The excellent summer for seabirds continued in earnest into August, with a BRIDLED TERN (featured image by Robin Sandham) at Afon Wen, Gwynedd, headlining from 6-9th. This first for Gwynedd is the first anywhere in Britain since 2013-14. An incredible WILSON’S STORM PETREL record saw one photographed mid-capture by a Peregrine Falcon from a boat off New Quay, Ceredigion, on 13th – made more extraordinary still by virtue of being the first county record! Another was off a Celtic Deep pelagic on 11th, with healthy totals of both GREAT and CORY SHEARWATERS also recorded on trips during the month.
Record numbers of CORY’S SHEARWATERS continued to be logged in Welsh coastal waters. Away from Pembrokeshire, four were off Ceredigion, with two passing Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, and one off Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. GREAT SHEARWATERS were smaller in number, though twos were off both Skokholm and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire.
Three sites enjoyed Long-tailed Skua sightings, with birds past Strumble Head on three dates. Sabine’s Gulls were off five sites and a Grey Phalarope flew past Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. Mid-month saw the best autumn influx of Black Terns for several years, with an impressive count of more than 250 past Strumble Head on 19th.
Islands enjoyed plentiful Hippo’ action, comprising an ICTERINE WARBLER on Skokholm and both ICTERINE and MELODIOUS WARBLERS on Bardsey Island. Even more notable was a WESTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER trapped and ringed on Skokholm on 23rd, with other news including a Hoopoe at Wenvoe, Glamorgan, and no fewer than four Wrynecks. Surprising news from Pembrokeshire from 10th saw the GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK at Dale Airfield noted for the first time since early June. Freshly moulted, it has retained its strikingly pale appearance and looks a decent match for one of the African or Arabian desert subspecies.
A welcome New World visitor saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Llangwm, Pembrokeshire, from 24-26th, while a PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Cors Ddyga RSPB on 29th. In Glamorgan, Kenfig NNR boasted a PURPLE HERON on 25-26th and a moulting drake RING-NECKED DUCK was again at Lisvane Reservoir, Glamorgan.
Greater Short-toed Lark
Lesser Yellowlegs
Purple Heron
Western Bonelli’s Warbler
