Glossy Ibis have recently been showing up in unprecedented numbers in Britain, but Anglesey had missed out on the influx - that is until this week when at least 2 birds graced the island. Also present, adding to the southern European feel were up to 4 Cattle Egrets. Oh, the ‘Times They Are a-Changin’.
Less positive is the plight of some of our farmland birds. This week delivered the first record of Tree Sparrow this year after none last year. Throughout the 90s, Tree Sparrow could be reasonably expected at sites such as Pili Palas, the Braint estuary and Wilpol Farm - near Llanerchymedd. By 2007 the bird was starting to be reported in local bird reports as not having been seen, and save for one site where they were subsequently discovered and lingered on near Bryngwran - until relatively recently - we now only get a handful of records of birds presumably on passage every year or so.
Returning to a more positive note - and in a year when the BTO undertook a national survey of Dartford Warblers as part of its Heathland Bird Survey - there was confirmation of Dartford Warblers being seen at two sites on Anglesey. At site 1, a pair were noted between the 15th February and the 29th April - with the male last seen on the 17th May. At site 2, a 1st summer male was noted on the 5th and 12th April. Regrettably, it is understood that breeding was not confirmed at either site. Understandably, given the toe-hold this species is just about gaining on the island, no details on the exact locations have been shared.
Glossy Ibis, Tree Sparrow and Dartford Warbler were all new for the year and takes the cumulative year to date total to 225 (LISTS). The mean year list for the past 3 years has been 226, so nearly up to that mark. With Yellow-browed Warbler being recorded as close as Hilbre Island today, perhaps it won’t be too long until 226 is reached or indeed exceeded.
Swans, Geese and Ducks:
Black Swan (Category E).
2, at the Inland Sea (22nd).
Mute Swan
17, at the Inland Sea (24th).
Pink-footed Goose
14, at Cors Ddyga (21st).
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
2, at Traeth Dulas (20th).
2, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
6, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
64, at Beddmanarch Bay (23rd).
Eurasian Teal
24, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
120+, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
Gadwall
3, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
Wigeon
90, at the Inland Sea (22nd).
50+, at Cemlyn (25th).
Pintail
5, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
21, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
Common Scoter
945, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Eider
1, at the Inland Sea (22nd).
Red-breasted Merganser
Up to 8, at Traeth Dulas (8 on 22nd & 23rd, 5 on 26th).
17, at the Inland Sea (24th).
Goosander
20, at the Inland Sea (22nd).
Waders:
Little Stint
1, at Traeth Dulas (21st).
2, on new scrapes north of A55, Cors Ddyga (25th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (26th).
1, at the Alaw estuary (26th).
Curlew Sandpiper
1 at Traeth Dulas (20th, 25th).
Up to 4, at Cors Ddyga (4 on 25th, 2 on 22nd).
1, at the Alaw estuary (26th).
Green Sandpiper
1, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (21st, 23rd).
1, at Cors Ddyga (23rd).
Common Sandpiper
2, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (21st).
Dunlin
Up to 18, at Traeth Dulas (18 on 22nd & 25th, 16 on 20th).
12, at Rhoscolyn (25th).
Knot
1, at Cemlyn (25th).
Common Ringed Plover
10, at Traeth Dulas (10 on 20th).
European Golden Plover
c. 50 , at Cemlyn (25th).
Grey Plover
1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
Common Snipe
1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
60+, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
1, at The Range (22nd).
3, at Rhoscolyn (25th).
10, at Traeth Dulas (26th).
Ruff
14, at Cors Ddyga (21st).
1, at The Range (22nd).
10+, on new scrapes north of A55, Cors Ddyga (25th).
2, at Cemlyn (25th).
Greenshank
Up to 10, at Traeth Dulas (10 on 26th, 9 on 22nd, 3 on 20th).
1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (21st).
14, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (21st).
1, at Cemlyn (22nd).
1, at Aberffraw (24th).
1, on new scrapes north of A55, Cors Ddyga (25th)
Bar-tailed Godwit
7, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
1, at Traeth Dulas (22nd).
1, at Beddmanarch Bay (23rd).
3, at Cemlyn (3 on 22nd & 25th).
Black-tailed Godwit
Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 25th, 1 on 22nd).
Oystercatcher
188, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
173, at Beddmanarch Bay (23rd).
84, at Rhoscolyn (25th).
Whimbrel
4, at Cemlyn (25th).
Curlew
57, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
69, at Beddmanarch Bay (23rd).
Seabirds and gulls:
Leach’s Petrel
2, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Pomarine Skua
1, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Great Skua
1, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Arctic Skua
9, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Black Tern
13, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Yellow-legged Gull
1, juvenile over Point Lynas (21st).
Sabine’s Gull
1, adult flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Mediterranean Gull
1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
2, at Beddmanarch Bay (23rd).
1, at the Inland Sea (24th).
Black Guillemot
3, from the coastal path north of Traeth Bychan (21st).
Divers & Grebes:
Great Northern Diver
3, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
Red-throated Diver
9, flew past Point Lynas (21st).
3, from the coastal path north of Traeth Bychan (21st).
1, flew over Cors Ddyga (24th).
Passerines & others:
Lesser Whitethroat
1, at the Inland Sea (23rd).
Common Whitethroat
1, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (21st).
Blackcap
4, at Wylfa woods (21st).
2, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (22nd).
4, from Tregele to Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25th).
Chiffchaff
7, at Wylfa woods (21st).
1, at The Range (22nd).
1, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (22nd, 26th).
9, from Tregele to Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25th).
Goldcrest
1, at The Range (22nd).
Up to 2, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (2 on 26th, 1 on 22nd).
Northern Wheatear
1, from the coastal path north of Traeth Bychan (21st).
1, at Traeth Dulas (21st).
2, at Cemlyn (22nd).
26, at The Range (22nd).
2, at Aberffraw (24th).
1, at Rhoscolyn (25th).
2, at Llanddwyn island (25th).
Tree Sparrow
2, over stubble fields near Hen Borth, Cemlyn (24th) - with 1 heard calling (26th).
Turtle Dove
1, at Cemaes Bay (26th).
Stock Dove
2, at the Alaw estuary (21st).
Lapland Bunting
1, flew over Cemlyn and appeared to land on the large island in the lagoon (25th).
Common Crossbill
6 at Wylfa woods (25th).
Kingfisher
1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (21st).
1, at Cemlyn (25th).
Raptors:
Osprey
1, at Rhoscolyn (25th).
Goshawk
1, over Beaumaris (21st).
Merlin
1, male at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (25th).
Marsh Harrier
1, juvenile at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (26th).
1, at Llyn Llygeirian (26th).
Red Kite
1, seen from the B4419 near Llangaffo (25th).
Herons, Egrets & allies:
Eurasian Bittern
1, at Llyn Llygeirian (26th).
Cattle Egret
Up to 4, at Cors Ddyga (4 on 22nd, 3 on 26th).
Little Egret
14, at the Mitigation pool, Inland Sea (24th).
13, at Traeth Dulas (26th).
Glossy Ibis
1, at the Gorad flood, Valley (24th-25th).
1, in flight at Cors Ddyga (24th), then 2, on new scrapes north of A55 (25th-26th).
Water Rail
2, calling at Cemlyn (25th).
