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, presumed flavissima)

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

Redpoll

3 at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (10th).

Week: Saturday 2nd May - Friday 8th May 2026.

The first week of May is usually the time when the first Spotted Flycatcher of the year might be expected, and one duly appeared at Rhoscolyn on the 6th.

What was far more unexpected was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (PHOTO) at the seasonal flood behind Tyn Llan beach, Cemlyn (7th).  It has become only the 8th accepted record for Anglesey (WBRC worked very quickly), with 6 of the 8 records coming from the Cemlyn - Mynachdy area (ACCEPTED RECORDS):

These 2 new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 186 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.

Wildfowl:

Shelduck

32, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Eider

62, at Aber Lleiniog (3rd).

Red-breasted Merganser

5, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

12, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Golden Plover

Up to c.6, at Cemlyn (c. 6 on 8th, 1 on 4th).

Ringed Plover

14, at Cemlyn (4th).

21, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Whimbrel

28, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

22, flew over Mynydd Bodafon (2nd).

2, at Aber Lleiniog (3rd).

Up to 4, at Cemlyn (4 on 3rd, 2 on 4th).

8, at Wylfa head (5th).

2, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

8, at Rhoscolyn (6th).

Curlew

1, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Black-tailed Godwit

15, at Malltraeth cob pool (4th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

1, at Cemlyn (7th).

Wood Sandpiper

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

1, flew high over the south end of Cors Ddyga and headed north (7th).

Greenshank

1, at Cemlyn (4th, 7th, 8th).

Ruff

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (4th).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

1, on seasonal flood, Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (7th).

Sanderling

1, at Cemlyn (4th).

2, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Dunlin

18, at Cemlyn (4th).

29, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Sandwich Tern

926, flew past Penmon Point over 3hrs (6th).

Grebes & Divers:

Red-throated Diver

2, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (4th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Llywenan (8th).

Raptors:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

Cuckoo

1, seen distantly from Malltraeth cob (4th).

1, calling at Mynydd Bodafon (6th).

1, calling at Burwen (8th).

Stock Dove

2, at Cemlyn (4th).

Swift

5, over Llyn Penrhyn (3rd).

2, over Llandegfan (7th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (8th).

Chough

9, at Cemlyn (4th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, reeling at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (3rd).

1, from Malltraeth cob (4th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Llyn Llywenan (7th, 8th).

Ring Ouzel

1, female in a horse paddock at Mynydd Bodafon (2nd-3rd).

Spotted Flycatcher

1, at Plas Coch, Rhoscolyn (6th).

Northern Wheatear

Up to 2 , on field by the old stone barn, Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (2 on 3rd & 8th, 1 on 4th & 7th).

1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (3rd).

1, at Traeth Dulas (5th).

Yellow Wagtail - (Blue-headed)

1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (6th).

Yellow Wagtail - (not-identified, presumed flavissima)

1, flying off the Trwyn, Cemlyn (4th).

Yellow Wagtail - (flavissima)

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

White Wagtail

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

Redpoll

6, 1 at Pencarreg, near Cemlyn, 4 at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn, 1 at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (3rd).

7, at Rhoscolyn (6th).

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).