Great Grey Shrike near Cemaes

Driving to work today I had a Great Grey Shrike flying ahead of the car on the edge of a field. It dropped into a hedge on the north side of the road from the pin-drop on the map above. It may have carried on but if you're in the area it may be worth checking it out.

Welsh Ornithological Society Conference - last chance to book

Just a quick reminder that bookings for the WOS Conference, in Ruthin on Saturday 8 November, close this Friday, 31st October. Full details are on the WOS website http://www.birdsinwales.org.uk/activities/conference.htm, where you can pay by credit card or PayPal.

We've got some great speakers lined up, plus the Student Research Award and Lifetime Achievement Award winners, and an opportunity to meet lots of other birders from across Wales. The Conference is run in partnership with BTO Cymru and RSPB Cymru, and is sponsored by the Natural History Book Service.

Post Hurricane Seabird Passage North Anglesey 21-22nd October

Its been a wild couple of days off the North Anglesey coast, but the gale force winds have brought an impressive passage of sea birds and some impressive cetacean sightings.

On the morning of the 21st past Point Lynas were 1 Long Tailed Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua, 1 Fulmar and 3 Manx Shearwaters amongst moderate numbers of commoner seabirds.
In the afternoon past Cemlyn were impressive numbers of Gannets, many passing over the Trwyn, 600 moved west in two hours along with 400 Kittiwake. 4 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 15 Manx Shearwater. A single Leach's Petrel was seen late afternoon. (With Ken, Pat, Jane and Reg)

On the 22nd, at Point Lynas seabirds were moving past in large numbers from first light as the wind had subsided overnight. At times it was impossible to keep up with the numbers, or take your eyes from your binoculars. After the first hour, birds decreased and moved further out but odd scarcities continued to pass to 10.30. Three hours seawatching produced 10-12,000 Auks (90% Razorbills), 3000 Kittiwake, 500 Gannet, 600 Black-headed Gull, 5 Med Gulls, 1 Little Auk, 10 Red Throated Diver, 4 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 50 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 R.B. Merganser. Reg had similar numbers past Cemlyn.

Past North Stack Ken recorded single Sooty, Balearic and Manx Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 5 Red Throated Diver, 5 Med Gulls and a Whooper Swan with smaller numbers of auks and Kittiwakes.

On both days, Risso's Dolphin have been showing well from Point Lynas early morning, giving great views leaping and tail slapping in the rough seas.

The wind seems to have gone back round to the south-west now!

Curlew sand Alaw Estuary

A nice juv Curlew sand was with a group of 5 Dublin on the Alaw estuary is afternoon and at least 6 Med gulls of various ages (there were 4 on the inland sea earlier as well). 2 Black-tailed godwits and and 7 Greenshank completed a pleasant afternoons birding.

Possible Whales off Amlwch!

Just a quick heads up to any sea watchers. Down at Amlwch Port today, where I had 3 Risso's dolphins 2 weeks ago some friends reported Porpoises , Whales and Dolphins today! When I said " are you sure they were Whales?" they said they were big, black above with white below. Orcas? Whatever, if your near Amlwch tomorrow I'm sure it's worth checking out the sea!

Anglesey update

At long last I've finally just had my first Redwings of the winter flying over the house in Cemaes! Yesterday in my lunch hour I tried for the Ibis at Malltraeth RSPB with no joy ( no reports on Sunday either). However I did have 3 Whoopers (2ad and 1 juv) my first of the winter. There was also negative news for the lark on bird guides for Monday. Not surprising as a Merlin seems to have taken up residence in that field at Cemlyn now! Sunday highlights included 4 Barnacles with the Greylags at Cemlyn, YB Warbler at Carmel head plus 2 Swallows, 125 Skylark and a Wheatear in that area (Reg). There were 4 migrant Jays in Wylfa woods (Tony) and Robin had another YB Warbler in Holyhead BWCP (Robin).

2 Yellow-browed Warblers Anglesey

2 Yellow-browed Warbers were along the coast this morning between Hen Borth and Carmel head, 1 was in the copse behind the beach at Hen Borth and 1 in the plantation near Mynachdy farm. The Short-toed Lark at Cemlyn also finally showed after an hours wait. Not a bad morning birding .

Risso's Dolphin Photo

Here's a shot I got of one of the three Risso's Dolphins I saw from the Cafe, Coffee Cups at the Old Sail Loft at Amlwch Port, last Sunday. They were around for at least two hours and were possibly the same individuals that were off Cemlyn earlier on that week.

Lark and Ibis still on Anglesey

A Glossy Ibis has been at Malltraeth Marsh again this week favouring wet fields where the path from the main office reaches the Cefni River in the field on the "seaward" side. It was first spotted by Jim Parry on Monday then again by Kathy and Ken yesterday and it was still there early afternoon today. It can show well but does also disappear for periods. Also the Short toed Lark was still in the same field at Cemlyn this afternoon. I couldn't spot it this evening but it can disappear into the vegetation at times. There were also about 5 Wheatears in that field and Tony W had 2 Swallows at Malltraeth as well today.

Short toed Lark at Cemlyn

David Wright found this bird today at Cemlyn.

Here's some dodgy video-grabs I got as the sun was setting.

See the map. The bird is at point X above the L of Tyn Llan.

View from Point A on the coastal footpath.

There's 2 other shots of Cemlyn Lagoon and the twitch.

Little Shearwater at Cemlyn today!

Mark Sutton had a Little Shearwater off Cemlyn today. It was seen well at 8.45am. It was seen from the west end of the reserve by the Trwyn. It was halfway between the shore and the yellow and black buoy which isn't too far out. Nice one Mark!

Popped over to Morfa Madryn NR yesterday on a beautiful sunny, warm October day. The long-staying Grey Phalarope was doing what phalaropes do, by showing down to a few feet by the culvert pipe that directs the stream from by the car park under the railway line onto the marsh. I even had to move backwards to get the whole bird in when digiscoping it!!!

Probable Risso's again off Cemlyn (Ron Evans)

Hi Steve,

Went to Cemlyn this pm, at least 3 dolphins between Cemlyn Head and Middle Mouse. One very pale one breached completely but too far away to see the shape of the head, so couldn't confirm species.

Ron

Risso's reward for Egret no-show!

David Wright had the Morfa Madryn Grey Phal again today then headed over to Cemlyn to try for the Great White Egret. Sadly he had no joy with the latter but did get rewarded with good views of Risso's Dolphins off the Trwyn there!