Friday, 30 January 2026

Week: Saturday 24th January - Friday 30th January 2026.

Four new additions to the 2026 cumulative year list with the first reports of Goshawk, Black Redstart, Common Crossbill and Siskin.  These new additions take the 2026 cumulative year list to date up to 144 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees.


Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

3, at Llyn Coron (25th).

4, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

White-fronted Goose - Greenland

12, on fields north of Pont Marquis (28th).

Pink-footed Goose

230, at the Cefni valley with 100 later on fields to the north of Pont Marquis (28th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

140, at Newbourgh beach (28th).

107, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Egyptian Goose

3, on fields north of Pont Marquis (25th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw (28th).

Goldeneye

5, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Velvet Scoter

2, off Abermenai Point (28th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (25th, 28th).

1, drake off Benllech seafront (30th).

Goldeneye

5, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Wigeon

118, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Pintail

96, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Red-breasted Merganser

2, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Goosander

43, at Llyn Coron (25th).


Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at Valley tidal doors (26th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Aber Wygyr - and harbour , Cemaes Bay (27th, 30th).

Purple Sandpiper

19+, at Trearddur Bay (24th).

Grey Plover

4, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

30, at Beddmanarch Bay (30th).

Knot

3, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

Ruff

4, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

Greenshank

1, north of Pont Marquis (25th).

1, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).

1, on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (20th).

Black-tailed Godwit

30+, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

8, at the Gorad flood, Valley (30th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, adult at the Alaw estuary (29th).

Black Guillemot

Up to 2, at Holyhead harbour (2 on 28th, 1 on 25th & 30th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

Up to 4, at the Inland Sea (4 on 28th, 2 on 25th).

3, at Beddmanarch Bay (25th).

Up to 3, at Holyhead harbour (3 on 28th, 1 on 25th, 1 on 30th).

1, flew past Cemlyn (28th).

Red-throated Diver

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (25th).

6, off Cemlyn (28th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (30th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (25th).

Slavonian Grebe

3, at Beddmanarch Bay (25th).

2, at the Inland Sea (25th).

Passerines & others:

Black Redstart

1, at the former Octel factory site, Amlwch Port (26th, 28th).

Siberian Chiffchaff - tristis (putative)

1, at Amlwch Port water treatment plant (26th-28th).

Kingfisher

1, at Holyhead harbour (25th).

1, at old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (27th).

1, at the Inland Sea (29th).

Redpoll

1, along Lon Las Cefni cycleway (24th).

Common Crossbill

2, a male and female on pines at Newborough forest (29th).

Siskin

3, on garden feeders at Talwrn (30th).

Raptors:

Goshawk

1, at Presaddfed (24th).

1, female over the Inland Sea (29th).

Hen Harrier

1, a ringtail at Cors Bodeilio (29th).

Marsh Harrier

5, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (30th).

Red Kite

1, at Talwrn (24th, 30th).

1, at Pont Marquis (25th).

1, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (30th).

Merlin

1, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Llywenan (24th, 30th).

1, at the south end of RSPB Cors Ddyga (25th).

Cattle Egret

Up to 4, on fields along the lane to Sandy Beach, near Llanfwrog (4 on 26th, 3+ on 25th, 3 on 30th).

Water Rail

1, at Soldier’s Point (25th).


Friday, 23 January 2026

Week: Saturday 17th January - Friday 23rd January 2026.

A bit of a run on new species for the year with Surf Scoter, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier and Ruff all being added.  These new additions take the 2026 cumulative year list to date up to 140 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees.

Also seen over the last few days has been the Ring-necked Parakeet at Benllech (16th & 18th).  While I have in previous years counted this against the year’s total, there are quite a few questions as to its origin and the decision to include it probably wasn’t justified.  It will amend previous year totals and have removed the species off the County list. 


Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Bewick’s Swan

1, at Cors Ddyga (23rd).

Whooper Swan

3, on fields north of Pont Marquis (17th).

8, at Cors Ddyga (23rd).

Black Swan (Category E)

3, at Cors Ddyga (23rd).

White-fronted Goose - Russian

3, on fields near Llyn Padrig (17th, 18th).

White-fronted Goose - Greenland

13, on fields north of Pont Marquis (17th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

c. 80, on field at Porth Penmon (23rd).

Egyptian Goose

3, on fields north of Pont Marquis (17th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw (17th, 18th, 19th, 21st).

Surf Scoter

1, off Benllech seafront (20th).

Velvet Scoter

1, off Benllech seafront (19th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (18th, 22nd).

Greater Scaup

2, ducks at Llyn Llygeirian (18th).

Pochard

2, at Llyn Penrhyn (19th).

c. 150, at Llyn Cefni (21st).

Tufted Duck

c. 200, at Llyn Cefni (21st).

Goosander

38, at Llyn Coron (18th).


Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at Valley tidal doors (17th).

Purple Sandpiper

18, at Cemlyn (18th).

Up to 20, at Trearddur Bay (20 on 21st, 9 on 18th).

Sanderling

9, at Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Dunlin

96, at Traeth Dulas (17th).

23, at Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Common Ringed Plover

21, at Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Ruff

1, flew over the Inland Sea (18th).

Up to 6, at Cors Ddyga (6 on 20th, 2+ on 22nd).

Redshank

25+, at Traeth Dulas (17th).

Black-tailed Godwit

3, at the Gorad flood, Valley (22nd).

Curlew

200+, at Traeth Dulas (17th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (18th).

Black Guillemot

5, off Traeth Lligwy (18th).

2, off Traeth y Ora / Porth y Mor (18th).

3, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

Guillemot

100s, back on the cliffs at South Stack but no Razorbills (19th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

2, immature birds at Cemlyn (18th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (18th).

Up to 3, at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (3 on 22nd,  on 18th).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (18th, 22nd).

Black-throated Diver

1, at Porth y Wylfa, Cemaes Bay (21st).

Red-throated Diver

8, off Traeth Lligwy (18th).

2, off Traeth y Ora / Porth y Mor (18th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 4+, at Beddmanarch Bay (4+ on 18th, 2 on 22nd).

2, at Llyn Alaw (18th, 19th).

Passerines & others:

Blackcap

2, male and female at a garden feeding station on the outskirts of Trearddur Bay (18th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Llyn Coron (22nd).

Kingfisher

1, at Holyhead harbour (18th).

Hooded Crow

1, at the entrance road to The Range, Holyhead (21st).

Rock Pipit

5, at Trearddur Bay (21st).

Raptors:

Hen Harrier

1, ringtail at Aberffraw (19th).

1, a ringtail at Cors Bodeilio (20th).

Marsh Harrier

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 17th, 1 on 19th).

Red Kite

2, at Llyn Llywenan (19th).

Short-eared Owl

1, at Aberffraw (17th, 19th).

Merlin

1, male at Cors Bodeilio (20th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

Cattle Egret

5, on fields along the lane to Sandy Beach, near Llanfwrog (5 on 18th, 4 at least on 21st).

Great Bittern

1, heard booming at Valley wetland (18th).

Water Rail

1, at Cors Bodeilio (20th).