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).

Week: Saturday 10th January - Friday 16th January 2026.

Most of the scarcer birds from last week remained, including the Bewick’s Swan, Smew, Cattle Egrets, Egyptian Geese and Green Sandpiper.   The Common Sandpiper from last year was seen again on the Afon Wygyr and was a new addition for the year list.  Lesser Black-backed Gull is surprisingly scarce, if not rare, in early January on Anglesey and the first sighting reported involved a bird on the sea off the Breakwater Country Park - again a new addition to the year list.  The White-fronted Geese at the Cefni valley have become harder to see - but are no doubt still in the valley albeit on fields that can’t be readily seen.  5 White-fronted Geese at Llyn Padrig caused some debate on bill colour, but I believe them to be of the nominate subspecies - i.e Russian White-fronted Goose.  The female / immature Long-tailed Duck was seen again at the Inland Sea, while a drake was seen off Benlleech seafront.  The addition of Common Sandpiper and Lesser Black-backed Gull takes the 2026 cumulative year list to date up to 133 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees.

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Bewick’s Swan

1, on fields north of Pont Marquis (10th, 14th, 15th, 16th) and at Cors Ddyga early morning (15th & 16th).

Whooper Swan

20+, on fields near Llyn Cefni (12th).

Up to 15, at Cors Ddyga (15 on 15th, 14 on 16th, 12 on 14th).

Black Swan (Category E)

3, at Cors Ddyga (13th, 14th).

White-fronted Goose - Russian

5, on fields near Llyn Padrig (13th, 15th).

Pink-footed Goose

c. 5, at Llyn Llywenan (13th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Up to 177, at the Alaw estuary (177 on 15th, 84 on 10th).

87, on field at Porth Penmon (11th).

8, off Benllech seafront (15th).

Egyptian Goose

3, on fields north of Pont Marquis (14th, 15th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw (10th, 13th, 15th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (12th, 16th).

1, drake off Benllech seafront (15th).

Eider

4, off Benllech seafront (15th).

Greater Scaup

4, 2 drakes and 2 ducks at Llyn Llygeirian (15th, 16th).

Pochard

3, at Llyn Llygeirian (16th)

Pintail

Up to 53, at the Alaw estuary (53 on 15th, 39 on 10th).

Wigeon

100+, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Goldeneye

Up to 7, at the Alaw estuary (7 on 10th, 5 on 10th).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Goosander

8, at Llyn Alaw (10th).

23, at Llyn Coron (10th).

17, at Llyn Pen-y-Parc, Beaumaris (11th).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at Valley tidal doors (13th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at the Afon Wygyr, Cemaes Bay near the Titanic seating area (11th) and at the small harbour (16th).

Purple Sandpiper

1, on rocks off The Trwyn, Cemlyn (12th).

Sanderling

1, at Sandy beach, Llanfwrog (14th).

Dunlin

58, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Knot

140, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Golden Plover

c.1250, on  fields to the south of Aberffraw (10th).

Grey Plover

Up to 54, at the Alaw estuary (54 on 15th, 3 on 10th).

7, on rocks off The Trwyn, Cemlyn (12th).

Common Ringed Plover

Up to 41, at the Alaw estuary (41 on 15th, 29 on 10th).

Lapwing

c. 300, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

164, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Jack Snipe

1, at Aberffraw (10th).

1, at Sandy beach, Llanfwrog (11th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Snipe

52, at Cors Ddyga (10th).

c. 30, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Redshank

c. 50, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Greenshank

Up to 3, at the Alaw estuary (3 on 10th, 2 on 15th).

1, at Valley tidal doors (13th).

4, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

Up to 21, at the Alaw estuary (21 on 15th, 20 on 10th).

Black-tailed Godwit

c. 900 at Cors Ddyga - a reserve high (15th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, on fields north of Pont Marquis (15th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1, on the sea off Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (13th).

Kittiwake

10, off Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (13th).

Cormorant 

c. 40, at Llyn Coron (10th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

5, at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (5 on 15th, 2 on 12th, 16th).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (12th, 15th).

2, off Benllech seafront (15th).

Red Throated Diver

5, off Benllech seafront (15th).

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 5, at Beddmanarch Bay (5 on 15th, 2 on 12th,13th).

Passerines & others:

Blackcap

1, female feeding on Honeysuckle berries at Newborough (10th).

1, female on garden feeders at Benllech (11th).

1, male at Menai Bridge (15th).

Kingfisher

1, at Holyhead harbour (13th).

Hooded Crow

1, at the entrance road to The Range, Holyhead (12th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, at Cors Ddyga (10th, 13th, 15th).

Up to 4, at Llyn Llywenan (4 on 16th, 2 on 15th, 1 on 13th).

1, female at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Red Kite

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 16th, 1 on 13th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (15th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

5, at Llyn Alaw (10th).

3, at Llyn Coron (11th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (12th, 13th, 15th, 16th).

2, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Cattle Egret

Up to 5, on fields along the lane to Sandy Beach, near Llanfwrog (5 on 12th, 3 on 14th, 2 on 13th).

1, flew east from Little Egret roost at Cors Ddyga (15th).

Great Bittern

1, seen in flight near Valley wetland (12th).

Water Rail

1, heard calling at Llyn Cefni (10th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).