Week: Saturday 28th December 2024 – Friday 3rd January 2025.

… and we are off. Firstly, a Happy New Year and the very best for 2025 both generally and in terms of birding.  Those keen on year listing have already made a good start.  The total species declared on day 1 had reached 101, bird race participants on the 2^nd notched up 107, while the collective total at the end of day 3 has now reached 130 (notable omissions include Pink-footed & White-fronted Geese, Great Bittern, Red-legged Partridge, Hen Harrier and Water Pipit) - https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/year-lists.

The first WBRC species has been reported with a Red-necked Grebe at Red Wharf Bay.  Both Green and Common Sandpiper have been seen, plus a Spotted Redshank.  Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup and Black-necked Grebe are all good additions to the cumulative year list.

There are still several weeks before we can expect the flurry of new species as spring migration kicks in, so there is always a positive aspect to having missed a few species in that there are still a few birds to search out over the next few weeks.  After last year’s unprecedented number of Yellow-browed Warblers, I wonder if there might be one still out there to be found. 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        6 at Cors Ddyga (7 on 3^rd, 6 on 28^th).

-        5 at Llyn Cefni (1^st).

Brent Goose

-        17 at Moel y don (28^th)

-        3 near Church Island, Menai Bridge (28^th).

-        45 at Beddmanarch Bay (2^nd).

Barnacle Goose

-        2 at Llyn Coron (2^nd).

Long-tailed Duck

-        Drake off Benllech seafront (2^nd-3^rd).

Scaup

-        Female at the Inland Sea (1^st - 3^rd).

Eider

-        6 at Traeth Bychan (1^st)

-        3 at Benllech (2^nd).

Shoveler

-        39 at Cors Ddyga (2^nd).

Pintail

-        54 at Malltraeth (2^nd)

-        12 at Llyn Trafwll (2^nd).

Goosander

-        3 at Llyn Alaw, dam end (1^st).

-        Up to 20+ drakes at Llyn Coron (1^st).

-        7 at Llyn Trafwll (2^nd).

 

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

-        1 on flooded field to east of Ynys Wen cemetery (2^nd).

Common Sandpiper

-        1 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (3^rd).

Purple Sandpiper

-        Up to 10 at Cemlyn (10 on 2^nd, 3 on 2^nd).

-        6 at Trearddur Bay (2^nd).

Grey Plover

-        Up to 5 at Cemlyn (5 on 2^nd, 2 on 1^st).

Golden Plover

-        300+ flew over Cors Ddyga (2^nd).

Dunlin

-        6 at Moel y don (28^th).

Knot

-        2 at Cemlyn (2^nd)

-        68 at Beddmanarch Bay (3^rd).

Sanderling

-        c 120, in 2 flocks in flight, off Benllech seafront (2^nd).

Jack Snipe

-        2 at Traeth Dulas (1^st).

-        1 at Cemlyn (2^nd).

Spotted Redshank

-        1 at Malltraeth cob pool (3^rd).

Redshank

-        30 at Moel y don (28^th).

Greenshank

-        2 at Moel y don (28^th).

-        1 at the Inland Sea (2^nd).

-        2 at Church Island, Menai Bridge (3^rd).

Black-tailed Godwit

-        Up to 20+ on the flooded field off Gorad road, Valley (20+ on 1^st, 6 on 29^th).

-        80+ at Cors Ddyga (2^nd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

-        30 at Beddmanarch Bay (2^nd).

-        1 amongst the Curlew roost at Traeth Dulas (3^rd).

Curlew

-        21 at Moel y don (28^th).

-        c. 200 at Traeth Dulas (3^rd).

 

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

-        Adult off Penrhos Coastal park car park (2^nd & 3^rd).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

-        Adult at Llyn Coron (2^nd).

Kittiwake

-        Fairly constant stream past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port (1^st).

Gannet

-        2 flew past South Stack (2^nd).

Fulmar

-        2 were seen off Benllech seafront (2^nd).

Black Guillemot

-        Up to 3 at Traeth Bychan (3 on 1^st, 1 on 3^rd).

 

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

-        Up to 3 off Benllech seafront (3 on 1^st, 1 on 2^nd).

-        1 off Traeth Bychan (1^st & 2^nd).

