Week: Saturday 1st August - Friday 7th August 2026.

After several weeks of no movement on the year list, it was good to see the total tick up 1 courtesy of the first record of the year of Mandarin Duck with 2 at Cors Ddyga and 1 at Llyn Llywenan.  Mandarin Duck are known to breed on the mainland at sites including the Afon Glaslyn and the Afon Conwy.  The latter site delivered a count of 22 birds at Trefriw (7th), so it is not surprising that we get the occasional record.  
While Common Redstart can also be found reasonably easily in suitable habitat on the mainland, it is still a scarce migrant on the island.  A male at Rhoscolyn (7th) was just the 2nd record for the year.
Mandarin Duck takes the cumulative year list to date up to 202 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Mute Swan

34, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

16, at Llyn Alaw (3rd).

Up to 70, at the Cefni reservoir (70 on 7th - 63 on eastern basis & 7 on western basin, 58 on 5th).

Mandarin Duck

2, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (2nd).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at Traeth Dulas (5th & 6th) - 1 female and 3 well grown chicks.

Goosander

31, redheads in a creche feeding mid-Strait from Moel y Don (6th).

Tufted Duck

100+, at Llyn Alaw (3rd).

25, at the Cefni reservoir (5th & 7th).

Pochard

1, at Llyn Alaw (3rd).

Shoveler

5, at the Cefni reservoir (7th).

Gadwall

Up to 52, at the Cefni reservoir (52 on 5th, c 45 on 7th).

Wigeon

Up to 13, at the Cefni reservoir (13 on 5th, 1 on 7th).

Teal

1, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

10, at the Cefni reservoir (7th).

Coot

Up to 271, at the Cefni reservoir (271 on 5th, c 60 on 7th).

Moorhen

Up to 30, at the Cefni reservoir (30 on 7th, 18 on 5th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

35, at Moel y Don (6th).

Golden Plover

3+, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (2nd).

Ringed Plover

Up to 28, at Traeth Dulas (28 on 5th, 3 on 4th).

Lapwing

Up to 24, at the Cefni reservoir (24 on 7th, 15 on 5th).

Curlew

16, at Llyn Alaw (3rd).

15, at Moel y Don (6th).

Snipe

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (1st).

Common Sandpiper

6, at Malltraeth cob pool and estuary (1st).

8, at Moel y Don (2nd).

2, at the Alaw estuary (6th).

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

2, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

Redshank

Up to 19, at the Alaw estuary (19 on 1st, 3 on 2nd, 1 on 6th).

5, on the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Greenshank

Up to 10, at the Alaw estuary (10 on 1st & 2nd, 3 on 6th).

8, on the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (4th).

Ruff

2, at Cors Ddyga (6th).

Dunlin

62, at Malltraeth cob pool and estuary (1st).

1, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, juvenile at Cemlyn (1st).

Grebes & Divers:

Little Grebe

9, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

Up to 21, at the Cefni reservoir (21 on 7th, 15 on 5th).

Great-crested Grebe

2, at the Cefni reservoir (5th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

Up to 2, at barley field between Hen Borth and Cemlyn (2 on 1st, 1 on 2nd & 3rd).

1, between Llanrhwydrys and Cemlyn (2nd).

1, south of Cemlyn off the road towards the former jam factory (2nd).

1, at Tyddyn-Gele (2nd).

Little Egret

Up to 22, at the Cefni reservoir (22 on 7th - 12 at western end, 10 at eastern, 14 on 5th).

Great Egret

1, at Cemlyn (1st).

3, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

Up to 4, at the Cefni reservoir (4 on 5th, 2 on 7th).

1, at Llyn Alaw (5th) - dam end.

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, juvenile at Cemlyn (1st).

1, at Garreglwyd, Rhoscolyn (7th).

Red Kite

1, over fields north of Llechylched (6th).

1, at Rhoscolyn (7th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at the Alaw estuary (2nd).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead (3rd).

Hooded x Carrion Crow (hybrid)

1, at Traeth Dulas (6th).

Reed Warbler

1, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

Common Redstart

1, male on footpath top rear of the church, Rhoscolyn (7th).

Northern Wheatear

1, at Cable Bay / Porth Trecastell, near Llanfaelog (2nd).

Week: Saturday 25th July - Friday 31st July 2026.

Whilst still fairly quiet in terms of migrants, we still had calling Quail, sightings of Hobby at 2 locations, and 3 Great Egrets were seen together at 2 separate sites.  A report of a Ring-necked Parakeet heard at Benllech created a bit of local interest.  It is presumably the same bird that has been seen at Benllech over the past 10 winters or so.  The Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS) does not consider this species to have a self-sustaining population in Wales (Birds in Wales 2021) and local records are considered ‘Probable and presumed escapes’.  Ring-necked Parakeet is not listed as part of the Welsh List (2026) maintained by the WOS.
There were no new additions for the year, with the cumulative year list remaining at 201 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Mute Swan

58, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at Traeth Dulas - female with 3 young (31st).

Goosander

12, on the Menai Strait below the Britannia Bridge (Belated - 24th).

Waders:

Golden Plover

10, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (27th).

Black-tailed Godwit

8, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

Snipe

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

Common Sandpiper

2, on the river at Traeth Dulas (31st).

