A swift visit to Anglesey

Photos:

Stonechats, Wheatear, Redstart, Ravens, Chough, Fulmars and Herring Gull all at Southstack
Merlin at Rixton

17^th April 

Arrived home late from working away. A quick visit to the feeding station produced 24 Tree Sparrows, 7 Grey Partridges and 8 Yellowhammers. At HGF in the gloom of dusk, 7 Little Ringed Plovers were present. 

18^th April 

This morning I drove over to Anglesey for a meeting and took advantage while I was there to have a look at a few things. On my way there I noticed it was somewhere nears high tide and decided to stop for the briefest of sea watches at Llanfairfechan. The bush shelter is currently out of bounds due to a construction project so I scanned the sea from the car park. The following birds were seen: 

Arctic Tern                              2

Eider                                        2
Gannet                                     At least 20
Razorbill                                  2
Red-breasted Merganser         6
Red-throated Diver                 4
Sandwich Tern                        1 

After the meeting I decided to have my lunch “round the corner” at Southstack. I had around 45 minutes to spare there and rushed around trying to make the most of it. First stop was Ellins Tower where I found that all the auks had buggered off out to sea as a result of the bad weather. A single Puffin was floating on the water. 14 Fulmars were huddled up on the cliffs and a few Kittiwakes were hanging around but it was meagre fare. I spent some time watching a pair of Stonechats flitting around the seaward side of the tower. I could have watched these birds for hours – two Rock Pipits also went past. 

Back at the car park I spotted a few Choughs which all seemed to disappear when I scoped them and a pair of Ravens. The latter were trying to get at something in the heather and eventually I sussed it was an egg. Looking back at the photos, it appears to be a Guillemot’s or something similar. An early laying bird or something they stashed over the winter from last summer? 

Next I spotted another Chough in the horse paddocks across from the cafe and while watching it I suddenly realised there were quite a few Wheatears around. In fact I counted at least 37 and I suspect there were many more if I had the time to look. I also found a nice male Redstart with them and 3 more Stonechats. The Redstart still has buffish primaries and tertials and doesn’t look as smart as an adul male should – perhaps one of last years youngsters still moulting into adult plumage? 

I arrived back in the office mid afternoon and after work popped around to Rixton Moss. It was very quiet and the only bird of note was a soggy female Merlin perched in a field off Prospect Lane. She sat there in the rain without moving for half an hour. At HGF later there was an influx of hirundines with 80+ Swallows and 20+ Sand Martins plus 2 Little Ringed Plovers while at the feeding station there were 28 Tree Sparrows and 3 Yellowhammers.