Week: Saturday 21st February - Friday 27th February 2026.

On one hand, much of the weather across the week wasn’t particularly good for birding.  On the other hand, it did create the conditions for an absolute gem of a bird.  Thanks to John Oates’ perseverance, a Little Auk found in the bay at Trearddur Bay provided some with a lifer, while others got their best ever views of this small seabird.  Most often seen distantly on autumn seawatches, it is a rare bird on the west coast - so much so that the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee added it to the list of species they consider on the 1st January 2024. It will become just the 31st accepted record for Anglesey since the 1st January 2000: https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/rare-scarce/welsh-birds-rarity-committee/little-auk.

The addition of Little Auk takes the cumulative 2026 year list up to 150 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  With migrants being recorded in small numbers elsewhere in the UK, perhaps we will get a few further species added in the next few weeks.

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

7, flew out from Llyn Coron and to the North-West (21st).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

66, at Penmon Pool (22nd).

59, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

44, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Shelduck

60, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (23rd, 24th, 25th).

Eider

8, at Penmon Point (22nd).

2, off Moelfre (27th).

Common Scoter

29, off Moelfre (27th).

Red-breasted Merganser

7, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Greater Scaup

2, drake and a duck at Llyn Llygeirian (22nd).

1, duck on the lagoon at Cemlyn (27th).

Wigeon

65, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

180, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Pintail

8, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

27, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Teal

4, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

70, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Grey Plover

3, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

3, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Lapwing

111, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

216, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Curlew

56, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

75, at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (24th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

10, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour, Cemaes Bay (25th).

Redshank

106, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

57, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Greenshank

2, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

3, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

1, on old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (27th).

Purple Sandpiper

Up to 11, at Trearddur Bay (11 on 27th, 6 on 26th, 3 on 23rd).

12, at Penmon Point (25th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

2, off Penmon Point (25th).

Razorbill

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

1, at Trearddur Bay (25th).

c. 100, at Penmon Point (22nd).

Little Auk

1, at Trearddur Bay (25th).

Guillemot

5, at Penmon Point (22nd).

Mediterranean Gull

5, adults at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Great Black-backed Gull

38, on Ynys Moelfre (27th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

13, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 4, at Beddmanarch Bay (4 on 27th, 3+ on 24th, 1 on 22nd).

Up to 2, at the Inland Sea (2 on 22nd & 25th, 1 on 24th & 27th).

Red-throated Diver

1, at Penmon Point (22nd).

1, at Trearrdur Bay (24th).

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (25th).

3, off Moelfre (27th).

Great Northern Diver

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 26th, 1 on 22nd, 24th, 27th).

Up to 2, at the Inland Sea (2 on 23rd & 27th, 1 on 22nd & 25th).

1, at Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (24th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Bittern

1, booming at Llyn Penrhyn (24th).

Little Egret

3, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Great Egret

Up to 2, at Llyn Coron  (2 on 21st, 22nd, 1 on 24th).

Cattle Egret

1, between Four-mile Bridge and Trearddur Bay (22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th).

Raptors:

Red Kite

2, from junction 3 of A55 near Caergeiliog (24th).

Merlin

1, at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (24th).

Passerines & others:

Siskin

Up to 10, on garden feeders at Talwrn (10 on 26th, 7 on 22nd). 

Week: Saturday 14th February - Friday 20th February 2026.

The Bufflehead at Llyn Coron drew a steady stream of admirers, which also ensured that a few of the better birds from the last few weeks were also checked out including the drake Smew that continues its stay at Llyn Alaw.  It looked like it was going to be a barren week in terms of new additions to the 2026 Anglesey list, until news broke on a Facebook page of a Snow Bunting photographed at Llanddona beach.  Snow Bunting takes the 2026 year list up to 149 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

25+, on roadside fields near the Bodffordd end of Llyn Cefni (16th).

10, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

12, flew west over Holyhead and headed off in the direction of South Stack (18th).

Black Swan - Category E

2, on fields near Cors Ddyga (17th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

69, at Penmon Pool (14th).

