Week: Saturday 10th October 2026 - Friday 16th October 2026.

A juvenile American Golden Plover found and photographed on the main island and surrounding areas at Cemlyn will become only the 11th record for Anglesey when accepted by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee.  All but one record have been along the North West coast with 6 at Cemlyn, 1 at Hen Borth (near Cemlyn), 1 at Llanfwrog and 2 at the Alaw estuary.  The odd one out was a bird at Malltraeth cob pool.  October has become the joint best month at three records, alongside May.
American Golden Plover was new for the year and takes the cumulative year list to date to 214 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Mute Swan

60+, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Whooper Swan

4, flew over the Pentraeth end of Red Wharf Bay (12th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

1, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

150, at Beddmanarch Bay (11th).

Common Scoter

68, off Benllech sea front (13th).

Goosander

19, at the Inland Sea (11th).

Greater Scaup

1, female, at the Inland Sea (11th).

Waders:

Grey Plover

3, at Cemlyn (11th).

32, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Golden Plover

Up to c.200, at Cemlyn (c. 200 on 11th, c. 150 on 10th).

American Golden Plover

1, juvenile, at Cemlyn (13th-16th).

Whimbrel

1, at Llyn Cefni (11th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

7, at Traeth Dulas (15th).

Black-tailed Godwit

16, at Beddmanarch Bay (11th).

3, at Valley tidal doors (16th).

Jack Snipe

Up to 7, at Red Wharf Bay (7 on 12th, 4 on 11th).

1, at Malltraeth cob (12th).

5, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Snipe

Up to 130, at Red Wharf Bay (130 on 12th, 105 on 11th).

Green Sandpiper

Up to 2, at Valley Tidal Doors (2 on 13th, 1 on 16th).

Spotted Redshank

3, at Llyn Cefni - Bodffordd end (11th).

Greenshank

1, at Cemlyn (10th).

Turnstone

11, at Benllech (13th).

Knot

8, at Beddmanarch Bay (11th).

Ruff

1, at Cemlyn (11th).

Purple Sandpiper

2, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

5, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

1, flew past Bull Bay (10th).

5, flew past Cemlyn 11.30-14.30hrs (10th).

Great Skua

2, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

Black Guillemot

1, winter plumaged bird in inner harbour, Holyhead (16th).

Razorbill

500, flew past Cemlyn 11.30-14.30hrs (10th).

1, female, at the Inland Sea (11th).

Sandwich Tern

17, off Aberlleiniog car park (10th).

2, off Benllech sea front (13th).

Little Gull

1, 1st winter, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

Kittiwake

1014, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

200, flew past Cemlyn 11.30-14.30hrs (10th).

Sabine’s Gull

1, juvenile, flew past Bull Bay (10th).

Mediterranean Gull

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (11th).

Manx Shearwater

2, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

2, flew past Bull Bay (10th).

200, flew past Cemlyn 11.30-14.30hrs (10th).

Gannet

5, off Aberlleiniog car park (10th).

300, flew past Cemlyn 11.30-14.30hrs (10th).

20+, off Benllech sea front (13th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

1, probable, off Benllech sea front (13th).

Great-crested Grebe

12, off Benllech sea front (13th).

Red-throated Diver

2, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

1, at Cemlyn (11th).

Great Northern Diver

1, flew past Point Lynas (10th).

1, flew east past Cemlyn (11th).

Black-throated Diver

1, flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port (10th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (11th).

1, at Tyn LLan, Cemlyn (16th).

Cattle Egret

1, at Llyn Cefni (11th).

Water Rail

1, calling, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 15th, 1 on 16th).

1, male, at Tyn LLan, Cemlyn (16th).

Red Kite

1, at Valley Tidal Doors (13th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

Merlin

1, at Cemlyn (10th, 14th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Passerines & others:

Turtle Dove

1, in a private garden (same as 4th) at Holyhead Mountain (10th).

Jay

7, flew over the road at the base of South Stack road (16th).

Sand Martin

2, at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

Barn Swallow

1, at Burwen, near Amlwch (14th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Yellow-browed Warbler

1, at Coedwig Lleiniog, near boardwalk leading to Castle (10th-11th).

Chiffchaff

2, at Wylfa woods (11th).

Blackcap

1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (11th).

Redwing

1, over Holyhead mountain (14th).

Northern Wheatear

1, at Octel, Amlwch Port (16th).

Tree Sparrow

1, at Cemlyn (11th).

Snow Bunting

1, possible, at Holyhead breakwater (11th).

Week: Saturday 3rd October 2026 - Friday 9th October 2026.

Following last week’s disappointment at the lack of Siberian vagrants, a Yellow-browed Warbler duly appeared at Wylfa woods.  

A shift in wind direction to a northerly flow brought in the first Whooper Swans of the year, on a date towards the middle of a 3 week period when we might have expected their arrival.

7th October 2026	8	Cemlyn
2nd October 2025	2	Brynteg
10th October 2024	11	Rhosneigr
10th October 2023	3	Cemlyn
25th September 2022	4	Cemlyn
15th October 2021	5	Wylfa Head
26th September 2020	14	Bull Bay

Given past dates, we might reasonably expect the first Slavonian Grebe to return for the winter in the next week or two.  Their earliest dates of return have been:

17th October 2025	2	Beddmanarch Bay
14th October 2024	1	Inland Sea
16th October 2023	2	Inland Sea
14th October 2022	2	Beaumaris
23rd October 2021	2	Inland Sea
18th October 2020	4	Beddmanarch Bay

A belated disclosure relates to a record of a male Dartford Warbler.  It was seen, heard calling and was suspected to have been on territory at a site between the 7th February - 6th March.

