Friday, 8 May 2026
Friday, 1 May 2026
Week: Saturday 25th April - Friday 1st May 2026.
Birders are always birding, but noting a spring passage Arctic Skua whilst out surfing is probably something not all of us will get to do. Approximately 40 Common Terns are back at Cemlyn, with the first Arctic Terns being seen in the past few days. Swift should have been included in last week’s summary, with singles also being noted on a number of occasions this week. These four new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 184 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.
Wildfowl:
Red-breasted Merganser
4, at Traeth Bychan (27th).
Garganey
2, drake and duck at Cors Ddyga (25th).
Gadwall
3, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).
Green-winged Teal
1, drake on scrape on the east side of the cycle track and south of the 2nd bridge, Cors Ddyga (26th).
Waders:
Golden Plover
1, flew over Cemlyn (25th).
2, on Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (29th).
Ringed Plover
Up to 17, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (17 on 1st, 15 on 30th).
Little Ringed Plover
1, around a pool on the seaward side of Tyn Llan lane, Cemlyn (26th).
Whimbrel
10, at Cemlyn (10 on 25th, 6 on 27th).
2, at Cors Ddyga (26th).
1, at Traeth Bychan (27th).
Up to 40+, at Llyn Llywenan (40+ on 28th, 13 on 29th, 7 on 1st).
6, at Wylfa Head (29th).
Bar-tailed Godwit
2, at Cemlyn (30th).
Black-tailed Godwit
Up to 13, at Malltraeth cob pool (13 on 1st, 12 on 28th & 30th).
Snipe
1, at Tyn Llan wet fields (27th).
Common Sandpiper
Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 1st, 1 on 28th & 29th).
1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).
Green Sandpiper
1, heard near the scrape on the east side of the cycle track and south of the 2nd bridge, Cors Ddyga (26th).
Wood Sandpiper
Up to 3, at Cors Ddyga (3 on 25th, 1 on 28th).
Greenshank
1, at Cemlyn (28th, 29th).
3, at Traeth Dulas (28th).
1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).
Turnstone
2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (1st).
Knot
2, in winter plumage at Cemlyn (29th).
Ruff
1, at Malltraeth cob pool (30th, 1st).
Sanderling
2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (1st).
Dunlin
Up to 12, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (12 on 1st, 2 on 30th).
15, at Cemlyn (30th).
100, at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (30th).
25, at Malltraeth cob pool (30th).
Seabirds and gulls:
Arctic Skua
1, pale phase seen chasing terns off Rhosneigr - by a birder who was surfing (25th).
Arctic Tern
1, at Cemlyn (30th).
Common Tern
Up to 17+, at Cemlyn (17+ on 26th, 10+ on 25th) - up to 40 coming into roost.
Mediterranean Gull
Up to 15+, at Cemlyn (15+ on 30th, 13+ on 25th) - including a yellow darvic ringed bird A6HE - thought to be from Germany. It is understood that there may be up to 33 birds in the Cemlyn area.
Several, at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (30th).
Grebes & Divers:
Great Northern Diver
2, at Beddmanarch Bay (1st).
Herons, Egrets & allies:
Great Bittern
2, at Cors Ddyga (26th, 30th).
1, near Valley wetlands (28th, 29th, 30th).
Great Egret
2, at Cors Ddyga (26th, 30th).
Raptors:
Osprey
1, over Cors Ddyga (25th).
1, over Llyn Cefni - colour ringed bird - colour marked M below left knee, BW 1B7 below right knee. Ringed as a nestling at a site in Northumberland in 2023.
Marsh Harrier
1, female at Llyn Llywenan (25th).
Up to 4, at Cors Ddyga (4 on 26th, 3 on 30th, 2 on 28th).
Red Kite
1, over Valley wetlands (27th).
2, at Llyn Llywenan (28th, 29th).
Passerines & others:
Cuckoo
1, belated report of a bird calling and photographed at Penrhos woods (20th).
1, at Cors Goch (26th, 1st).
Swift
1, over the flooded field NW of Pont Bulkeley bridge, Cors Ddyga (23rd).
1, over Llyn Penrhyn (28th).
1, over Llyn Llywenan (28th, 1st).
1, at Valley wetlands (30th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (30th).
Kingfisher
1, at Llyn Cefni (29th).
Hooded Crow
1, on fields between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (26th).
Grasshopper Warbler
7, at Cors Erddreiniog (26th).
1, reeling at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (27th).
1, at a marshy field between Cemaes Bay and Wylfa woods car park (29th).
1, at Valley wetlands (30th).
1, at Trearddur Bay (30th).
1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).
Garden Warbler
1, at Llyn Coron (28th).
Lesser Whitethroat
1, near the 2nd bridge at Cors Ddyga (25th).
1, at Traeth Bychan (25th - 1st).
1, north of Tregele (27th).
1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).
1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).
Ring Ouzel
1, female in a horse paddock at Mynydd Bodafon (28th).
Black Redstart
1, reported at Nebo (26th).
Whinchat
1, at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (28th-30th).
3, at Cors Erddreiniog (26th).
Northern Wheatear
1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (27th).
1, at Hen Borth beach, Cemlyn (27th).
2, at Wylfa Head (29th).
Yellow Wagtail - (not-identified, presumed flavissima)
1, heard calling over Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (30th).
Yellow Wagtail - (flavissima)
2, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (26th).
White Wagtail
15, at Cemlyn (25th).
Siskin
4, at garden bird feeders at Talwrn (30th).
Friday, 24 April 2026
Week: Saturday 18th April - Friday 24th April 2026.
