Although Wales didn’t quite hit the dizzy rarity heights of some parts of the UK during October, there were some cracking and unusual records, even if some of them were all too brief!
Britain’s sixth TENNESSEE WARBLER made for a special find on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, on 12th. A first for Wales, it unfortunately disappeared soon after discovery. An account of the find can be found here [https://www.birdguides.com/articles/rare-birds/britain-ireland/rarity-finders-tennessee-warbler-in-pembrokeshire/]. A COMMON ROSEFINCH and presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat were also on the island, while best of the month’s Skomer action concerned a MELODIOUS WARBLER from 6-8th.
An exceptional inland find concerned a RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL just inland of Cardiff at Nantgarw, Glamorgan, from 16-18th. Another was trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, on 29th, with other island highlights comprising a PALLAS’S WARBLER, BARRED WARBLER, RICHARD’S PIPIT, RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, COMMON ROSEFINCH and two SABINE’S GULLS.
The latter half of the month saw Britain experience a major influx of PALLID SWIFTS on the back of unusual late October warm weather (see here [https://www.birdguides.com/news/unprecedented-pallid-swift-influx-reaches-britain/]). At least two of these visited Welsh airspace, with confirmed individuals over Penrhyn-side, Conwy, on 24th and Ynys-Hir RSPB, Ceredigion, on 26th. Uncertain Common/PALLID SWIFTS scythed over a further eight sites in South Wales, split between Gwent, Glamorgan, Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS at Aberdaron, Gwynedd, on 19th and Cosmeston Lakes CP, Glamorgan, on 26th unfortunately wouldn’t linger, with a one-day Hoopoe at Abergavenny, Gwent, on 1st. Two PALLAS’S WARBLERS were in Gower – at Middleton and Southgate – and a RICHARD’S PIPIT was in Anglesey at Rhosneigr, while a Great Grey Shrike was reported at Pengenffordd, Powys.
In Pembrokeshire, a RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER was at Porth Clais, a COMMON ROSEFINCH graced Porthgain, and a BARRED WARBLER was on Ramsey Island. On 23rd, a probable PALLID HARRIER quartered over St David’s Head. After a poor couple of years, Yellow-browed Warblers and Firecrests were seen in a number of north Wales locations towards the end of the month.
Wader ringers targeting Redshanks on Anglesey on 8th were astonished to find a juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in their catch when they came to clear the nets. The bird stayed in the area for several days, being relocated at Llanfairfechan, Conwy, on 18th. Amazingly, this was replaced by an unringed juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at nearby Morfa Madryn, Conwy, from 22-26th.
Elsewhere, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was with its European counterparts at Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER visited Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire. Last month’s BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER hung on at Dinas Dinlle, Gwynedd, until 7th, with a popular Grey Phalarope spending much of the month at Goldcliff Pools, Gwent. Briefer examples were at Pembroke Mill Ponds, Pembrokeshire, and Borth-y-Gest, Gwynedd.
A decent month of seawatching off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, peaked with five Long-tailed Skuas on 1st. Others flew past on two more dates, with SABINE’S GULLS recorded on four and Grey Phalaropes on two. A pair of Roseate Terns flew past on 10th, with Leach’s Storm Petrels logged past Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, and Criccieth, Gwynedd.
