Week: Saturday 29th March 2025 - Friday 4th April 2025.

Eight year ticks has the year list climbing to 174 (LISTS).  

In terms of rarity value, a Black Kite (new) over Llyn Penrhyn was undoubtedly the bird of the week. Waders included 2 Avocet (new) and at least 10 Little ringed Plover.  The Avocets were pretty much bang on when they might be expected.  Found on the morning of the 2nd, they were a day early on the first dates for the past 2 years - both the 3rd April.

2 Egyptian Geese (new) were very much countable being part of Category C of the British list and while Ring-necked Parakeet (new) - a bird at Benllech - is a little more questionable it is added to be consistent with previous years. 

An early Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Ring Ouzel and Osprey were also part of the new additions to the 2025 year list.

There are still some winter birds to be had with 15 Greenland White-fronted Geese, together with late Fieldfare and Redwing, highlighting how the early weeks of spring are very much a time of flux.

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Greenland White-fronted Goose

15, on fields south of Cors Ddyga - from cycle track (31st).

Egyptian Goose

2, at the pool north of the A5025 at Burwen (31st-1st).

Barnacle Goose

2, on fields off the cycle track between Cors Ddyga and Pont Marquis (29th, 31st).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

303, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Long-tailed Duck

1, 1st winter drake at the Inland Sea (30th, 31st).

Greater Scaup

4, ducks on the Inland Sea (31st).

Pintail

8+, at Malltraeth cob pool (2nd).

Waders:

Avocet

2, at Malltraeth cob pool (2nd).

Green Sandpiper

2, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

Turnstone

19, at Cemlyn (30th).

Little Ringed Plover

8, at Cors Ddyga (1st).  

1, at the pool north of the A5025 at Burwen (1st).

1, on the wet field then the beach at Hen Borth (2nd & 4th).

Golden Plover

c. 300 at Cemlyn (30th).

Ruff

2, at Malltraeth cob pool (2nd).

Jack Snipe

1, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

Greenshank

1, at Traeth Dulas (3rd).

Redshank

39, at Traeth Dulas (3rd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

65, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Black-tailed Godwit

21, at Malltraeth cob pool (2nd).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

100+, at the Skerries (1st).

Mediterranean Gull

7, at Cemlyn (30th).

4 at the Inland Sea (30th).

Sandwich Tern

5, at Cemlyn (30th).

Divers & Grebes:

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (4th).

Slavonian Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (31st).

Passerines & others:

Ring Ouzel

1, female at Carmel Head (1st).

Up to 4, (3 male and 1 female) at South Stack (4 on 4th, 1 on 2nd & 3rd).

Whinchat

1, at Llanfwrog (2nd).

Sedge Warbler

1, at Valley doors (1st).

Lapland Bunting

1, at Cors Ddyga (29th-1st).

Snow Bunting

1, on the lighthouse steps at South Stack (2nd).

Barn Swallow 

19, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

12, at South Stack (4th).

House Martin 

2, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

2, at South Stack (4th).

Black Redstart 

1, on the Skerries (1st).

1, female type between Twr quarry and the plantation, South Stack (4th).

Northern Wheatear 

2, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

1, at Cemlyn (31st)

2, on the Skerries (1st).

15, at Tyn Llan beach, Cemlyn (2nd).

19, at South Stack (4th).

Fieldfare

2, at Talwrn (3rd).

Redwing

10, at Talwrn (3rd).

Willow Warbler

1, at Cemlyn (30th).

5, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

21, at South Stack (4th).

4, on Tre-Wilmot heath, SW of Pont Hwfa (4th).

Chiffchaff

25, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

23, at South Stack (4th).

Blackcap

3, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

3, at Talwrn (3rd).

8, at South Stack (4th).

Yellow Wagtail

1, flew over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (30th).

Crossbill

2, flew over South Stack (4th).

Redpoll

6, flew over South Stack (4th).

Twite

1, at the top of the lighthouse steps at South Stack (3rd).

Ring-necked Parakeet

1, at Benllech (30th).

1, at Menai Bridge - escapee from aviculture wearing purple ring with the inscription 8.0 21 076 (2nd-3rd).

Stock Dove

2, at South Stack (2nd).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead (30th & 31st).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew over Cemlyn lagoon before heading inland (3rd).

1, flew over Penysarn and headed in the direction of Amlwch (5th).

Black Kite

1, over Llyn Penrhyn (4th).

Red Kite

1, at the Inland Sea (30th).

1, on the Skerries (1st).

Marsh Harrier

1, over South Stack (4th).

1, over marsh between Ucheldre centre and Pont Hwfa, Holyhead (4th).

Merlin

1, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

6, at the flood off gorad road, Valley (1st-4th).

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (1st).

