A Sunny Day But Not Spring Just Yet Anglesey 29 January 2025
Greenshank busy feeding in shallow water.
With a lovely day we had to leave the admin and head out for some birds, to make the most of our time on Anglesey. A short drive took us to the small seaside town of Benllech, on the east side of the island. The sea was fairly calm, and we scanned the blue water with the telescopes. Small flocks of Common Scoter were dotted about across the bay, further out a flock of Common Eider were loafing. Common Guillemots showed well, some close in, and interesting to see some in breeding plumage and others still in winter dress. Red-throated Divers were also showing well in the good light, along with Shags some sporting their smart breeding crests. A gang of Northern Fulmar were on the water with more birds gliding over the sea on their stiff wings. Great Crested Grebes were here too, some diving for fish, others sleeping with necks of their backs.
Next, we visited Traeth Dulas where the conditions were perfect – great light, calm waters, and high tide. Two Greenshanks showed well along with plenty of Common Redshank. A flock of Curlew flew in and we picked out a single Bar-tailed Godwit amongst them. Redwings were feeding in the adjacent fields and a big Sparrowhawk shot through flushing the flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls.
Further north we parked at Porth Eilean and walked out to Point Lynas, the north-east corner of Anglesey. The wooded gulley below the car-park held Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrest. As we looked out across the bay we could see flock after flock of auks pouring east, a huge movement of birds was underway. Heading out onto the headland a Stonechat posed in the sun and Rock and Meadow Pipits skipped over the heather. Out at the lighthouse we watched as hundreds of Common Guillemots whizzed past low over the water, where were they going. A Great Northern Diver bucked the trend and flew west close the rocks. Several Red-throated Divers also flew by, mostly moving east. Black-legged Kittiwakes made their way west past the headland amongst Common and Black-headed Gulls. A harbour porpoise broke the water, and an Atlantic grey seal popped up.
Walking back to the car park a male Common Kestrel showed off and two Black Guillemots were in the bay. A long time since we had visited Point Lynas – we should come here more often.
We had a lovely lunch in the nearby town of Amlwch and then headed to the Alaw Estuary where a Green Sandpiper had been seen earlier in the day. We walked down to the estuary where it was much colder and windier than the morning. Sadly, no sign of the sandpiper despite a good search of the area, we did have nice views of a two Greenshank, delightful waders. We decided to head back to base at Beaumaris and as we drove south of Llanfachtreath we spotted a large flock of gulls in a roadside field. Luckily there was a handy layby, and we stopped to check the gulls. Hundreds of Common and Black-headed Gulls were feeding here and we soon picked out two smart adult Mediterranean Gulls, very nice.
Then it was back to Beaumaris to end the day watching the garden birds and a beautiful red squirrel.
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