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).

Week: Saturday 30th November 2024 – Friday 6th December 2024.

A Red-rumped Swallow was reported at Beaumaris and will be followed up by the County Recorder (2^nd), while a Barn Swallow was seen to fly over the A5025 near Llanfairynghornwy (5^th). A good mix of wildfowl and waders to keep the interest going – there was an impressive count of Coot at Llyn Rhos Ddu (2^nd).  Might Storm Darragh bring us something unexpected?

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        9 at Cors Ddyga (1^st).

-        7 at Bodffordd end of Llyn Cefni (1^st).

Pink-footed Goose

-        8 at Llyn Coron (3^rd).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

-        200 at Alaw estuary (2^nd).

-        45 from 4-mile bridge (2^nd).

Barnacle Goose

-        1 at Cors Ddyga (1^st).

Greater Scaup

-        2 at the Inland Sea (1^st).

-        Duck at Llyn Cefni (1^st).

Eider

-        Drake at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st).

Common Scoter

-        c 150 off Benllech seafront (1^st).

Shelduck

-        90 at Red Wharf Bay (1^st).

Wigeon

-        150 at Alaw estuary (2^nd).

Goldeneye

-        2 at Alaw estuary (2^nd).

Coot

-        118 at Llyn Rhos Ddu (2^nd).

Red-breasted Merganser

-        3 at Red Wharf Bay (1^st).

Goosander

-        9 at Llyn Coron (9 on 1^st, 6 on 3^rd).

-        2 at Red Wharf Bay (1^st).

 

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

-        1 at Porth y Post, north of Trearddur Bay (1^st).

-        2 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (2^nd).

Purple Sandpiper

-        3 at Llanddwyn (30^th)

-        3 at Trearddur Bay (1^st).

-        11 at Cemlyn (4^th).

Grey Plover

-        27 at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st).

-        4 at Cemlyn (4^th).

-        26 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).

Common Ringed Plover

-        24 at Traeth Lligwy (1^st).

-        11 from Penrhos Coastal Park (2^nd).

-        18 at Cemlyn (4^th).

European Golden Plover

-        5-600 at Aberffraw (2^nd).

Lapwing

-        180 at Dwyran (2^nd).

Knot

-        108 at Alaw estuary (6^th).

Dunlin

-        33 at Traeth Lligwy (1^st).

-        10+ at Cemlyn (4^th).

-        207 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).

Turnstone

-        8 at Moelfre (1^st).

-        6 from Penrhos Coastal Park (2^nd).

-        40+ at Cemlyn (4^th).

Snipe

-        300+ at Cors Ddyga (3^rd).

Ruff

-        4 at Cors Ddyga (1^st).

Redshank

-        60 from 4-mile bridge (2^nd).

Greenshank

-        1 at Red Wharf Bay (1^st).

-        3 at Traeth Lligwy (1^st).

-        1 from 4-mile bridge (2^nd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

-        53 at Alaw estuary (6^th).

Black-tailed Godwit

-        c 75 on the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (c 75 on 1^st, 51 on 2^nd).

Oystercatcher

-        55 on the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (2^nd).

-        168 at the Alaw estuary (6^th).

Curlew

-        12 on the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (2^nd).

 

Seabirds and gulls:

Little Gull

-        1 flew west past Cemlyn (6^th).

Mediterranean Gull

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (30^th).

Black Guillemot

-        1 at Beddmanarch Bay (1^st).

 

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

-        1 flew over Llaingoch, Holyhead mountain (30^th).

Red-throated Diver

-        1 flew west past the Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (3^rd).

Slavonian Grebe

-        1 at the Inland Sea (1^st).

Great Crested Grebe

-        11 from Penrhos Coastal Park (2^nd).

Little Grebe

-        3 at Cemlyn (4^th).

 

Passerines & others:

Red-rumped Swallow

-        1 reported over Happy Valley playground, Beaumaris (2^nd).

Barn Swallow

-        1 over the A5025 near Llanfairynghornwy (5^th).

Cetti’s Warbler

-        2 at Cors Ddyga (3^rd).

Chiffchaff

-        2 at Llyn Coron (1^st).

-        1 at Llyn Rhos Ddu (2^nd).

Blackcap

-        1 at Holyhead (30^th).

Water Pipit

-        3 at Cors Ddyga (3 on 1^st, 2 on 3^rd).

Green Woodpecker

-        2 near the lake at Mynydd Bodafon (6^th).

Kingfisher

-        1 at Holyhead harbour (30^th).

Hooded Crow

-        1 on a field at the entrance to The Range, Holyhead (1^st).

 

Raptors:

Merlin

-        1 at Holyhead (30^th).

-        Male at Traeth Bychan (1^st).

 

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

-        1 at Cors Ddyga (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 1^st).

Water Rail

-        3 at Cors Ddyga (3^rd).