WILSON’S STORM PETREL has long been considered an extremely rare visitor to Welsh waters. Pelagic trips in recent years, however, are starting to change the status of the taxon in Wales dramatically, with further exploration likely to show the species to be an annual, albeit uncommon, visitor to deeper areas offshore. On 19th, a pelagic out into the Celtic Deep approximately 40 km south-west of St Anne’s Head, Pembrokeshire, produced three in a feeding frenzy of 40 Storm Petrels, while one off Strumble Head the same day made for a rare Welsh land-based sighting. A follow-up pelagic on 24th generated views of a GREAT SHEARWATER. CORY’S SHEARWATERS were logged off Rhoscolyn, Anglesey, and Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, with both an adult SABINE’S GULL and Black Tern off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire. Other Black Terns were recorded in Powys, Gwynedd and Anglesey. Balearic Shearwaters were numerous, recorded off 11 coastal sites, and a Pomarine Skua scythed past Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. On the Laridae front, an impressive Mediterranean Gull count saw no fewer than 1,250 logged in fields near Llanon, Ceredigion, with a smart juvenile CASPIAN GULL photographed at Cardiff, Glamorgan. A bumper run of AQUATIC WARBLERS in southern England delivered a rare Welsh record to Newport Wetlands, Gwent, late on 13th, with a possible at Marloes, Pembrokeshire, on 17th. Surprisingly, the first CITRINE WAGTAIL of the autumn anywhere in Britain and Ireland pitched up just a short distance away at Goldcliff Pools from 18th. Proving popular, it was widely enjoyed until the month’s end. The highlight on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, saw a WESTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER discovered on 29th. Two Wrynecks were logged mid-month, with another on neighbouring Skokholm. Near Fishguard, a MELODIOUS WARBLER – Firecrest duo in a Tresinwen garden proved frustratingly elusive; a MARSH WARBLER was trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. In Ceredigion, a ROSY STARLING narrowly avoided mist nests as it came into roost at Teifi Marshes on 2nd. A surprise BLACK KITE dropped in at the Red Kite feeding station at Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian, Ceredigion, on three dates between 1st and 9th, although would prove agonisingly unpredictable. Another overflew Llyn Coron, Anglesey, on 7th. Wayward Chough found themselves high in the Brecon Beacons, with four at Llyn y Fan Fawr, Powys, and one at Fan y Big. In Anglesey, an elusive PURPLE HERON showed on and off at Cors Ddyga RSPB until mid-month, while up to five Spoonbills wandered the Dee Estuary, Clwyd. In Ceredigion, a SPOTTED CRAKE was at Ynys-Hir RSPB on 21st. An adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER which rocked up at Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, on the last day of the month headlined August’s shorebird action. A wide scattering of Wood Sandpipers saw birds at eight sites and Little Stints were at two, while Curlew Sandpipers at six sites included one inland at Llyn Aled, Conwy. Towards the month’s end, migrant Dotterel cropped up at three sites – Foel Grach, Conwy (four), Great Orme, Conwy (two), and Waun Fach, Powys. The RING-NECKED DUCK at Valley Lakes RSPB, Anglesey, was last noted on 14th, while the lost Whooper Swan lingered throughout at Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan. Although North Wales seabird colonies have so far been largely spared the scourge of avian flu, Gannets on Ramsey Island and Grassholm have been badly hit. All birders are asked to follow the guidance in the photo below.