It was a good week for Phalaropes, with a Red-necked at Cors Ddyga and 2 Grey - 1 off Point Lynas and 1 at Port Cwyfan.
Red-necked Phalarope is still a species where records are considered by the Welsh Bird Rarity Committee. This week’s record will become only the 16th record for Anglesey when accepted - multiple observers and photographs should ensure its acceptance.
There has been a particular good run of recent records with 4 birds over the past 6 years. The first record was of one shot in 1893, with further birds in 1902, 1929, 2 in 1947, 2 in 1950 and 1 in 1970. The 90’s delivered a further 3 in 1994, 1995 and 1998. Since the start of the 3rd millennium there have been 5 records, with birds in 2006, 2020, 2022, 2023 and now 2025.
Autumn is the most likely month to find one, with 5 records in September, 4 in October, 3 in July, 2 in June and 1 in May. All sightings other than one have been of single birds, with 2 seen together in 1950.
Aside from the phalaropes, there has been some good seawatching with impressive numbers of Arctic Skuas and Black Terns in particular.
In respect of passerines, it was a good week for Pied Flycatcher which is a difficult bird to catch up with on the island despite breeding fairly close by in Eryri / Snowdonia. Three birds were seen, with 2 at Rhoscolyn and 1 at Hen Borth, Cemlyn. An early Firecrest was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.
Both Red-necked Phalarope and Pied Flycatcher were new for the year and takes the year to date total up to 220 (LISTS).
Swans, Geese and Ducks:
Mute Swan
60+, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
14, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Pintail
3, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Eurasian Teal
Up to 53, at the Alaw estuary (53 on 12th, 40 on 7th).
100+, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).
Goosander
2, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
11, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Waders:
Red-necked Phalarope
1, at Cors Ddyga RSPB (8th).
Grey Phalarope
1, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
1, on sea at Porth Cwyfan, near Aberffraw (12th).
Little Stint
2, at the Alaw estuary (6th).
Up to 2, at Malltraeth cob pool (2 on 7th, 1 on 6th & 8th).
Curlew Sandpiper
Up to 12, at the Alaw estuary (12 on 12th, 1 on 6th).
1, at Malltraeth cob pool (8th).
Up to 4, at the Mitigation pool, Inland Sea (4 on 8th & 9th, 3 on 10th & 11th).
Green Sandpiper
1, at Valley doors (6th).
1, at the Alaw estuary (9th, 12th).
Common Sandpiper
2, at Valley doors (2 on 6th, 1 on 8th).
Dunlin
23, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
8, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Sanderling
2, at the Alaw estuary (6th).
5, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
Knot
10, at Llandonna beach (7th).
50, at the Alaw estuary (9th).
European Golden Plover
11, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (8th).
Common Ringed Plover
27, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
14, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
Turnstone
1, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
Common Snipe
1, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
1, at Four Mile Bridge (8th).
2, at the Mitigation pool, Inland Sea (9th).
2, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Ruff
Up to 4, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (4 on 7th, 3 on 9th, 2 on 6th & 12th).
7, at Malltraeth cob pool (7 on 7th, 6 on 8th).
1, at the Mitigation pool, Inland Sea (9th).
Spotted Redshank
1, juvenile at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (6th, 9th, 12th).
1, at Malltraeth cob pool (11th).
Common Redshank
1, at Valley doors (6th).
Up to 81, at Malltraeth cob pool (81 on 7th, 23 on 8th).
16, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Greenshank
2, at Valley doors (6th).
Up to 16, at the Alaw estuary (16 on 12th, 11 on 6th, 8 on 7th).
3, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
Up to 8, at Traeth Dulas (8 on 6th, 3 on 7th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (8th).
1, at the Braint Estuary (8th).
Bar-tailed Godwit
4, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Black-tailed Godwit
3, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
11, at Malltraeth cob pool (7th & 8th).
2, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (7th).
1, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Oystercatcher
c. 200, at Llandonna beach (7th).