An unusual Yellow Wagtail at Cors Ddyga looked the part for an Ashy-headed Wagtail which is normally found in Italy, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and Slovenia. The bird was photographed, but no sound recording of its call was obtained - it would be a great pity if this were to hold back the record when it is submitted to the British Birds Rarity Committee. With only 10 accepted records of this sub-species, it was a very rare sighting:
https://www.historicalrarebirds.info/u20/ashy-headed-wagtail
A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was seen on three consecutive dates, with the observer of the last sighting referring to the bird having a tracking device. Further checks will be made to try to either confirm or refute the bird being from a re-introduction programme. For the time being, it won’t be added to the year list while further checks are ongoing.
The three new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 180 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.
Wildfowl:
Eider
28, at Moelfre (24th).
Garganey
2, drake and duck at Cors Ddyga (18th, 19th, drake 21st).
Shoveler
7+, at Cors Ddyga (18th).
Gadwall
3, on a pool to the NW of Mynydd Bodafon (22nd).
Wigeon
7, at Cors Ddyga (18th).
Pintail
1, drake at Cors Ddyga (18th).
Green-winged Teal
1, drake at Cors Ddyga (18th, 22nd).
Waders:
Golden Plover
c.40, at Cors Ddyga (18th).
Ringed Plover
7, at Cemlyn (20th).
Up to 3, on the seasonal flood opposite the Pig y Rhos turning, Burwen (3 on 22nd, 1 on 21st).
Little Ringed Plover
Up to 2, at Cors Ddyga (2 on 22nd, 1 on 19th).
Whimbrel
2, at Cemlyn (20th).
1, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
2, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
Up to 20, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (20 on 23rd, 2 on 22nd).
12, flew from the cattle pasture near Bryn-y-bar, Rhoscolyn (23rd).
18, at Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (24th).
Bar-tailed Godwit
2, flew from the cattle pasture near Bryn-y-bar, Rhoscolyn (23rd).
3, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (23rd).
Black-tailed Godwit
2, at Valley tidal doors (18th, 19th).
4, on a flooded field to NW of Cors Ddyga (18th).
20+, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
Common Sandpiper
1, at Valley tidal doors (18th).
1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (20th).
1, at Cemlyn (20th).
3, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
Green Sandpiper
1, at Hen Borth withy, Cemlyn (23rd).
Wood Sandpiper
1, seen in flight over Cors Ddyga on two occasions (22nd).
2, on flash on 2nd field down from Pont Bulkeley, east side, Cors Ddyga (23rd), with 3 reported on the main scrape (24th).
Redshank
20+, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
Greenshank
2, at Valley tidal doors (18th, 19th).
1, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
Sanderling
4, at Cemlyn (23rd).
Dunlin
1, on the seasonal flood opposite the Pig y Rhos turning, Burwen (21st).
c. 50, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
35, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
20, at Cemlyn (23rd).
Seabirds and gulls:
Sandwich Tern
300+, now coming in to roost at Cemlyn (20th).
Mediterranean Gull
3, at Aberffraw (19th).
Grebes & Divers:
Nothing of note.
Herons, Egrets & allies:
White Stork
1, on a field at Cors Ddyga (20th) then in flight over Malltraeth (21st).
Raptors:
White-tailed Eagle
1, photographed over Llandegfan (20th), then a report of bird over fields along the Menai Strait between the two bridges (21st) and then at CorsGoch (22nd).
Red Kite
1, at Twynni Niwbwrch / Newborough Dunes (18th).
1, over Cymyran Road, Caergeiliog (18th).
1, over A5 near Gaerwen (21st).
Merlin
1, at The Range, Holyhead (22nd).
Passerines & others:
Cuckoo
1, calling at Llanrhuddlad (23rd).
1, calling on the south edge of Mynydd Bodafon (24th).
Chough
12, at Llyn Trafwll (19th).
2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (22nd).
Hooded Crow
1, at The Range, Holyhead (18th, 24th).
Hooded x Carrion Crow (hybrid)
1, at The Range, Holyhead (24th).
Sedge Warbler
1, at Valley tidal doors (18th).
Grasshopper Warbler
1, at Malltraeth cob (18th).
3+, in Tregele / Wylfa area (18th).
1, at Aberffraw dunes (19th).
1, at Malltraeth cob & estuary (22nd).
1, at Cors Goch (23rd).
Willow Warbler
14, at Twynni Niwbwrch / Newborough Dunes (18th).
Garden Warbler
1, at the Newborough end of Malltraeth cob (18th).
1, at Llyn Coron (23rd).
Lesser Whitethroat
2, in Tregele / Wylfa area (18th).
1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).
Common Whitethroat
1, at Valley tidal doors (18th).
5+, in Tregele / Wylfa area (18th).
8, at Twynni Niwbwrch / Newborough Dunes (18th).
1, at Aberffraw dunes (19th).
2, at Cemlyn (20th).
Whinchat
1, at The Range, Holyhead (18th, 22nd).
Northern Wheatear
2, at Twynni Niwbwrch / Newborough Dunes (18th).
1, at Aberffraw dunes (19th).
1, at Llyn Trafwll (19th).
5, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (20th).
3, around the seasonal flood opposite the Pig y Rhos turning, Burwen (22nd).
29, at Hen Borth beach, Cemlyn (22nd).
30+, at The Range, Holyhead (22nd).
4, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (22nd).
1, at Traeth Bychan (24th).
4, at Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (24th).
Yellow Wagtail - (Ashy-headed)
1, at Cors Ddyga - photographed on 18th (18th-19th).
Yellow Wagtail - (not-identified, presumed flavissima)
1, heard over Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (19th).
2, flew over the Cefni valley (23rd).
Yellow Wagtail - (flavissima)
1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (20th).
Crossbill
c. 10 Crossbill at Newborough Forest - thought to be in 2-3 family parties, suggesting breeding close-by (18th).
Siskin
4, at garden bird feeders at Talwrn (18th).