Week: Saturday 14th December 2024 – Friday 20th December 2024

A seawatch in windy conditions in the depth of December is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it did provide one hardy observer with both a Little Auk and Little Gull during the course of the week.  Little Auk takes the year to date total up to 226. See -  YEAR LISTS

A late Barn Swallow at Penmon Point was unseasonal, but is consistent with the trend over recent years of having one or more late into the year and indeed in some years with birds overwintering.  A Green Woodpecker at Newborough Forest is perhaps further positive evidence of a return of a species that had in all probability been lost to the island for several years.  Reports this year have come from at least 3 different locations across the island.

Wishing everyone a festive and peaceful Christmas.

 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        Up to 10 at Cors Ddyga (10 on 18^th, 7 on 14^th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

-        1 at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (15^th & 18^th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

-        1, with Pale-bellied flock at the Inland Sea (15^th).

Long-tailed Duck

-        Female at the Inland Sea (14^th-20^th).

Greater Scaup

-        1 at the Inland Sea (16^th).

 

Waders:

Purple Sandpiper

-        11 at Cemlyn (15^th).

-        Up to 11 at Trearddur Bay (11 on 18^th, 6 on 16^th).

Lapwing

-        c.2000 in flight near Llyn Trafwll (11^th).

-        20 at the Inland Sea (16^th).

Sanderling

-        5 flew south at Penmon Point (17^th).

Dunlin

-        c. 1000 flew south at Penmon Point (17^th).

Ruff

-        4 at Cors Ddyga (16^th & 18^th).

Black-tailed Godwit

-        56 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th).

 

Seabirds and gulls:

Little Auk

-        1 flew past Cemlyn over a 100 minute seawatch (19^th).

Little Gull

-        1 flew past Cemlyn over a 100 minute seawatch (19^th).

Mediterranean Gull

-        Adult winter at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th).

-        Up to 3 at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (3 on 15^th, 1 on 18^th).

Kittiwake

-        c. 520 flew past Cemlyn over a 100 minute seawatch (19^th).

Fulmar

-        1 off Penmon Point (18^th).

Black Guillemot

-        1 at Beddmanarch Bay (14^th & 20^th).

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (19^th).

Auk sp. – Guillemot & Razorbill

-        c. 650 flew past Cemlyn over a 100 minute seawatch (19^th).

Shag

-        46 at Penmon Point (17^th).

 

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

-        1 at the Inland Sea (15^th).

Black-necked Grebe

-        1 at the Inland Sea (15^th & 18^th).

Slavonian Grebe

-        3 at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 14^th, 1 on 18^th).

-        3 at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (15^th).

-        2 at the Inland Sea (2 on 15^th, 1 on 16^th).

 

Passerines & others:

Barn Swallow

-        1 at Penmon Point (17^th).

Blackcap

-        1 at Penmon Point (17^th).

Green Woodpecker

-        1 at Newborough Forest (15^th).

Hooded Crow

-        1 on a field at Cemlyn (15^th).

-        1 on fields at the entrance to The Range, Holyhead (18^th).

 

Raptors:

Red Kite

-        1 over the A5025 near Llansadwrn (18^th).

 

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

-        1 on fields opposite the school at Lon Spencer, Valley (15^th).

Week: Saturday 7th December 2024 – Friday 13th December 2024.

Firstly - and most importantly - I hope that readers either did not experience any adverse consequences from Storm Darragh or if you did that services and repairs are now well advanced.  Albeit minor compared to the experiences of some, the loss of internet services until this morning showed how I have become dependent on good communication services.
On the birding front, there is always part of me that hopes that storms will bring a sought-after vagrant or scarcity. Alas, nothing has appeared to date and birding news for the week very much reflects this time of year.  Those brave enough to put in a seawatch in the immediate aftermath of Storm Darragh (still extreme weather) were rewarded with good numbers of divers and auks.

Martin Jones

 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        7 at Cors Ddyga (9^th).

-        2 at Llyn Cefni (12^th).

Pink-footed Goose

-        1 at Llyn Padrig (11^th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

-        1 at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (12^th).

Velvet Scoter

-        1 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

Common Scoter

-        5 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

Shelduck

-        55 at Traeth Dulas (8^th).

Wigeon

-        c. 150 at Cefni reservoir (11^th).

Goldeneye

-        3 drakes at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).

-        10 at Llyn Maelog (10^th).

Goosander

-        Redhead at Cemlyn (8^th).

-        2 at Llyn Maelog (10^th).

 

Waders:

Purple Sandpiper

-        4 at Cemlyn (10^th).

Grey Plover

-        13 at the Inland Sea (11^th).

Common Ringed Plover

-        34 at Traeth Dulas (8^th).

Knot

-        3 at the Inland Sea (11^th).

Dunlin

-        28 at Traeth Dulas (8^th).

-        19 at Cemlyn (8^th).

-        322 at the Inland Sea (11^th).

Redshank

-        47 at Traeth Dulas (8^th).

-        19 at Cemlyn (8^th).

-        217 at the Inland Sea (11^th).

Greenshank

-        5 at the Alaw estuary (10^th).

Black-tailed Godwit

-        12 at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (12^th).

 

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

-        Adult winter at Traeth Dulas (8^th).

-        Adult winter at the Inland Sea (11^th).

Great Black-backed Gull

-        39 at Traeth Dulas was a notable count (8^th).

Kittiwake

-        213 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

-        690 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

Fulmar

-        1 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

Gannet

-        35 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

Black Guillemot

-        1 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

-        13 at Holyhead harbour (13 on the 8^th, 1 on 12^th).

-        14 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

Auk sp. – Guillemot & Razorbill

-        828 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

-        690 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th)

Shag

-        71 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

 

 

Divers & Grebes:

Black-throated Diver

-        1 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

Great Northern Diver

-        2 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (8^th).

-        5 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

Red-throated Diver

-        19 flew past North Stack during a 3hr seawatch (8^th).

-        43 flew past Point Lynas over a 1¾ hr seawatch (8^th).

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (9^th).

Slavonian Grebe

-        2 by the cob, Inland Sea, viewed (12^th).

 

Passerines & others:

Water Pipit

-        1 at Cors Ddyga (9^th).

Brambling

-        1 at sunflower field, Hootons pick your own, Brynsiencyn (8^th).  Note the A4080 is a busy road and it is dangerous for pedestrians.

Kingfisher

-        1 at Valley doors (12^th).

Stock Dove

-        c. 30 at pumpkin field, Hootons pick your own, Brynsiencyn (8^th).  Note the A4080 is a busy road and it is dangerous for pedestrians

 

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

-        2 at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).

Red Kite

-        1 over Pentre Berw (8^th).

-        1 at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).

 

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

-        2 at the Alaw estuary (10^th).

Water Rail

-        1 heard calling at Llyn Llywenan (10^th).

-        2 at Valley doors (12^th).