered as C2 and counted in respect of Anglesey records. A Long-tailed Skua flew over the bay at Rhosneigr (7^th) and headed inland, while a Serin was watched signing from wires just inland of Porth Diana, Trearddur Bay. Collectively, these 5 new additions take the cumulative 2024 year list to date up to 199.

A singing male Brambling near The Range (7^th) – in immaculate summer plumage – turned out to be an escaped cage bird bearing a Belgium cage bird ring. The Purple Heron was reported again (7^th) and the Long-tailed Duck that took a liking to Llyn Maelog back in 2023, and overwintered, was seen again (8^th) and is now in summer plumage – re-identified as an immature drake. Fieldfare (4^th) and Redwing (5^th) in May were noteworthy.

*Swans, Geese & Ducks:*	Snow Goose	· White phase of unknown origin in fields off South Stack Road and on Twr reservoir (6^th-8^th).
	Garganey	· Drake at Cors Ddyga (4^th & 10^th). · Drake and duck at Llyn Llywenan (5^th).
	Mute Swan	· 25 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).
	Long-tailed Duck	· Immature drake still on Llyn Maelog (8^th).
	Common Scoter	· 60 flew past Ynys Badrig in a single flock (5^th). · 32 during a 1hr seawatch from The Range (6^th). · 53 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th).
*Waders:*	Curlew Sandpiper	· 2 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).
	Common Sandpiper	· 1 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).
	Common Ringed Plover	· 63 at the Alaw estuary (6^th). · 34 at the Alaw estuary (8^th).
	Sanderling	· 2 at the Alaw estuary (6^th). · 1 on the pool in the field adjacent to the west car park, Cemlyn (9^th).
	Dunlin	· 8 at Cors Ddyga (4^th). · 179 at the Alaw estuary (6^th). · 281 at the Alaw estuary (8^th).
	Turnstone	· 1 at the Alaw estuary (8^th).
	Whimbrel	· 12 at Wylfa Head (5^th). · 17 at the Alaw estuary (6^th). · 6 at the Alaw estuary (8^th). · 2 were at the Dulas estuary (8^th).
	Bar-tailed Godwit	· 11 at the Alaw estuary (6^th). · 17 at the Alaw estuary (8^th).
	Black-tailed Godwit	· 11 at Cors Ddyga (6^th).
*Seabirds & gulls:*	Roseate Tern	· 1 at Cemlyn (6^th).
	Long-tailed Skua	· 1 flew over the bay at Rhosneigr and headed inland (7^th).
	Arctic Skua	· 2 flew over the bay at Rhosneigr and headed inland (7^th).
	Puffin	· 1 off Puffin Island (5^th). · 1 off South Stack (6^th). · 1 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th).
	Black Guillemot	· 3 were at Porth Eilian (4^th). · 2 were seen off Amlwch (10^th).
	Gannet	· c. 35 on Ynys Badrig (5^th). · 4 during a 1hr seawatch from The Range (6^th). · 19 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th).
	Manx Shearwater	· 4 during a 1hr seawatch from The Range (6^th). · 13 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th). · 25 were seen off Amlwch (10^th).
	Mediterranean Gull	· 2 at Cemlyn (6^th).
	Kittiwake	· 13 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th).
Divers & Grebes:	Red-throated Diver	· 1 during a 1hr seawatch from The Range (6^th). · 1 during a 2hr seawatch from The Range (7^th). · 1 flew north past The Range (10^th).
*Passerines & others:*	Serin	· One seen perched on wires and signing near Porth Diana, Trearddur Bay (9^th).
	Brambling	· Singing bird, in summer plumage, in a garden adjacent to The Range – later found to be an escaped cagebird ringed in Belgium (7^th).
	Spotted Flycatcher	· 2 at Holyhead mountain (4^th). · 1 at South Stack (5^th).
	Ring Ouzel	· 1 at South Stack (6^th). · 1 reported at The Range (8^th).
	Cuckoo	· 1 calling at Wylfa woods (10^th).
	Grasshopper Warbler	· 1 near Tre'r Gof, west of Cemaes (5^th). · 1 reeling, 1 mile south of Church Bay (8^th).
	Willow Warbler	· 21 from South Stack, Holyhead Mountain to Soldier’s Point (4^th).
	Blackcap	· 13 from South Stack, Holyhead Mountain to Soldier’s Point (4^th).
	Garden Warbler	· 1 at South Stack (5^th). · 2 at Newborough Forest (6^th).
	Greater Whitethroat	· 18 from South Stack, Holyhead Mountain to Soldier’s Point (4^th).
	Lesser Whitethroat	· 1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (8^th).
	Swift	· 5 at Cors Ddyga (6^th). · 2 at Llyn Coron (8^th).
	Northern Wheatear	· 20 at Wylfa Head (5^th)
	Blue-headed Wagtail – M. f. flava	· 1 on Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (10^th).
	Yellow Wagtail - M. f. flavissima	· Female at Cors Ddyga (4^th).
	Fieldfare	· 1 at South Stack (4^th).
	Redwing	· 1 at Tyddyn-gele (5^th).
	Hooded Crow	· Up to 2 at South Stack (6^th-8^th).
*Raptors:*	Pallid Harrier	· 1 flew over the Skerries then headed off SE towards Carmel Head (3^rd).
	Hobby	· 1 at Llyn Penrhyn that then flew towards Llyn Trafwll (6^th). · 1 at Rhoscolyn (9^th).
	Osprey	· 1 flew over Holyhead mountain (4^th). · 1 over Cemlyn (8^th). · 1 fishing the estuary, cob and Afon Cefni, Malltraeth (10^th). · 1 over the Cymyran strait and then over the Inland Sea (10^th).
	Marsh Harrier	· 1 flew from Llanrhyddiad to Carreglwyd (8^th).
	Merlin	· 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (5^th).
	Short-eared Owl	· 1 at The Range, Holyhead (3^rd & 10^th).
*Herons, Egrets & allies:*	Purple Heron	· 1 at Aberffraw common / Llyn Coron (7^th).

Anglesey Bird News

Friday, 10 May 2024

Week: Saturday 4th May 2024 – Friday 10th May 2024.

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