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).
