Week: Saturday 21st June 2025 - Friday 27th June 2025.

 While returning waders provided the general backdrop to the week’s birding, a Turtle Dove found at Traeth Bychan provided some extra interest and excitement.  Whether a genuinely wild bird (not ringed), or a release from a re-introduction scheme, it was a delight to see.  It is a first for 2025, and adds another species to the cumulative year list which increases to 207 (LISTS). 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Eurasian Wigeon

1, female at Cors Ddyga (21st, 25th).

Eurasian Teal

Up to 7, at Cors Ddyga (7 on 21st, 3 on 25th).

Red-breasted Merganser

10, 5 adults and 5 chicks at Traeth Dulas (23rd).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, calling over Bryn Aber, Cemlyn (21st).

Common Sandpiper

4, at the Alaw estuary (4 on 23rd, 2 on 26th).

Knot

3, at the lagoon, Cemlyn (21st).

European Golden Plover

1, at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (20th).

Greenshank

1, on old brickwork pool at Traeth Dulas (21st).

Up to 2, at the Alaw estuary (2 on 23rd & 26th, 1 on 21st).

Common Redshank

6, at the lagoon, Cemlyn (21st).

Up to 10, at the Alaw estuary (10 on 26th, 3 on 21st).

Black-tailed Godwit

3, at Llyn Coron (21st).

1, at the Alaw estuary (26th).

Oystercatcher

Up to 173, at the Alaw estuary (173 on the 22nd, 167 on 23rd, 162 on 26th, 125 on 21st).

Curlew

25, at Traeth Dulas (23rd).

Up to 24, at the Alaw estuary (24 on 26th, 15 on 23rd, 11 on 22nd, 14 on 21st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Roseate Tern

1, at Cemlyn (24th).

Mediterranean Gull

Up to 19, at the Alaw estuary (19 on 23rd, 9 on 21st, 8 on 26th).

8, at Cemlyn (24th).

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

European Turtle Dove

1, at Traeth Bychan - photographed (26th-27th).

Common Redstart

1, belated news of a male near Ceint (20th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, singing near Valley cob (24th).

1, singing at Tregele (24th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, singing at Tyddyn Gele, near Tregele (24th).

Red Crossbill

3, flew over Hen Blas, Cemlyn (25th).

Siskin

1, on garden feeders at Talwrn (21st).

Common Kingfisher

1, at the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (24th).

Hooded Crow

1, at the Alaw estuary (23rd).

1, on fields at the entrance to The Range, Holyhead (24th).

2, hybrids near Holyhead Marina (24th).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, over Cors Ddyga (21st).

Red Kite

1, at Llanbedrgoch (22nd).

1, at RAF Valley (24th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

3, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

Little Egret

14, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Week: Saturday 14th June 2025 - Friday 20th June 2025.

While we are still awaiting mid-summer’s day, the return bird migration has already started with the first returning Greenshank, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Teal to estuarine and tidal habitats. Red Kite numbers spiked upwards - as they have in mid-late June in previous years - perhaps involving non-breeding birds moving about and looking to make the most of the feeding opportunities offered up at this time of year as a consequence of hay cutting.  Osprey was a scarce passage migrant until quite recently, but now we do seem to have several birds summering.  There were no new additions to the cumulative year list, which remains at 206 (LISTS). 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Common Scoter

1, female at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (16th).

41, flocks of 6 and 35 flew over the sea off Rhoscolyn (19th).

Eurasian Wigeon

1,drake at Cemlyn lagoon (16th, 19th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

Eurasian Teal

3, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

2, first returning birds to the Alaw estuary (18th).

Red-breasted Merganser

3, at Traeth Dulas (17th).

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

3, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Sanderling

5, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Greenshank

3, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Common Redshank

1, at Cemlyn (19th, 20th).

Black-tailed Godwit

15, at the Inland Sea (20th).

Oystercatcher

Up to 125, at the Alaw estuary (125 on 15th, 33 on 18th).

Whimbrel

1, calling at Rhoscolyn (14th)

1, calling at Wylfa (14th).

1, calling at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (14th).

3, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Curlew

Up to 3, at the Alaw estuary (3 on 18th, 2 on 15th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (18th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, chasing a Sandwich Tern off Porth-y-Post, near Trearddur Bay (16th).

Roseate Tern

Up to 3-5 birds visit daily (14th-20th).