24, flew west past Penmon Point (14th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

2, at Penmon Pool (14th).

White-fronted Goose - Russian

3, on fields near Llyn Padrig (14th).

3, flew over Llyn Coron (15th).

Pink-footed Goose

c. 200, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

2, at Llyn Coron (19th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (14th, 15th, 16th).

Eider

61, at Penmon Point (14th).

3, off Benlech seafront (19th).

Common Scoter

200+, off Benlech seafront (19th).

Bufflehead

1, at Llyn Coron (14th-20th).

Goldeneye

4, at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw (19th).

Red-breasted Merganser

3, off Benlech seafront (19th).

Goosander

Up to 35, at Llyn Coron (35 on 19th, 25 on 16th).

Pochard

6, at Llyn Penrhyn (19th).

Pintail

c. 85, at Malltraeth cob pool (19th).

Waders:

Grey Plover

6, at Cemlyn (14th).

6+, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Golden Plover

c. 400, on fields near Cors Ddyga (17th).

Lapwing

c. 1300 on a pasture to the south of Aberffraw dunes (19th).

Black-tailed Godwit

8, on fields near Cors Ddyga (17th).

Jack Snipe

3, at Traeth Dulas (19th).

Snipe

c.15, at Llyn Coron (19th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour near the Titanic memorial, Cemaes Bay (18th).

Green Sandpiper

1, on the wet fields to the east of Ynys Wen cemetery (14th, 17th).

Greenshank

2, at Traeth Dulas (19th).

Knot

100+, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Ruff

5, at Cors Ddyga (17th).

Dunlin

143, at Traeth Dulas (19th).

Purple Sandpiper

1, at Cemlyn (14th).

5, at Penmon Point (14th).

10, at Ynys Llanddwyn (14th).

Up to 25, at Trearddur Bay (25 on 19th, 4 on 16th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

1, in the bay at Cemlyn (14th).

1, at Penmon Point (14th).

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (16th).

Up to 2, at Holyhead Harbour (2 on 16th, 1 on 19th).

Razorbill

1, at Holyhead harbour (17th).

Little Gull

1, 1st winter off Beaumaris pier (17th).

Mediterranean Gull

1, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

2, at Trearddur Bay (16th).

Caspian Gull

1, 1st winter at Llyn Trafwll (14th).

Great Black-backed Gull

20, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

2, at Traeth Dulas (14th).

1, on a field at Llechylched, near Bryngwran (15th).

8, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

4, at Llyn Coron (17th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 6, at Beddmanarch Bay (6 on 14th & 16th, 4 on 19th, 3 on 15th).

Up to 3, at the Inland Sea (3 on 19th, 1 on 16th).

1, distantly off Beaumaris pier (17th).

Great-crested Grebe

22, off Penrhos beach (15th).

Red-throated Diver

5, off Benlech seafront (19th).

Great Northern Diver

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (14th, 15th).

Up to 4, at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (4 on 19th, 2 on 16th, 1 on 15th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (17th, 19th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Bittern

1, booming at Cors Ddyga (17th).

1, booming at Llyn Penrhyn (19th)

Little Egret

8, at Llyn Coron (19th).

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Coron (15th, 16th, 17th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Cattle Egret

1, from the B4545 near Trearddur Bay - Cefn Coch Christmas Trees (14th-17th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, over Ynys Wen cemetery, Valley (15th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Red Kite

2, at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Merlin

1, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at Llyn Cerrig Bach (14th).

Chough

2, visited a garden feeder off the old Holyhead to Trearrdur Bay road (18th).

Hooded Crow

1, at Newborough beach (15th).

1, at South Stack (17th).

Blackcap

1, at a garden feeder off the old Holyhead to Trearrdur Bay road (18th).

Fieldfare

c. 30, at Aberffraw village (19th).

Crossbill

4, at Newborough beach car park (16th).

Siskin

2, in alders round pool on lane behind car park at Penrhos Coastal Park (17th).

4, on garden feeders at Talwrn (19th).

Snow Bunting

1, at Llanddona beach (19th).