Repeated storms battered the principality with Ciara and Denis bringing unprecedented fluvial flooding to some areas. With the storms tracking swiftly across the Atlantic there were expected to be at least some American and white-winged gulls. However, the bird of the month (just!) was a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, which was seen on 24th at RSPB Burton Mere and flew into the Welsh (Flintshire) area from time to time!
The GLOSSY IBIS was still at NWR (Gwent) and seen almost throughout the month. Six Spoonbills were at NWC (carmarthen) on 1st-16th. The Black-necked Grebe remained at NWR (Gwent) from 1st-11th and a Red-necked Grebe was off Point Lynas (Anglesey) on 1st. Slavonian Grebes were on the Inland Sea (Anglesey) from 3rd-25th, off Llanfairfechan (Caernarfonshire) on 6th, Benllech (Anglesey) on 15th-22nd and Borth y Guest (Caernarfonshire) on 22nd. A Black-throated Diver was off Strumble (Pembrokeshire) on 12th and Broad Haven on 13th.
A SMEW remained on the Usk (Monmouthshire) until 1st and another was still at Glandyfi (Ceredigion) on 14th. A RING-NECKED DUCK was at Llyn Blaenmelindwr (Ceredigion) on 2nd and 10th and on nearby Llyn Pendam from 5th-8th and again on 28th. Another was on Marloes Mere on 5th and nearby at St. Brides (Pembrokeshire) on 8th and 14th. A SURF SCOTER was off the Great Orme (Caernarfonshire) on 6th and a GREEN WINGED TEAL was at Llanegan (Caernarfonshire) from 22nd-29th. A European White-fronted Goose was at Drwyslwyn (Carmarthen) on 1st and Greenland White-fronted Geese were at NWC (Carmarthen) on 1st with four on the Alaw Estuary and Llanfachraeth area on Anglesey on 2nd-3rd. A Ruddy Shelduck was on the River Clwyd (Flintshire) on 2nd.
A KUMLIEN’S GULL was at Aberavon between 22nd and 29th and the RINGED-BILLED GULL was again at Llys-y-Fran on 23rd. Iceland Gulls of the nominate species were at Llangorse (Powys) on 3rd-10th, Penberry Reservoir (Pembrokeshire) on 9th and Tretio (Pembrokeshire) on 14th. A Glaucous Gull was off Sker Point (Glamorgan) on 13th and Little Gulls were off Criccieth on 9th-10th and 15th.
Water Pipits were widespread: at NWC (Carmarthen) on 1st, on the Afon Cletwr, Ynys Hir and the Teifi Estuary (Ceredigion) on 5th, Ogmore Estuary (Glamorgan) on 6th, Newport (Pembrokeshire) and Pontarddulais (Glamorgan) on 12th, Rumney Great Wharf (Glamorgan) on 13th, Peterstone Wentlooge (Gwent) on 14th and Pen-clawdd (Gower) on 15th.
A ROSY STARLING appeared in Llanfaethlu (Anglesey) from 27th but locals confirmed the bird had been present since October which links to the last reported in the Cemlyn area in 2019. The bird is now in moult and a video by Toby Carter can be seen here. Great Grey Shrikes were at Clywedog Reservoir (Denbighshire) on 6th-7th, Cwm Cadlan (Glamorgan) on 8th, Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire) on 25th and Llwyn-On Reservoir on 29th. A SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF was at Kenfig NNR (Glamorgan) on 5th-6th and was seen again on 15th. Black Redstarts were in Cardiff Bay (Glamorgan) on 5th, Little Orme (Caernarfonshire) on 6th and 14th, Machynys (Carmarthen) on 6th and Swansea on 17th. A Snow Bunting of the nivalis race was still at Red Wharf Bay (Anglesey) over 1st-17th. Others of the more typical insulae race were at Kinmel Bay (Denbighshire) on 6th-17th and at Twmpa (Powys) on 14th.
