Week: Saturday 21st September 2024– Friday 27th September 2024.

3 year ticks over the course of the week with Yellow-legged Gull (22^nd), Lapland Bunting (24^th) and Yellow-browed Warbler (26^th), plus 1 inadvertently not counted during May - Egyptian Goose (29^th) takes the 2024 year to date total to 225. 

With 9 months nearly gone, the year-to-date total compares well to the yearly totals of 228 for 2023 (2 removed as still awaiting submissions to Welsh Birds Rarity Committee (WBRC)), 224 for 2022, 218 for 2021 and 219 in 2020.  There are still a fair few possibilities that might still be added to 2024 year list so let’s hope the list increases a bit further still. 

Of the 225 so far, there is just the 1 BBRC (British Birds Rarity Committee) bird - Pallid Harrier (submission with BBRC) and there are 8 WBRC - Smew, Caspian Gull, Purple Heron, European Bee-eater (2), Golden Oriole, Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow and Barred Warbler (submission in progress / with WBRC).

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:	Mute Swan	·       8 at the Inland Sea, Holyhead (25th).
	Pink-footed Goose	·       7 flew over Menai Bridge (27th).
	Pale-bellied Brent Goose	·       Up to 58 at the Alaw estuary (58 on 22nd, 55 on 21st, 18 on 26th). ·       3 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       2 at Traeth Dulas (25th). ·       90 at the Inland Sea (25th).
	Common Scoter	·        272 flew past Point Lynas (27th).
	Pintail	·        3 at Llyn Alaw (17th). ·        6 at Cors Ddyga (20th). ·        10 at the Inland Sea (25th). ·        8 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Teal	·        Up to 296 at the Alaw estuary (296 on the 26th, 61 on the 22nd). ·        42 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).
	Wigeon	·        1 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·        182 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       150+ off Ynys Lligwy (25th). ·        84 at the Inland Sea (25th). ·        2 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Goosander	·        2 at the Alaw estuary (21st). ·        Up to 13 at the Inland Sea, Holyhead (13 on 21st, 7 on 25th). ·        4 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Red-breasted Merganser	·        1 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·        1 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·        8 at the Inland Sea, Holyhead (25th). ·        8 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
Waders:	Little Stint	·       1 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Green Sandpiper	·       1 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Common Sandpiper	·       2 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·       1 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).
	Common Ringed Plover	·       72 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       11 at Traeth Dulas (25th). ·       Up to 85 at the Alaw estuary (85 on 21st, 64 on 23rd, 63 on 26th).
	European Golden Plover	·       39 at Cors Ddyga (21st). ·       22 at the Alaw estuary (23rd). ·       4 at The Range, Holyhead (25th).
	Lapwing	·       Up to 38 at the Alaw estuary (38 on 26th, 12 on 22nd).
	Turnstone	·       29 at Cemlyn (21st). ·       8 at Traeth Dulas (25th). ·       Up to 8 at the Alaw estuary (8 on 21st, 2 on 26th).
	Dunlin	·       Up to 46 at the Alaw estuary (46 on 26th, 29 on 23rd, 2 on 22nd). ·       15 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).
	Red Knot	·       Up to 10 at the Alaw estuary (10 on 21st, 5 on 22nd). ·       1 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Ruff	·       1 at the Alaw estuary (22nd).
	Jack Snipe	·       1 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Common Snipe	·       13 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·       12 at Traeth Dulas (25th). ·       1 at The Range, Holyhead (25th).
	Greenshank	·       11 at the Alaw estuary (22nd & 26th). ·       2 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       Up to 11 at Traeth Dulas (11 on 25th, 9 on 24th).
	Spotted Redshank	·       Juvenile at Malltraeth cob pool (25th).
	Redshank	·       30 at the Alaw estuary (30 on 22nd, 29 on 26th). ·       4 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       Up to 31 at Traeth Dulas (31 on 24th, 13 on 25th).
	Bar-tailed Godwit	·       Up to 15 at the Alaw estuary (15 on 21st, 9 on 22nd, 8 on 23rd, 5 on 26th). ·       3 at Cemlyn (24th). ·       2 at Traeth Dulas (24th – 25th).
	Black-tailed Godwit	·       1 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Whimbrel	·       1 at South Stack (21st). ·       2 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·       2 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Curlew	·       Up to 180 at the Alaw estuary (180 on 22nd, 86 on 21st, 77 on 23rd, 61 on 26th). ·       86 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       177 at Traeth Dulas (177 on 24th, 56 on 25th).
	Oystercatcher	·       Up to 394 at the Alaw estuary (394 on 22nd, 362 on 21st, 284 on 23rd, 254 on 26th). ·       93 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).
Seabirds & gulls:	Yellow-legged Gull	·       Adult reported around Trearddur Bay (22nd).
	Arctic Skua	·       2 flew past Point Lynas (27th).
	Manx Shearwater	·       5 flew past Point Lynas (27th).
	Mediterranean Gull	·       Up to 24 at the Alaw estuary (24 on the 26th, 19 on 21st, 4 on the 22nd). ·       1 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd). ·       1 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Common Gull	·       5 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·       12 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).
Divers & Grebes:	Great Northern Diver	·       1 flew past Cemlyn (24th).
	Red-throated Diver	·       2 flew past Cemlyn (24th). ·       1 flew past The Range, Holyhead (25th). ·       7 flew past Point Lynas (27th).
	Great-crested Grebe	·       6 at the Alaw estuary (22nd).
	Little Grebe	·       Up to 6 at the Alaw estuary (6 on 22nd, 4 on 26th).
Passerines & others:	Lapland Bunting	·       1 heard calling high over a stubble field near Hen Borth, Cemlyn (24th).
	Yellow-browed Warbler	·       1 at Mynachdy farm, Carmel Head (26th).
	Spotted Flycatcher	·       1 at Castell, Holyhead mountain (21st).
	Lesser Whitethroat	·       1 at Soldier's Point, Holyhead (21st).
	Chiffchaff	·       Up to 7 at Octel, Amlwch Port (7 on 23rd, 2 on 22nd). ·       1 at Porth Eilian (23rd). ·       3 at South Stack (24th). ·       8 at Wylfa Woods (24th). ·       2 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Willow Warbler	·       1 at Castell, Holyhead mountain (21st). ·       3 at Wylfa Woods (24th). ·       1 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Blackcap	·       5 at Octel, Amlwch Port (23rd).
	Goldcrest	·       3 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Whinchat	·       1 at Rhoscolyn (25th).
	Northern Wheatear	·       Up to 14 at Rhoscolyn (14 on 24th, 5 on 22nd). ·       5 at The Range, Holyhead (25th). ·       1 at the Alaw estuary (26th).
	Kingfisher	·       1 at the Inland Sea (22nd). ·       1 at Traeth Dulas (25th).
	Hooded Crow	·       1 reported at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (22nd).
Raptors:	Hen Harrier	·       Ring-tailed flew from Brynteg towards Cors Goch (22nd).
	Marsh Harrier	·       Male at Cors Ddyga (21st).
	Osprey	·       1 flew low and to the south over Bryngwran (22nd).
	Red Kite	·       1 over Talwrn (21st, 23rd).
Herons, Egrets & allies:	Cattle Egret	·        2 at Cors Ddyga (21st – 25th).
	Great Egret	·        4 at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (21st). ·        1 at Cors Ddyga (25th). ·        1 at the Inland Sea, Holyhead (25th).
	Little Egret	·        12 at the Alaw estuary (22nd). ·        11 between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (23rd).