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| American Royal Tern – Dulas |
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| The Amlwch Snowy Owl |
One of many Highlights of the 12 months on Anglesey was this Snowy Owl close to Amlwch in June, however listed here are the hen reviews from the Island in Autumn and early Winter on the finish of 2018.
On the 29th August there have been 5 Inexperienced
Sandpipers at Llyn Cefni.
Subsequent day on the 30th August there have been 6
Risso’s Dolphins off The Vary at South Stack.
Additionally one other 2 pods of 6 Risso’s Dolphins have been off
Cemlyn on the 1st September and a Roseatte Tern right here was a
good late report for the location. On the threerd Sept a Wooden
Sandpiper was at Cefni Reservoir, an Grownup Sabine’s Gull from the
Excessive Arctic and eight Black Terns from the continent handed Cemlyn. A
Cetti’s Warbler at Llyn Cefni on the 9th September was
uncommon for this website.
A Inexperienced Sandpiper and 9 Greenshanks have been on the
Llanfachraeth finish of the Alaw Estuary on the 9th
September. One other grownup Sabines Gull handed Level Lynas on the 12th
September and a Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic and 4 Nice Skuas have been off
Cemlyn on the 16th September. A Black Tern was at Lligwy
on the 19th September and a Sooty Shearwater handed Cemlyn
on the 21st September.
One other Risso’s Dolphin was noticed off Amlwch Octel
on the 23rd September.
On the 29th September an American Pectoral
Sandpiper was at Cors Ddyga (Malltraeth RSPB), the primary North
American Wading-bird for this website.
In late September there was a big passage of Jays
by means of North Wales. Mark Sutton had solely ever had 4 data
involving solely 5 birds in complete, between Cemlyn and Carmel head over
the final 10 years. On the 29th September he had 14 birds
alongside this stretch of coast.
6 Pale bellied Brent Geese handed Cemaes Bay on the
5th October, a hen not usually seen in Cemaes.
A Jay handed over my Property in Cemaes, Cae Derwydd on
the 6th October, a part of the North Wales inflow. 42
Crossbills handed over Cemlyn on the 7th October and a pair of
Hooded Crows have been at South Stack on the identical day.
A Yellow browed warbler, a protracted distant migrant from
Asia was in Wylfa head Automobile Park on the tenth October.
Contemplating they breed so far-off, its superb what number of flip up every
12 months within the UK.
Between Cemlyn and Hen Borth on the tenth
October there have been 2 Frequent Redstarts, 120 Skylarks overhead, 6 Tree
Sparrows and three Nice White Egrets.
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| A Dipper was in Cemaes for the primary time in over 20 years |
A Dipper was on the River Wygir in Cemeas in early
October across the 11th October for nearly every week, till
torrential rain induced rising water ranges to pressure it to maneuver on as
the rocks within the river that it fed from have been submerged because of the
extreme quantity of water within the River. For the 22 years I’ve lived
on the Island I’ve by no means seen a Dipper in Cemaes. Mike Smith noticed the
final one, and that was earlier than I moved over right here in 1996!
One other Yellow-browed Warbler was at Cafnan close to
Cemlyn on the 11th October.
On the 14th October a Nice Northern Diver
in full summer season plumage was flying over Holyhead, a Richards Pipit
flew over Holyhead, a Yellow browed Warbler was at Carmel Head and a
Firecrest was by Espresso Cups on the Previous Toll Home, Penrhos.
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| The Penrhos Espresso Cup’s Firecrest |
A Hoopoe was reported at Traeth Lligwy, flying over
the marsh on the 15th October, however not subsequently.
Yellow browed Warblers have been in Holyhead Breakwater
Nation Park on the Sixteenth-18th Oct and 1 was at Carmel Head
on the 18th October. 15 Brambling additionally flew over Carmel
head on this date.
Cattle and Nice White Egret have been on the Inland Sea
on the 19th October and 23 Mediterranean Gulls have been on the
Inland Sea from the Anchorage pub on the 20th October.
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| The Cemlyn Nice Northern Diver |
An Grownup Nice Northern Diver in Full Summer time plumage
was at Cemlyn for a couple of days from the 21st October. A
Black Redstart was at Troopers Level and Holyhead breakwater nation
park on the 22nd October. A Yellow browed Warbler was at
Penrhos CP on the 25th October.
