Week: Saturday 23rd May - Friday 29th May 2026.

The month of May continued to deliver with 5 new additions to the year list - Hobby, Great Skua, Quail, Little Tern and Woodchat Shrike.
Until fairly recently, Hobby was a rare bird on Anglesey but they have now become pretty much annual albeit still in small numbers.  Two lucky observers had a bird at Cors Ddyga, then another at Red Wharf Bay when it was seen to take a Swallow.
Great Skua are mainly seen on autumn passage, although there are occasional spring sightings.  A singing Quail can normally be expected somewhere at this time of year.  Little Tern is by no means guaranteed, but the past few years have seen regular records with Cemlyn being the most likely location.
Woodchat Shrike is very much a rare bird for Anglesey.  This week’s bird should become only the 7th accepted record.
The 5 new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 197 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Red-breasted Merganser

1, flew past Point Lynas (26th).

Shoveler

4, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

Gadwall

4, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

Teal

8, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

Waders:

Golden Plover

2, at Cemlyn (26th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Whimbrel

3, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Black-tailed Godwit

3, at the Inland Sea (27th).

3, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Sanderling

1, at Cemlyn (24th).

32, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (26th).

38, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Dunlin

4, at Cemlyn (25th).

Little Stint

1, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Great Skua

1, flew past Cemlyn (25th).

Black Guillemot

1, flew past Point Lynas (26th).

Little Tern

1, seen in flight at Cemlyn (26th).

Roseate Tern

2, at Cemlyn (23rd).

Little Gull

1, at Cemlyn (23rd).

1, 2nd calendar year at the Inland Sea (27th).

Manx Shearwater

c. 100, per hour past Point Lynas (26th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

1, calling from a cereal field to the east of Maenaddwyn (25th).

Spoonbill

1, at Cors Ddyga (23rd, 27th-29th).

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Llywenan (23rd).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew west over Cemlyn (24th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Llyn Llywenan (23rd).

1, female over Gadfa (24th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Llywenan (23rd).

1, north of Llanfachraeth (24th).

1, over Benllech (25th).

Hobby

1, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

1, at Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (27th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at Cors Ddyga (25th).

Woodchat Shrike

1, female at South Stack (28th-29th).

Hooded Crow

1, near Eglwys St. Mihangel, Valley wetlands (24th).

Reed Warbler

2, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (26th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, reeling from the marshy area between Cafnan farm and Pencarreg, Cemlyn (24th).

Garden Warbler

1, at Llyn Parc Mawr (28th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Llyn Llywenan (23rd).

Spotted Flycatcher

1, at Hen Borth (23rd).

1, rear Cafnan farm, Cemlyn (24th).

1, at Carmel Head (27th).

Redpoll

1, at Hen Borth (23rd).

Crossbill

8, at Carmel Head (27th).

Siskin

1, male at Porth Eilian (26th).

c. 4, at Llyn Parc Mawr (28th).

Week: Saturday 16th May - Friday 22nd May 2026.

The 18th provided a bit of a spurt to the year list with three new additions - Curlew Sandpiper, Pomarine Skua and Spoonbill.  It also produced a late Hen Harrier.
A Little Stint (21st) made it four new additions to the year list, while a second Bee-eater for the year (22nd) was noteworthy.  The last two days of the week saw a significant arrival of Spotted Flycatcher, with good numbers of Crossbill on the Friday. 
The four new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 192 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Eider

Up to 18+, at Moelfre (18+ on 22nd, 16 on 16th).

Common Scoter

5, flew NW past Porth Nobla (19th).

Red-breasted Merganser

2, at Moelfre (16th).

Waders:

Ringed Plover

c. 20, at Malltreath (18th).

12, at Porth Nobla (19th).

Little Ringed Plover

1, flew west over the main scrape at Cors Ddyga (18th).

Whimbrel

2, at Moelfre (16th, 17th).

1, at Cefni estuary (19th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (20th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at Cefni estuary (19th).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 10, at Malltraeth cob pool (10 on 19th, 7 on 17th).

Turnstone

3, at Moelfre (18th).

9, at Porth Nobla (19th).

4, at Cemlyn (21st).

Curlew Sandpiper

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 21st, 1 on 18th-20th).

Sanderling

11, at Porth Nobla (19th).

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 20th, 1 on 21st).

Dunlin

2, at Porth Nobla (19th).

19, at Cemlyn (21st).

Little Stint

1, around the smaller of the two islands in the lagoon, Cemlyn (21st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Pomarine Skua

1, photographed by swimmers on the beach at Porth Trecastell (18th).

Razorbill

8 pairs, which appear to be breeding on Ynys Moelfre (22nd).

Roseate Tern

2, at Cemlyn (20th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Spoonbill

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (18th-19th), with presumably the same at Cors Ddyga (21st-22nd).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew west over Carmel Head (22nd).

Hen Harrier

1, female photographed flying through Rhoscolyn (18th).

Marsh Harrier

1, female Cors Ddyga (22nd).

Red Kite

1, over the minor road between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (17th).

