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).