Week: Saturday 22nd March 2025 - Friday 28th March 2025.

Lapland Buntings on Anglesey are usually found on coastal fields and headlands, so it was more than a little unusual for one to be found inland at Cors Ddyga RSPB.  Further still, birds are often seen scuttling around alone or in small groups, while on this occasion the bunting could be seen feeding around and beneath a large flock of European Golden Plover.  Those subsequently visiting turned up both a Green-winged Teal (there are strong suggestions that this species will be lumped with Eurasian Teal - but not just yet!) and an early Yellow Wagtail.  All three species were new for the year, as was a House Martin at South Stack RSPB.  So 4 new additions to the year list, that takes the year list up to 166 (LISTS). 

Summer migrants continue to arrive.  Chiffchaff and Northern Wheatear can be found readily, Blackcap numbers are increasing and Willow Warbler have now been reported from multiple sites.  4 Little Gulls on passage was noteworthy, while Sandwich Tern numbers have now gone into double figures.  But winter birding hasn’t given up its offer just yet, with Great Northern Diver, Black-necked & Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup and Twite all featuring across the week.

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Pink-footed Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Up to 10 at Moel-y-Don (10 on 23rd, 7 on 22nd).

10, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

4, at Holyhead harbour (26th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, 1st winter drake at the Inland Sea (22nd, 28th).

Greater Scaup

4, ducks on the Inland Sea (22nd).

Eider

30+, from Penmon Point (26th).

Wigeon

55, at Moel y Don (22nd).

74, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Pintail

6, at Cors Ddyga (24th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Green-winged Teal

1, drake at Cors Ddyga (22nd-26th).

Shelduck

10, at Moel y Don (23rd).

Red-breasted Merganser

7, at Moel y Don (23rd).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Purple Sandpiper

16, at Cemlyn (22nd).

2, on Perch Rock - viewed from Penmon Point (26th).

Sanderling

17, on Puffin Island and then on Perch Rock - viewed from Penmon Point (26th).

Turnstone

18, at Cemlyn (22nd).

Little Ringed Plover

1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).  

Common Ringed Plover

3, at Cemlyn (22nd).

Golden Plover

Up to c850, at Cemlyn (c 850 on 26thy, 300+ on 22nd).

c. 800 at Cors Ddyga (23rd-24th).

Ruff

4, at Cors Ddyga (22nd-23rd).

Greenshank

1, at Valley doors (22nd).

9, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

4, at Traeth Dulas (28th).

Redshank

25, at Moel y Don (23rd).

49, at Traeth Dulas (28th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

1, at Cemlyn (26th).

Black-tailed Godwit

10+, at Cors Ddyga (23rd).

17, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

3, at South Stack (22nd).

Little Gull

4, dip feeding over the Menai Strait - seen from Moel y Don (22nd).

Mediterranean Gull

Up to 3, on the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage (3 on 22nd, 2 on 22nd).

8, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Up to 8, at Cemlyn (8 on 26th, 3 on 28th).

Kittiwake

40, on the sea below Elin’s Tower, South Stack RSPB (24th).

Sandwich Tern

Up to 8, at the Menai Strait - seen from Moel y Don (8 on 23rd, 1 on 22nd).

26, at the Inland Sea (28th).

6, at Cemlyn (28th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

2, flew north past The Range, Holyhead (28th).

Black-necked Grebe

2 at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

Slavonian Grebe

2 at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

Passerines & others:

Lapland Bunting

1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd-27th).

Barn Swallow 

4, at The Range, Holyhead (22nd).

1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (22nd).

Sand Martin 

1, over the Trwyn, Cemlyn (22nd).

30, over Cors Ddyga (23rd).

House Martin 

Up to 4, flew north at South Stack (1 on 22nd, 4 on 24th).

Black Redstart 

Up to 4, 2 male and 2 female at South Stack, Holyhead (4 on 22nd, 1 on 24th).

Northern Wheatear 

Up to 12, at South Stack, Holyhead (6 on 22nd, 12 on 24th, 3 on 26th).

Willow Warbler

1, at Cors Ddyga (24th).

Blackcap

1, singing at Talwrn (22nd).

3, from Wylfa woods to Cemlyn (25th).

Cetti’s Warbler

3, at Cors Ddyga (24th).

Twite

7, at South Stack (22nd-23rd).

Redpoll

1, at Cemlyn (26th).

Yellow Wagtail

1, flew over, circled and landed out of view at Cors Ddyga RSPB (24th).

White Wagtail

2, at Cemlyn (22nd).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead (22nd).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, possible - high over Moel y Don (23rd).

3, at Cors Ddyga (24th).

Red Kite

2, at Moel y Don (23rd).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

7, at the flood off gorad road, Valley (23rd-26th).