Passerines & others:

Cuckoo

1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, at Carmel Head (22nd).

Bee-eater

1, flew west over Carmel Head - photographed (22nd).

Kingfisher

1, along the Afon Cefni, Llangefni (22nd).

House Martin

100+, flew over Carmel Head with good numbers also noted over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

Spotted Flycatcher

7, at Cemlyn (21st).

5, at Hen Borth (21st).

1, along the Afon Cefni, Llangefni (22nd).

8, at Carmel Head (22nd).

1, at Porth yr Ogof, Wylfa (22nd).

Northern Wheatear

1, at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (17th).

7, on the coastal path between Porth yr Ogof and Porth Wylfa (22nd).

Yellow Wagtail - (not identified to race, presumed flavissima)

1, at Carmel Head (22nd).

Redpoll

10, at Cemlyn (16th).

4, over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

6, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (22nd).

Crossbill

14, over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

20+, flew over Carmel Head (22nd).

3, flew over Mynydd Bodafon (22nd).

Week: Saturday 9th May - Friday 15th May 2026.

A European Bee-eater provided a splash of colour at South Stack, but regrettably it couldn’t be relocated.  It becomes only the 19th accepted record for Anglesey (ACCEPTED RECORDS).  There have now been accepted records in 4 of the last 5 years - perhaps a reflection of climatic change. With past records into late August, there is some hope that there may be another chance to catch up with this spectacular species.
A more subtle colour was offered by up to 3 Roseate Terns at Cemlyn, with one of the birds in particular having a subtle pink wash to its breast.  It seems that one of the birds is paired with a Common x Roseate hybrid, so it is worth looking carefully for all diagnostic features.
These two new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 188 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Shelduck

6, at Fryars Bay, near Llanfaes (10th).

28, at Traeth Dulas (10th).

Eider

1, drake at Traeth Lleiniog (10th).

8, at Moelfre (10th).

Pochard

1, drake at Llyn Cerrig Bach (11th).

Greater Scaup

1, drake - photographed - out on Cefni estuary before swimming close to the sluice at Malltraeth (11th).

Garganey

1, drake at Cors Ddyga (10th-13th).

Shoveler

8, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Gadwall

2, pair seen in a field amongst a flock of sheep (11th).

3, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Teal

6, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

28, at Fryars Bay, near Llanfaes (10th).

Ringed Plover

c. 230, at Malltreath (11th).

Whimbrel

1, at Traeth Lleiniog (10th).

1, at Bull Bay (10th).

12, at the Inland Sea - from Four Mile Bridge(11th).

10, from Penrhos coastal park (11th).

2, at Cemlyn (14th).

Curlew

1, at the Inland Sea - from Four Mile Bridge(11th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at the Inland Sea - from Four Mile Bridge(11th).

2, from Penrhos coastal park (11th).

Black-tailed Godwit

4, at Malltraeth cob pool (11th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Cemlyn (13th).

Greenshank

1, at Cemlyn (10th, 12th).

Knot

1, in winter plumage at Cemlyn (10th).

Sanderling

2, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (9th).

Dunlin

15, at Cemlyn (10th).

20, flew north at Malltraeth (10th).

300+, at Malltreath (11th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, seen chasing a Sandwich Tern over the Trwyn, Cemlyn (9th).

Puffin

1, off South Stack (10th).

Black Guillemot

2, at Fedw Fawr (10th).

1, at Moelfre (10th).

Sandwich Tern

13, at Traeth Lleiniog (10th).

Roseate Tern

Up to 3, at Cemlyn (3 on 13th, 1 on 12th & 14th) - plus a Common x Roseate Tern hybrid (12th & 14th).

Gannet

11, following a pod of porpoise off Bull Bay (10th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Llywenan (9th).

Raptors:

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Llywenan (9th).

2, over Gadfa (10th).

1, over Llangristiolus (14th).

1, over B5111 north of Llannerch-y-medd (15th).

Passerines & others:

Cuckoo

1, at Llyn Llywenan (9th).

Swift

6, over Pentraeth (9th).

1, over fields at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (10th).

9, over Beaumaris (10th).

5, over Aberffraw - Llyn Coron (11th).

4, over Llyn Cerrig Bach (11th).

Bee-eater

1, flew NW past South Stack car park (9th).

Cetti’s Warbler

4, at Llyn Llywenan (9th).

1, at Rhosneigr railway bridge (11th).

Garden Warbler

1, at Pentraeth forest (10th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Llyn Llywenan (9th).

1, at Arthur’s Table, near Llanddona (10th).

Spotted Flycatcher

Up to 2, at South Stack (2 on 10th, 1 on 9th).

1, at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (9th).

Northern Wheatear

1, at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (9th, 10th, 12th).

1, at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (9th).

1, at Llanbadrig (10th).

1, at Aberffraw - Llyn Coron (11th).

1, at Rhosneigr railway bridge (11th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Yellow Wagtail - (not identified to race, presumed flavissima)

1, flying over Tyn Llan towards Hen Borth, Cemlyn (14th).

Redpoll

3 at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (10th).