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| Leach’s Petrels have been off Level Lynas |
Tough climate introduced in 5 Leach’s Petrels and an
grownup Pomarine Skua previous Level Lynas on the 27th October
and seven Purple Sandpipers have been at Cemlyn on the 29th
October.
3 Scoter together with 1 American Surf Scoter have been
reported off Bull Bay on the 31st October.
I had 2 Whooper Swans fly West over my home in
Cemaes on the 31st October, a brand new hen for my home listing!
These birds in all probability bred in Iceland and have been on there option to their
wintering grounds in North Wales, close to Llangefni or probably over on
the Glaslyn, Porthmadog.
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| The Whoopers close to Llyn Cefni |
2 Nice White Egrets have been at Cemlyn on the 1st
November and 4 Tree Sparrow, 10 Brambling and a Whimbrel have been there
on the 4th November.
On the 5th – 9th November an
Immature Rose Colored Starling was at Beth’s Gallery, Pen-y-sarn
with the Frequent Starlings.
On the 7th November a Swift species was
seen at Brynrefail. Subsequent day, presumably that very same hen was 6km to
the North at Llaneilian, close to Level Lynas. There was numerous
Swifts reported within the UK in November, and all those that have been
seen nicely sufficient to be particularly recognized turned out to be
Pallid Swifts, a extra southern species, that breed later and solely
migrates south a lot later than our British Frequent Swifts. So the
Anglesey birds have been greater than probably Pallid Swifts!
There have been 38 Whooper Swans together with 8 juveniles
between Llangefni and Llanerchymedd on the ten th November.
A late Swallow was at Hen Borth on the 16th
November, plus 2 Bramblings and a Lapland Bunting.
15 Cetti’s Warblers at Malltraeth RSPB (Cors Ddryga)
was a great depend for this website and the Island and no less than 2
Greenland White-fronted Goose have been right here from the 21st
November onwards.
20 Scaup have been on the Inland Sea from the 22nd
November onwards.
A Purple Squirrel was seen on and off in November and
into December within the Woodlands and gardens alongside the Afon Wygir in
Cemaes.
Though its been a light Winter thus far, a Snow
Bunting was at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn on the 24th November.
On the 26th November at Malltraeth RSPB
(Cors Ddyga) there have been 37 Pink footed Geese, 10 Whooper Swans, a
Barnacle Goose and a Marsh Harrier. Then on the 4th
December there was a excessive depend of 5 Water Pipits there with no less than
2 nonetheless there on the 11th .
On the 7th December there have been 146 Pale
bellied Brent Geese and a single Darkish Bellied Fowl at Penrhos Nation
Park and 5 Black Guillimots have been within the Holyhead space on the 9th
December. Additionally on that date in Purple Warf Bay there have been 110 Frequent
Snipe and at Dulas Marsh there have been 20 Frequent Snipe and a Jack Snipe.
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| Tony White discovered this Royal Tern |
Discover of the 12 months was by Tony White from Tregele, when
he discovered and photographed Britain’s 4th report of an
American Royal Tern at Dulas estuary on the tenth December.
It commuted between right here an Lligwy until the 11th earlier than
leaving Anglesey. It was later seen on the Gann Estuary in South
Wales then on the Isles of Scilly off the tip of Lands Finish.
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| Royal Tern at Dulas |
On the 12th December a Lengthy tailed Duck
was on Llyn Cefni and a Frequent Sandpiper was reported in Beddmanarch
Bay.
Counts on the Alaw Estuary, between Valley and
Llanfachraeth on the 13th December included 33 Bar tailed
Godwits, 98 Gray Plover, 22 Knot, 945 Dunlin, 72 Ringed Plover and
613 Wigeon.
On the 17th December on the Inland Sea
there have been 2 Nice Northern Divers, 14 Scaup, 4 Mediterranean Gulls
and a Lengthy tailed Duck. Close by there have been 3 Slavonian Grebes in
Beddmanarch Bay and in Holyhead Bay there have been 2 Purple throated and 1
Black throated Diver, plus a Black Guillimot.
