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).

Week: Saturday 11th July - Friday 17th July 2026.

A bit of a slow week, no doubt influenced by the hot weather, but there were still a few interesting records.  Quail continue to be reported, but further evidence of some movement of waders was probably the main point of interest.  3 Little Ringed Plover - across 2 sites - and 16 Sanderling were probably the highlight, with a supporting cast of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and an increase in the number of Greenshank at estuarine sites.  
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:

No particular records of note.

Waders:

Little Ringed Plover

1, at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (14th).

2, at Valley Tidal doors (15th).

Curlew

37, at Traeth Dulas (16th).

Black-tailed Godwit

13, at Cemlyn (11th).

14, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Snipe

7, at Cors Ddyga (14h).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Redshank

5, at Traeth Dulas (14th).

Greenshank

Up to 6, at Traeth Dulas (6 on 16th, 2 on 14th).

1, at Valley Tidal doors (15th).

2, at the Cefni estuary (16th).

Ruff

2, at Cors Ddyga (14th).

Sanderling

16, at the eastern end of the beach, Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (15th).

Dunlin

5, at Traeth Dulas (14th).

Seabirds and gulls:

No particular records of note.

Grebes & Divers:

No particular records of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

4, at barley fields at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (15th).

1, at barley field near Catellior off A5025 near Llansadwrn (15th).

1, singing from Cae Cors, Tregele (16th).

1, singing NW of A5025, Llanrhyddlad (17th).

Great Egret

2, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

1, at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (13th-15th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

4, at Cors Ddyga (12th) - male, female and two juveniles.

1, young male at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (15th).

Red Kite

1, over the A5025 to the SE of Pentraeth (11th).

1, north of Penysarn (12th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

1, at Valley Tidal doors (15th).

Hobby

1, at Cors Ddyga - photographed (12th).

Passerines & others:

Hooded Crow

1, flew east over Cemlyn (15th).

Garden Warbler

1, at Valley Tidal doors (15th).

Week: Saturday 4th July - Friday 10th July 2026.

It was yet another exceptional week for Quail, with 11 birds across 4 sites.  July has already notched up 14 birds across 5 locations - quite unprecedented.

A Glossy Ibis flew over Talwrn, while a European Storm-petrel was seen but not caught during a night time ringing session at Cemlyn.

Both Glossy Ibis and European Storm-petrel were new for the year and took the cumulative year list up to 201 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Nothing of note reported.

Waders:

Redshank

4, at Traeth Dulas (7th).

Ruff

2, heard at Cors Ddyga (6th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

1, offshore at Wylfa Head (6th).

Roseate Tern

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 10th, 2 on 5th, 1 on 8th).

European Storm-petrel

1, seen but not caught during a ringing session at Cemlyn (8th).

Manx Shearwater

c. 25, past Wylfa Head over 30 minutes (6th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note reported.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

Up to 3, at Cors Ddyga (3 on 7th, 1 on 5th).

1, calling at Talwrn (8th, 10th).

Up to 6, at barley fields between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (6 on 8th, 4 on 9th, 1 on 10th).

1, at Aberffraw (9th).

Glossy Ibis

1, flew west over Talwrn (5th).

Great Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (6th).

1 at Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (10th).

Raptors:

Goshawk

1, at Presaddfed (7th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Red Kite

1, at Caergeiliog (7th).

1, at Cors Bodeilio (7th).

1, at Llangristiolus (8th).

1, at Llangaffo (9th).

Merlin

1, at Cemlyn (4th).

Passerines & others:

Cuckoo

1, juvenile at Cemlyn (9th-10th) - report of it being fed by a Meadow Pipit.

Swift

9, in off the sea at Wylfa Head (6th).

Hooded Crow

1, on fields at the entrance to The Range, South Stack (10th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, at Cors Bodeilio (7th).

Siskin

Up to 3, male, female and juvenile at a garden feeder at Talwrn (3 on 8th & 10th, 2 on 6th - male and juvenile) - confirmation of local breeding.