Little Gull

1, 2nd calendar year at the north end of the Inland Sea (15th).

Black Guillemot

1, at Porth Eilian (14th).

Puffin

2, over a 1hr seawatch from The Range (18th).

44, flew past Cemlyn (19th).

Manx Shearwater

35, over a 1hr seawatch from The Range (18th).

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

Lesser Whitethroat

4, at Rhoscolyn (18th).

Red Crossbill

8, at Carmel Head (18th).

11, in two parties of 5 & 6 over the coast between Cemlyn and Wylfa (20th).

Siskin

1, male at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (19th).

Hooded Crow

1, on fields at the entrance to The Range, Holyhead (16th, 18th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Raptors:

Osprey

2, at Llyn Coron - 1 with blue darvic ring, other unringed (16th).

1, feeding over the Inland Sea (19th, 20th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Coron (16th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (18th).

16, flew south over Llanerchymedd (19th).

1, over Cemlyn (20th).

15, over Amlwch (20th)

Marsh Harrier

1, male at Llyn Coron (16th).

1, female at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (18th).

Week: Saturday 7th June 2025 - Friday 13th June 2025.

A quiet time of the birding year, but up to 10 Roseate Terns at Cemlyn was particularly noteworthy.  There were no new additions to the year list, which remains at 206 (LISTS). 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Pink-footed Goose

1, at Cors Ddyga (11th).

Eurasian Teal

2, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Shelduck

12, at Red Wharf Bay (8th).

31, at Traeth Dulas (8th).

Red-breasted Merganser

10, at Traeth Dulas (8th).

Waders:

European Golden Plover

1, flew over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (7th).

Little Ringed Plover

1, flew over Tyn Llan fields calling and headed off towards Hen Borth, Cemlyn (13th).

Common Ringed Plover

3, at Cemlyn (10th).

Oystercatcher

Up to 243, at the Alaw estuary (243 on 10th, 195 on 7th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Little Tern

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 12th, 1 on 10th).

Roseate Tern

Up to 10, at Cemlyn (10 on 11th - varying number of birds across the week).

Mediterranean Gull

4, at Cemlyn (10th).

Up to 24, at the Alaw estuary (24 on the 13th, 2 on the 10th).

Kittiwake

32, over a 2hr seawatch from The Range (10th).

Fulmar

6, on ledges below the coastal path at Porth Llanlleiana (9th).

Black Guillemot

1, in the bay at Cemlyn (10th).

4, at Holyhead fish quay (12th).

Puffin

1, over a 2hr seawatch from The Range (10th).

Manx Shearwater

345, over a 2hr seawatch from The Range (10th).

Gannet

12-15, off Point Lynas (8th).

96, on Middle Mouse (9th).

14, over a 2hr seawatch from The Range (10th).

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

Grasshopper Warbler

1, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

1, from the Llangefni cycle track (8th).

1, near the Petrol station at Tregele (10th),

1, at Rhoscolyn (11th).

Reed Warbler

4, from the Llangefni cycle track (8th).

1, at Hen Borth (9th).

2, at Porth Llanlleiana (9th).

1, at the Alaw estuary, Llanfachraeth (9th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at the Alaw estuary, Llanfachraeth (9th).

1, at Tyddyn Gele, Tregele (10th).

1, at Gadfa (11th).

1, at Rhoscolyn (11th).

Garden Warbler

1, near Llyn Coron (10th).

Cetti’s Warbler

3, from the Llangefni cycle track (8th).

1, at Traeth Lligwy (9th).

3 at Llyn Coron (10th).

Northern Wheatear

1, near Llyn Trafwll (7th).

Kingfisher

1, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Cuckoo

1, at Aberffraw common (10th).

Hooded Crow

1, near the Sea Shanty restaurant at Trearddur Bay (11th-12th).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, at Malltraeth (7th).

1, at Llyn Coron (11th).

Red Kite

3, over freshly cut fields near Bryn Du, near Llanfaelog (10th).

2, at Llyn Coron (11th).

Marsh Harrier

1, from the Llangefni cycle track (8th).

1, at Llyn Coron (10th).

2, at Cors Ddyga (11th).

1, female at Llyn Llywenan (12th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (7th, 11th).

1, at Llyn Maelog (11th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (12th).

Grey Heron

25, flew west over Cemlyn over the course of the day (11th).