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| Llyn Llygeirian |
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| Feminine Lesser Scaup on the best |
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| Diagnostic Wing-stretch |
One of many weirdest data I had this 12 months was when
I used to be driving on the A55 over the Inland Sea on the 18th
December in robust blustery climate. I noticed a hen showing to take
off within the quick lane and fly away from me. It was black and white and
initially I assumed it was a Magpie taking off after feeding on
roadkill. As I undertook it at excessive velocity narrowly lacking it I
seemed to my proper, and there was a feminine Lengthy tailed duck wanting
me within the eye, a mere 4 ft away! It then veered off, over the wall
and onto the Inland sea correct. I can solely think about that the
ridiculously blustery climate had compelled it down onto the street, because it
was flying low from feeding in Beddmanarch bay again to it is favoured
Inland Sea foraging grounds.
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| Lengthy tailed Geese-Final winters birds in Trearddur Bay |
On the 20th December the same old Purple
Sandpiper flock in Trearddur Bay was decreased from 13 to12 when 1 hen
was taken by a Peregrine.
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| An Anglesey Purple Sandpiper |
Subsequent day, on the 21st December an Grownup
Meditteraenean Gull flew over the place I work in Cemaes and a flock of
12 Lengthy tailed Tits brightened up a boring winters Day as they
accompanied me as I walked again to work after my lunch.
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| I had a Winter plumaged Med Gull fly over work. |
While dropping off Christmas Playing cards on the finish of
December in Pentraeth, a pal of mine confirmed me the Nice crested
Newts on the point of breed in his Pentraeth again Backyard, reflecting
how gentle the Winter has been thus far.
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| 2018 again of Digital camera Catbird shot-ta to the bloke stood subsequent to me 🙂 |
My three Greatest Birds of the 12 months for 2018 have been the
Amlwch Snowy Owl, the Dulas American Royal Tern and Britain’s Second
American Gray Catbird at Lands Finish, a hen I’ve earlier historical past
with! 17 years in the past, native Birder Ken Croft discovered Britain’s first
American Gray Catbird on the Pine Plantation at South Stack. I went
there after work on that Friday and waited patiently for an hour
hoping to see this uncommon hen. Then my Spouse referred to as me. I used to be on name,
and had a call-out and had to return to work in Amlwch. I
begrudgingly trudged again by means of the scrub to the trail, then I
seen some birders operating. I ran over to them they usually instructed me
that the Catbird had simply flown down the aspect of the hill and landed
within the bushes that I had been stood by for the final hour!
Nooooooooo!!!! I seemed on for an additional 5 minutes with no pleasure,
however then I needed to head again to work! I went again the subsequent morning,
however once more it by no means confirmed. There have been Blackcaps and Dunnocks flitting
round, and a few observers have been claiming these fleeting views because the
Catbird, however I had no pleasure. So I missed my probability of seeing this Mega
uncommon hen on Anglesey and within the UK. 17 years later Britain’s Second
Catbird turned up at Land’s Finish and fortunately for me it hung round for
a couple of weeks. I had a free Friday and left Bangor at 7pm after work on
a Thursday with Martin. We have been in a Journey Lodge in Taunton Devon at
12.30 am, and after a “good nights sleep” have been at Land’s Finish at
9.30am on the Friday. Sunshine, showers and blustery wind meant not
supreme viewing situations however we obtained the hen. A number of good however
comparatively quick views. Not sufficient time to get a photograph however sufficient
time to place the Ghost of the 2001 South Stack hen to relaxation!
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| Joyful Bunny |
So all one of the best for the festive season and the New
12 months. Present birds price on the lookout for embody the lengthy staying
American Lesser Scaup on Llyn Llygerian. The Inland Sea is presently
internet hosting Black throated and Nice Northern Divers plus Scaup, Lengthy
tailed Geese and Slavonian Grebes. Additionally why not give Malltraeth RSPB
reserve aka Cors Ddyga a attempt for Bittern, Marsh and Hen Harrier,
Cettis Warbler, Water Pipit and even Greenland White-fronted Goose if
you might be fortunate. Good luck and all one of the best for 2019, Steve Culley
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| Firecrest |
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| Snowy Owl-all one of the best for 2019 |