Whimbrel
1, at Traeth Dulas (6th).
2, at Fedw Fawr (7th).
1, at Rhosneigr (8th).
Curlew
c. 120, at Llandonna beach (7th).
20, at Four Mile Bridge (8th).
32, at Llanfair yn neubwll (8th).
102, at Traeth Dulas (10th).
74, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Seabirds and gulls:
Great Skua
1, flew past Trearddur Bay (7th).
1, flew past Cemlyn (12th).
Arctic Skua
1, flew past Trearddur Bay (7th).
7, flew past Cemlyn (8th).
2, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (9th).
14, flew past Cemlyn (9th).
1, flew past North Stack (11th).
3, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
4, flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port - 1 light, 3 dark (11th).
9, flew past Cemlyn (12th).
2, flew past Cemlyn - both dark (12th).
4, flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port - 2 light, 2 dark (12th).
Black Tern
8, flew past Cemlyn - 6,1,1 (8th).
6, flew past The Range, Holyhead (8th).
2, off Llam Carw, Amlwch Port (10th).
1, flew past Cemlyn (11th).
25, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
3, flew west past Point Lynas (12th).
3, flew past Cemlyn (12th).
8, flew west past Llam Carw (12th).
Roseate Tern
1, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
Little Tern
4, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
Common Tern
58, flew past Trearddur Bay over a 90 minute seawatch (7th).
Arctic Tern
102, on sand beyond harbour wall, Cemaes (7th).
Sabine’s Gull
1, juvenile flew past Cemlyn - with the same or another later (12th).
1, adult flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port (12th).
Little Gull
1, 2nd calendar year at Traeth Dulas (6th & 7th).
1, 1st calendar year flew past Cemlyn (9th).
1, flew past Point Lynas (11th).
1, flew west past Point Lynas (12th).
Mediterranean Gull
7, 2 adults and 5 first winter birds at Porth y Garan, Rhoscolyn (8th).
2, at Traeth Dulas - adult winter and 2nd calendar year (10th).
Gannet
33, at Fedw Fawr (7th).
Divers & Grebes:
Red-throated Diver
1, flew past North Stack (11th).
1, flew west past Point Lynas (12th).
Little Grebe
17, at Llyn Llygeirian (7th).
3, at the Alaw estuary (12th).
Passerines & others:
Pied Flycatcher
1, at Rhoscolyn (6th).
1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (8th).
1, at Rhoscolyn (8th).
Spotted Flycatcher
2, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (8th, 9th).
Firecrest
1, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (9th).
Chiffchaff
17, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (8th).
Blackcap
7, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (8th).
Lesser Whitethroat
1, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (8th).
Common Whitethroat
1, at Llanfair yn neubwll (8th).
1, at The Range, Holyhead (8th).
1, at Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (9th).
1, at Porth Cwyfan (12th).
Sedge Warbler
1, at Cromlech, Rhoscolyn (8th).
Whinchat
1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (8th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (8th & 10th).
Northern Wheatear
1, at Llandonna beach (7th).
3, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (8th).
6, at Rhoscolyn (8th).
5, at The Range, Holyhead (8th).
Common Swift
1, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
Stock Dove
2, at Mariandyrys (7th).
Kingfisher
1, at Valley doors (6th & 8th).
1, at Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
Linnet
c. 120, on the saltmarsh at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (7th).
c. 60, at Four Mile Bridge (8th).
Raptors:
Osprey
1, over Malltraeth cob pool (7th & 8th).
Marsh Harrier
1, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).
Red Kite
1, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).
Herons, Egrets & allies:
Cattle Egret
Up to 5, at Cors Ddyga (5 on 10th, 3 on 8th).
Little Egret
16, at Traeth Dulas (7th).
23, Llandonna beach & Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (7th).
Other wildlife:
Clouded Yellow
1, at Rhoscolyn (6th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (8th).
2, at Rhoscolyn (8th).
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