Friday, 31 January 2025

Week: Saturday 25th January 2025 - Friday 31st January 2025.

Storm Éowyn produced a couple of early Manx Shearwater for two hardy observers, while the Big Garden Birdwatch produced a Brambling.  Both were new for the year, as was a Hen Harrier and for now I’ll include the Snow Goose of unknown origin.  So, four new additions during the week.  That takes the year to date total up to 144 (LISTS).  

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

5, at Llyn Padrig (26th).

Up to 13, at Cors Ddyga (13 on 29th, 4 on 28th).

Mute Swan

17, at Llyn Padrig (26th).

Greenland White-fronted Goose

15, at the Cefni valley (26th, 29th).

Barnacle Goose

2, at Llyn Padrig (26th, 29th).

Pink-footed Goose

220, in flight over Cors Ddyga (29th).

Snow Goose

1, flew over Llyn Coron with Greylag Geese (25th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

376, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Long-tailed Duck

Duck, at the Inland Sea (26th, 31st).

Drake, off Benllech seafront (30th).

Scaup

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (25th, 26th, 29th, 30th).

1, at the Inland Sea (26th, 29th, 31st).

Eider

23, off Benllech seafront (23 on 29th, 15 on 30th).

Common Scoter

5, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th).

c. 180, off Benllech seafront (30th).

Pochard

7, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Tufted Duck

c. 180, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Teal

c. 75, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Eurasian Wigeon

c. 125, at eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Gadwall

8, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Goosander

2, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands (26th).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (26th, 29th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (26th, 31st).

Grey Plover

16, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Lapwing

c. 200, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

Knot

36, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Spotted Redshank

1, on the Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (8th, 26th ).

Greenshank

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (25th).

2, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (29th).

1, at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (31st).

Bar-tailed Godwit

33, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Manx Shearwater

2, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th ).

Gannet

55, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th ).

Fulmar

63, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th).

Kittiwake

34, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th ).

60, flew past Benllech seafront (31st).

Mediterranean Gull

2, on fields near Llanfachraeth (29th).

4, from Four-mile Bridge (30th).

Adult winter, at Beddmanarch Bay (30th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1, on fields between Bryngwran and Llanfaelog (26th ).

Black Guillemot

2, at Porth Eilian (29th).

1, off Benllech seafront (29th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (30th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

1, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th).

1, flew past Point Lynas (29th).

1, at the Inland Sea (30th, 31st).

Red-throated Diver

8, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th).

1, flew past Point Lynas (29th).

15, off Benllech seafront (30th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (30th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (25th, 29th, 30th).

Black-necked Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (26th, 29th, 31st).

Slavonian Grebe

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 26th, 1 on 30th & 31st).

1, at the Inland Sea (29th, 31st).

Passerines & others:

Firecrest

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (31st).

Chiffchaff

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (29th, 31st).

Black Redstart

1, reported near the car park at South Stack (28th).

Water Pipit

1, at Cors Ddyga (26th).

Brambling

1, female at a private residence - during Big Garden Bird Watch (26th).

Siskin

c. 10, in lakeside conifers at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Kingfisher

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (25th ).

Chough

30+, flew over Llyn Penrhyn (30th).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead (26th).

Raptors:

Hen Harrier

1, ringtail at the Cefni valley (28th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Llyn Coron (26th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Coron (30th).

1, flew over Beddmanarch Bay (30th).

Merlin

1, at the Inland Sea (30th).

Goshawk

1, over Cors Erddreiniog (25th ).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Coron (26th ).

1, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (29th).

1, on fields to the north of Pont Croeso (30th).

1, at Valley doors (30th).

Water Rail

1, seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (25th).

1, heard calling at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

3, calling from lakeside reeds at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

1, heard calling at Valley doors (30th).


Friday, 24 January 2025

Week: Saturday 18th January 20025 - Friday 24th January 2025.