Yellow-browed Warbler and Dartford Warbler were both new for the year.  Regrettably, submissions are still outstanding for sightings of Surf Scoter and Caspian Gull from earlier in the year and it is considered prudent to remove these from the cumulative list for the time being.  So, with 2 on and 2 off, the cumulative year list to date continues at 213 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

8, at Cemlyn - the first returning birds of the winter period (7th).

12, over South Stack (8th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (8th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

40, at the Inland Sea (3rd).

Common Scoter

61, off Benllech sea front (6th).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at Traeth Dulas (8th).

Goosander

20, at the Inland Sea (3rd).

Wigeon

170, at the Inland Sea (3rd).

Pintail

1, at Llyn Llygeirian (4th).

Coot

100+, at Llyn Llygeirian (4th).

Waders:

Golden Plover

1, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

Up to 550, at Cemlyn (550 on 9th, 300+ on 7th).

Ringed Plover

7, at Llyn Alaw (7th).

Lapwing

5, at Llyn Alaw (7th).

Curlew

5, at Cemlyn (7th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

30, at Porth Penrhyn Mawr (4th).

3, at Traeth Dulas (8th).

1, at Cemlyn (8th).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 19, at Llyn Cefni (19 on 6th, 8 on 5th).

Jack Snipe

2, at Garreglwyd (6th).

Snipe

1, on marshland and Afon Cefni between Cors Ddyga and Llangefni (3rd).

12, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

Spotted Redshank

Up to 3, at Llyn Cefni - Bodffordd end (3 on 3rd, 5th, 6th, 1 on 4th).

Redshank

6, at Cemlyn (7th).

Greenshank

1, at the Inland Sea (3rd).

1, at Cemlyn (7th).

5, at Traeth Dulas (8h).

Turnstone

3, at Cemlyn (7th).

Knot

20, at Porth Penrhyn Mawr (4th).

Ruff

4, at Malltraeth cob (3rd).

1, with Lapwing on fields opposite the cob pool, Malltraeth (4th).

Curlew Sandpiper

1, at the Afon Cefni, Malltraeth (3rd) and presumably the same at the cob pool (4th).

1, adult, on the muddy beach area to the east of the Trwyn, Cemlyn (4th).

Sanderling

19, at Traeth Lligwy (5th).

Dunlin

28, at Llyn Alaw (7th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Guillemot

17, off Benllech sea front (6th).

Little Gull

1, 1st winter, at Red Wharf Bay (6th).

Mediterranean Gull

1, at the Inland Sea (3rd).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (9th).

Manx Shearwater

1, flew west past Cemlyn (9th).

Gannet

37, off Benllech sea front (6th).

10, off Cemlyn (7th).

Grebes & Divers:

Red-throated Diver

3, off Benllech sea front (6th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Little Egret

4, at Llyn Alaw (7th).

Great Egret

1, on marshland and Afon Cefni between Cors Ddyga and Llangefni (3rd).

5, at Llyn Alaw (7th).

Cattle Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (4th).

Raptors:

Short-eared Owl

1, seen in flight around islets from Cadnant Bridge, Menai Bridge (7th).

Marsh Harrier

1, 1st winter over the lagoon at Cemlyn (4th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (8th).

1, juvenile at Llyn Coron (9th).

Merlin

1, at the Trwyn, Cemlyn (9th).

Passerines & others:

Turtle Dove

1, at Penmon Priory (3rd).

1, in a private garden at Holyhead Mountain (4th).

Kingfisher

1, on Afon Cefni between Cors Ddyga and Llangefni (3rd).

1, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

Jay

25+, flew over South Stack (8th).

Hooded Crow

1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (3rd-5th, 7th).

1, at The Range, South Stack (7th).

Barn Swallow

2, near the Jam factory, Cemlyn (9th).

Cetti’s Warbler

2, on marshland and Afon Cefni between Cors Ddyga and Llangefni (3rd).

Yellow-browed Warbler

1, at Wylfa woods (3rd, 5th).

Willow Warbler

1, at Wylfa woods (8th).

Chiffchaff

Up to 2, outside of Octel, Amlwch Port (2 on 4th, 1 on 3rd).

3, at Wylfa woods (3rd, 5th, 8th).

Up to 7, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (7 on 3rd, 1 on 7th & 8th).

Blackcap

1, at Wylfa woods (3rd, 8th).

1, outside of Octel, Amlwch Port (6th).

1, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (8th).

Goldcrest

Up to 4, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (4 on 8th, 2 on 3rd).

Redwing

2, at South Stack (7th).

Fieldfare

1, at Cors Ddyga (4th).

Northern Wheatear

9, at The Range, South Stack (7th).

Yellow Wagtail - (not-identified, presumed flavissima)

Up to 2, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (2 on 5th, 1 on 4th with Pied & White Wagtails and later heard calling over Tyn Llan, Cemlyn).

White Wagtail

2, at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (4th).

Reports requiring submission to County Recorder - SteCul10@aol.com

Pectoral Sandpiper

1, report of a bird seen and photographed on the beach at Cemlyn - 19th September 2026.

Great Grey Shrike

1, reported at Porth Penrhyn, near Penmon Pool - 29th September 2026.