Redshank

8, on the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (25th).

Greenshank

8, on the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (25th).

1, on the river at Traeth Dulas (31st).

Ruff

2, at Cors Ddyga (30th-31st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

1, at South Stack (28th).

Black Guillemot

20, off Fedw Fawr (Belated - 24th).

Mediterranean Gull

1, adult at Beddmanarch Bay (28th).

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (29th).

Common Gull

2, at Llyn Llywenan (30th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

1, calling from cereal fields near Tregaian church (27th).

1, calling from cereal fields near the former jam factory, Cemlyn (30th).

3, at least - calling from cereal fields at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (31st).

Little Egret

16, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

Great Egret

1, at Cemlyn (27th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

3, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

3, along the river at Traeth Dulas (31st).

Raptors:

Red Kite

1, over fields between Newborough and Llangaffo (28th).

1, over Pentraeth (29th). 

1, over Cors Ddyga (31st).

Hobby

1, over fields south - west of the Llangefni turning off A55 (26th).

1, over fields near the former jam factory, Cemlyn (31st).

Passerines & others:

Stock Dove

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

Swift

4, over Amlwch town centre (30th).

1, over Cors Ddyga (31st).

Kingfisher

1, at the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (31st).

Ring-necked Parakeet

1, heard calling at Benllech (26th-27th).

Spotted Flycatcher

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (29th).

Week: Saturday 18th July - Friday 24th July 2026.

It was a quiet week once again, albeit that Quail and returning waders helped maintain the interest.  It is difficult to be precise on the number of Quail heard during the month of July, but assuming birds at each new location are new birds (and haven’t relocated from previously recorded sites) then there have been 21 birds - quite unprecedented.
There were no new additions for the year, with the cumulative year list remaining at 201 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Eider

10, at Moelfre (20th).

Red-breasted Merganser

Up to 8, at Traeth Dulas - (3 adults on 18th, 2 on 20th) and (5 young on 18th, 4 on 20th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

38, at Traeth Dulas (18th).

13, at Moel y Don (19th).

41, between the Sea Zoo and The Mermaid, Brynsiencyn (19th).

c.120, at the Cefni estuary (19th).

45, at Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (20th).

Lapwing

2, at Moel y Don (19th).

Whimbrel

1, at Moel y Don (19th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

4, at the Inland Sea (21st).

Curlew

22, at Llyn Alaw (18th).

35, at the southern end of the Cymyran strait (18th).

47, at Traeth Dulas (18th).

16, at Moel y Don (19th).

70, at the Cefni estuary (19th).

10, at Porth Wylfa (20th).

36, at Llanddona beach (20th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

Black-tailed Godwit

1, at Llyn Llywenan (18th).

9, at Malltraeth cob pool (19th).

2, at the Inland Sea (21st).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Malltraeth cob pool / Cefni estuary (19th).

1, at Valley tidal doors (19th).

1, at Pont Marquis (19th).

1, between Dwyran and the Braint stepping stones (19th).

4, along the river at Traeth Dulas (20th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

Green Sandpiper

3, along the river at Traeth Dulas (20th).

Redshank

21, at Moel y Don (19th).

Up to 27, at the Alaw estuary (27 on 21st, 21 on 24th, 12 on 20th).

Greenshank

Up to 8, at Traeth Dulas (8 on old brickworks pool on 20th, 7 on 18th).

1, at Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (19th).

Up to 8, at the Alaw estuary (8 on 24th, 7 on 21st, 4 on 20th).

Ruff

2, at Cors Ddyga (20th-21st).

Dunlin

7, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

6, at Porth Eilian (20th).

Roseate Tern

1, at Cemlyn (18th-19th).

Common Gull

1, at Llyn Llywenan - 1st returning bird that has been reported (18th).

Manx Shearwater

25, past Porth y Mor, near Lligwy (18th).

c. 250, flew west past Point Lynas over 45 minutes (24th).

Gannet

111, on Middle Mouse - viewed from Llanbadrig (20th).

Grebes & Divers:

Little Grebe

12, at Llyn Llygeirian (20th).

Great-crested Grebe

5, at Llyn Coron (19th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

5, calling from cereal fields between Tregele and Hen Borth (1 at Tregele (21st), 2 near the former jam factory (21st), up to 2 at barley field between Hen Borth and Cemlyn (2 on 21st, 1 on 20th).

1, calling at Talwrn (20th).

1, calling from a field of spring Barley at Llansadwrn (20th).

Up to 3, calling just north of Aberffraw - Porth Cwyfan (3 on 24th, 2 on 22nd).

Great Egret

1, at Cemlyn (20th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (20th).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew west over Cemlyn (21st).

Marsh Harrier

1, male over fields at Hen Borth and drifted towards Cemlyn (20th).

Red Kite

1, over fields between Carmel and Pen-llyn (18th).

1, between Dwyran and the Braint stepping stones (19th).

1, at Llanfaethlu (20th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at Malltraeth sluice gates (19th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

Spotted Flycatcher

2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (18th).

Greenfinch

16, feeding on Sea Radish (50:50 Adult : juvenile) at Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (20th).

Siskin

1, a juvenile bird at a garden feeder at Talwrn (21st).