Two new additions for the 2025 Anglesey year list with a Green Woodpecker heard calling at Bryn Teg and 15 White-fronted Goose seen at the Cefni valley.  The list rises to 140 (LISTS). 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        4 flew north over Brynteg (19th).

-        19 on fields north of the Afon Cefni – 14 & 5 (22nd).

-        2 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Mute Swan

-        32 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Greenland White-fronted Goose

-        15 at the Cefni valley (19th, 20th, 24th).

Pink-footed Goose

-        150 at the Cefni valley (19th).

-        100+ on fields north of the Afon Cefni – (22nd).

Barnacle Goose

-        2 in flight over the Cefni valley (19th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

-        108 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

-        5 were at Church Island, Menai Bridge (20th).

Long-tailed Duck

-        Duck at the Inland Sea (18th – 22nd).

Scaup

-        1 at Llyn Penrhyn (18th – 22nd).

-        1 at the Inland Sea (18th & 22nd).

Eider

-        32 at Penmon Point (18th).

-        10 at Traeth Bychan (19th).

Pintail

-        66 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Goldeneye

-        c 25 on the Inland Sea, from the Anchorage, Four Mile bridge (22nd).

Goosander

16 at Llyn Coron (18th).

Waders:

Purple Sandpiper

-        Up to 8 at Penmon Point (8 on 19th, 7 on 18th).

-        Up to 10 at Trearddur Bay (10 on 18th, 8 on 21st).

Grey Plover

-        9 on the Inland Sea, from the Anchorage, Four Mile bridge (22nd).

Golden Plover

-        1, 1 field north of Tywyn Trewan Common (24th).

Common Ringed Plover

-        68 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Lapwing

-        39 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

-        1000+, 1 field north of Tywyn Trewan Common (24th).

Knot

-        100 on the Inland Sea, from the Anchorage, Four Mile bridge (22nd).

Dunlin

-        73 at Traeth Dulas (21st).

Spotted Redshank

-        1 on the Inland Sea, from the Anchorage, Four Mile bridge (22nd).

Redshank

-        62 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

-        c 150 on the Inland Sea, from the Anchorage, Four Mile bridge (22nd).

Greenshank

-        Up to 5 on the Alaw estuary (5 on 22nd, 4 on 19th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

-        42 were at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Black-tailed Godwit

-        c 40 on the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (22nd).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

-        1, at Beddmanarch Bay (20th).

-        2, on fields near Cemlyn (24th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

-        1, on the estuary at Treath Dulas (24th).

Black Guillemot

-        1 off Beaumaris pier (18th).

-        6 at Holyhead harbour (19th).

-        1 at Holyhead fish quay (22nd).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (19th).

-        1 at Porth Penmon (19th).

Red-necked Grebe

-        1 at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (18th – 22nd).

Black-necked Grebe

-        2 at the Inland Sea (18th).

Slavonian Grebe

-        Up to 5 at Beddmanarch Bay (5 on 19th, 4 on 21st, 2 on 18th & 1 on 20th).

-        2 on the Inland Sea (20th).

Passerines & others:

Firecrest

-        1 at Llyn Parc Mawr, Newborough (19th).

Chiffchaff

-        1 at Bodffordd water treatment plant (18th).

Blackcap

-        Male and female on garden feeders at Benllech (19th).

-        1 at Menai Bridge (20th).

Fieldfare

-        10, 1 field north of Tywyn Trewan Common (24th).

Green Woodpecker

-        1 heard calling at Brynteg (17th - 19th).

Chough

-        36 at Puffin Island (19th).

-        50-59 at a private site near Llyn Trafwll (18th-24th).

Hooded Crow

-        1 on fields aside entrance road to The Range, Holyhead (21st).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

-        1 at Llyn Penrhyn (18th).

-        1 at the Inland Sea (18th).

-        1 at Llyn Traffwll (18th – 24th).

Merlin

-        1 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

-        1 at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (18th).

-        1 at Llyn Coron (18th).

-        1 flew over the A55 near the Valley junction (19th).