July proved to be an excellent month for seabirders and seabirding, with a sustained spell of south-westerly winds from mid-month delivering near-unprecedented numbers of CORY’S SHEARWATERS to the South-West Approaches. No fewer than six Welsh sites got in on the action, including three sites in Pembrokeshire. A stunning eight flew past Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, on 31st – six of those in just 35 minutes – shattering the all-time Welsh daycount record and equalling the overall total seen off the island since the bird observatory’s inception in 1927! Action elsewhere included three past Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, and singles off Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, and Great Orme, Conwy, plus a probable past Porthcawl, Glamorgan.
Rarity interest offshore peaked with a BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS lingering around a research vessel near Gwynt y Môr wind farm, Clwyd, on 10th. A rare land-based sighting comprised two WILSON’S STORM PETRELS off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, on 9th. GREAT SHEARWATERS, meanwhile, were off Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, and both Skokholm and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, with a Grey Phalarope off the former island on 30th.
An adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER delighted on Skokholm from 17th, with one at Ynyslas, Ceredigion, on 23rd which was most likely the same bird on its travels. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Goldcliff Pools, Gwent, from 13-20th, while a returning drake RING-NECKED DUCK was at Lisvane Reservoir, Glamorgan, from 10th.
A male RED-TAILED SHRIKE reported at Point of Ayr, Flintshire, on 13th would unfortunately remain unconfirmed.
Black-browed Albatross
Great Shearwater
Grey Phalarope
