Week: Saturday 26th October 2024 – Friday 1st November 2024.

The week got off to a tremendous start with a Red-eyed Vireo at the Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (26^th).  This was the 1^st for the UK in 2024 and was only the 6^th Nearctic passerine (or near passerine) for Anglesey following a historical record of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Menai Bridge (1899), a Grey Catbird at South Stack (2001), a Red-eyed Vireo at South Stack (2001), a White-throated Sparrow on a container ship off Point Lynas (2009) and an Indigo Bunting at Llansadwrn (2013).

Further signs of the approaching winter included Black Redstart at 6 sites, both Snow & Lapland Buntings and the first reports of both Goldeneye and Fieldfare.  There was a very late record of Spotted Flycatcher and 2 flyover Hawfinch.

A Purple Heron over Brynteg will become the 2^nd for Anglesey in 2024 subject to acceptance by the WBRC.  5 Cattle Egrets at the Alaw estuary further highlighted the change in status of this species - from once being a mega rarity to now an expected annual occurrence.

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:	Whooper Swan	·       5 at Cemlyn, then later at Tregele (26th). ·       10 at the Inland Sea (29th).
	Pink-footed Goose	·       12 flew east over Aberffraw (27th). ·        1 flew over Cemlyn (1st).
	Pale-bellied Brent Goose	·       139 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Dark-bellied Brent Goose	·        1 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Eider	·       Female at Holyhead harbour (26th). ·       3 off Benllech seafront (26th).
	Teal	·       52 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Pintail	·       4 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Wigeon	·       151 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Scaup	·        Female at the Inland Sea (29th).
	Goldeneye	·        1 at the Inland Sea (29th). ·        3 flew over Cemaes Bay (30th).
	Goosander	·        2 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
Waders:	Green Sandpiper	·       1 flew over Holyhead harbour (28th). ·       1 at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Common Sandpiper	·        1 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (1st).
	European Golden Plover	·        42 at Cors Ddyga (30th).
	Common Ringed Plover	·       65 at Traeth Dulas (27th). ·       34 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Lapwing	·       305 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Dunlin	·       21 at Traeth Dulas (27th). ·       83 at the Alaw estuary (29th). ·       5 at Cors Ddyga (30th).
	Turnstone	·       3 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Jack Snipe	·       Up to 2 at Traeth Dulas (2 on 27th, 1 on 29th). ·       1 at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (1st).
	Common Snipe	·       Up to 27 at Traeth Dulas (27 on 29th, 16 on 27th). ·       2 at The Range, Holyhead (27th). ·       4 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Woodcock	·       1 at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (30th).
	Greenshank	·       Up to 6 at Traeth Dulas (6 on 29th, 2 on 27th). ·       11 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Redshank	·       Up to 39 at Traeth Dulas (39 on 29th, 22 on 27th). ·       34 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Bar-tailed Godwit	·       Up to 2 at Traeth Dulas (2 on 27th, 1 on 29th). ·       56 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Black-tailed Godwit	·       13 at Cors Ddyga (30th).
	Oystercatcher	·       95 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Curlew	·       Up to 169 at Traeth Dulas (169 on 29th, 50+ on 27th). ·       72 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
Seabirds & gulls:	Mediterranean Gull	·       Adult winter at Traeth Dulas (29th). ·       13 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
Divers & Grebes:	Slavonian Grebe	·       1 at the Inland Sea (29th).
	Little Grebe	·       7 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
Passerines & others:	Red-eyed Vireo	·       1 at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (26th).
	Black Redstart	·       1 at Twr Quarry, Holyhead (26th). ·       1 at Octel, Amlwch Port (26th). ·       1 at Mynydd Bodafon (27th). ·       1 on outbuildings at Hotel Cymyran (28th). ·       1 at Carmel Head (30th). ·       1 in quarry at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (1st).
	Lapland Bunting	·       1 at Carmel Head (30th).
	Snow Bunting	·       1 at the start of the Breakwater, Holyhead (26th, 28th, 30th – 1st ).
	Hawfinch	·       2 flew over Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (27th).
	Spotted Flycatcher	·       1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (27th).
	Yellow-browed Warbler	·       1 at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (27th). ·       1 at Wylfa woods (27th, 29th & 1st). ·       1 reported in a private garden at Newborough (27th). ·       1 at Carmel Head (30th).
	Firecrest	·       1 at Wylfa Woods (28th).
	Chiffchaff	·       2 at Wylfa Woods (28th).
	Cetti’s Warbler	·       1 at Cors Ddyga (30th).
	Brambling	·       11+ over Wylfa Head (26th). ·       1 over Octel, Amlwch Port (26th). ·       1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (27th). ·       3 at Carmel Head (30th).
	Barn Swallow	·       2 at Cemlyn (26th). ·       3 at Carmel Head (30th).
	Fieldfare	·       Several flew over Llandegfan (1st).
	Kingfisher	·       2 at the Alaw estuary (29th).
	Green Woodpecker	·       1 at Mynydd Bodafon (27th).
	Collared Dove	·       20 at Rhoscefnhir (1st).
	Jackdaw	·       1 showing characteristics of ‘Nordic’ Jackdaw at Plas Arthur, Llangefni (26th).
	Hooded Crow	·       1 at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (28th). ·       1 at The Range, Holyhead (29th).
Raptors:	Red Kite	·       1 at Traeth Dulas (27th).
	Merlin	·       1 at South Stack (27th). ·       Female at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (30th). ·       Female at Wylfa Woods (30th). ·       2 near Llyn Coron (1st). ·       1 near Tregele (1st). ·        1 at Cemlyn (1st).
Herons, Egrets & allies:	Purple Heron	·        1 flew over Brynteg and headed towards Cors Erddreiniog (26th).
	Cattle Egret	·        5 on fields at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (27th & 29th).
	Great Egret	·        1 at Cors Ddyga (30th).
	Grey Heron	·        20 roosting on Ynys Weltog, off Church Island, Menai Bridge (1st).
Cetaceans:	Risso’s Dolphin	·        At least 3 still off Point Lynas (26th).