-        1 in the bay at Cemlyn (2^nd)

-        1 at Beddmanarch Bay (3^rd)

Red-throated Diver

-        5 in the bay at Cemlyn (2^nd).

-        9 off the seafront at Benllech (2^nd).

Red-necked Grebe

-        1 on the river at the north side of Red Wharf Bay (2^nd).

Black-necked Grebe

-        1 at the Inland Sea, then at Beddmanarch Bay (2^{nd &} 3^rd).

Slavonian Grebe

-        Up to 3 at Beddmanarch Bay (2+ on 1^st, 3 on 2^nd, 1 on 3^rd).

-        Up to 2 at the Inland Sea (2 on 2^nd, 1 on 3^rd).

 

Passerines & others:

Firecrest

-        1 at Llyn Parc Mawr, Newborough (1^st & 3^rd).

Chiffchaff

-        1 at Bodffordd water treatment plant (1^st).

Kingfisher

-        2 at Llyn Penrhyn, Valley Wetlands RSPB (2^nd).

-        1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (3^rd).

-        1 at Beddmanarch Bay (3^rd).

Hooded Crow

-        1 on fields off the approach road to the Range, Holyhead (1^st & 3^rd).

-        1 at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (2^nd).

 

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

-        1 at Llyn Llywenan (2^nd).

Red Kite

-        1 over Hen Borth, Cemlyn (2^nd).

Goshawk

-        1 flew over Cors Erddreiniog (1^st).

Merlin

-        1 at Holyhead (1^st).

 

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egr\et

-        1 at Llyn Alaw (1^st).

-        1 at Llyn Llywenan (1^st).

-        1 at Llyn Penrhyn (2^nd).

-        1 at Llyn Trafwll (2^nd).

-        1 at Llyn Coron (1^st & 3^rd).

Water Rail

-        1 at Cors Ddyga (2^nd).

Week: Saturday 21st December 2024 – Friday 27th December 2024.

A quite run in to the New Year.  The very best of wishes for 2025.

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

-        Up to 13 at Llyn Cefni (13 on 26^th, 7 on 25^th).

White-fronted Goose

-        1 at Llyn Coron (24^th).

Barnacle Goose

-        2 at Llyn Coron (24^th).

Long-tailed Duck

-        Female at the Inland Sea (23^rd).

Common Scoter

-        5 flew past Cemlyn over a 1hr seawatch (23^rd).

Northern Shoveler

-        8 drakes at Llyn Coron (22^nd).

Goosander

-        24+ at Llyn Coron – 12 male, 12+ female (24+ on 22^nd, 21 on 24^th).

 

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

-     Belated report of 1 photographed on the small beach by the harbour, Cemaes Bay (19^th).

Dunlin

-        615 off Penrhos coastal park (24^th).

Greenshank

-        1 at the Inland Sea (23^rd).

 

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

-        3 at the Inland Sea (23^rd).

Kittiwake

-        c. 220 flew past Cemlyn over a 1hr seawatch (23^rd).

Gannet

-        9 flew past Cemlyn over a 1hr seawatch (23^rd).

Auk sp. – Guillemot & Razorbill

-        c. 660 flew past Cemlyn over a 1hr seawatch (23^rd).

 

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

-        1 in the bay at Cemlyn (23^rd).

Red-throated Diver

-        11 flew past Cemlyn over a 1hr seawatch (23^rd).

Black-necked Grebe

-        1 at the Inland Sea (23^rd).

Slavonian Grebe

-        2 at the Inland Sea (23^rd).

 

Passerines & others:

Blackcap

-        Female type on garden feeders at Benllech (21^st).

Snow Bunting

-        1 reported at Traeth Lligwy (26^th).

-        1 reported at Penmon Point (27^th).

Kingfisher

-        1 at Llyn Coron (24^th).

Hooded Crow

-        1 at Llyn Coron (24^th).

 

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

-        Male flew over A55 adjacent to Cors Ddyga (23^rd).

-        1 over Talwrn (24^th).

Red Kite

-        1 flew over Llyn Coron (22^nd).

-        1 over Talwrn (24^th).

 

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

-        1 at Llyn Coron (24^th).

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).