Week: Saturday 28th March - Friday 3rd April 2026.

The week’s highlight for many would have been the 4 Tundra Bean Geese found on fields bordering the Alaw estuary, which displayed quite a bit of variation in bill length and colouration.  These will become only the 4th-7th records for Anglesey, subject to acceptance by the WBRC.  https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/rare-scarce/welsh-birds-rarity-committee/tundra-bean-goose.  Tundra Bean Goose - together with an early House Martin - added to 2 new species to the 2026 year list, which increases to 160 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

Up to 8, on fields at Capel Coch (8 on 31st, 7 on 1st).

8, on fields at Llangwyllog (31st).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

c. 200, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

White-fronted Goose - Greenland

Up to 16, on fields to the east of the Lon Las cycle track - 3 fields north of Pont Marquis (16 on 30th, 13 on 31st).

Tundra Bean Goose

4, on fields surrounding the Alaw estuary (28th-3rd).

Pink-footed Goose

1, on fields on the south side of the Alaw estuary (28th-3rd).

Eider

2, at Traeth Bychan (1st).

22, at Ynys Moelfre (1st).

Goldeneye

5, on the lagoon at Cemlyn (28th).

Greater Scaup

1, duck on the lagoon at Cemlyn (28th).

Wigeon

17, on the lagoon at Cemlyn (28th).

12, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

Waders:

Golden Plover

Up to c.400, at Cemlyn (400+ on 1st, 300+ on 28th).

Black-tailed Godwit

3, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

6, at Cemlyn (1st).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour, Cemaes Bay (30th).

Green Sandpiper

1, on pools off the road from Bryteg to Maenaddwyn (28th, 29th, 30th, 31st).

1, at Valley tidal doors (30th).

Turnstone

1, at Moelfre (1st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

10, off South Stack (1st).

7, at Penmon Point (2nd).

Black Guillemot

1, at Moelfre (1st).

Sandwich Tern

Up to 3, flew over the main island then back out to sea (3 on 28th, 2 on 30th).

c.40, at the Inland Sea (29th).

Mediterranean Gull

Up to 33, at the Inland Sea (33 on 31st, 21 on 29th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (29th).

1, at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (30th).

Great Northern Diver

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (29th, 1st).

1, at Holyhead harbour (1st).

1, at Traeth Bychan (1st).

1, flew north from Holy Island towards Carmel Head - viewed from Irish Ferries (3rd).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Nothing to report.

Raptors:

Red Kite

1, seen from Malltraeth cob (28th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (29th).

1, over A5 near Llanfairpwll (1st).

1, over A55 east of Junction 5 - Rhosneigr exit (23rd).

1, south of Trefor (1st).

Passerines & others:

Hooded Crow

1, from Penrhos coastal park (29th).

1, at South Stack (1st).

Sand Martin

c. 30, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

1, at South Stack (1st).

Barn Swallow

1, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

8+, in off the sea at Cemlyn (28th).

1, at Malltraeth cob (28th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

House Martin

1, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Llyn Cefni (28th).

Northern Wheatear

1, near The Range (1st).

Tree Sparrow

1, heard along the lane to Valley Tidal cob - but not seen (28th).

White Wagtail

2, at Cemlyn (1st).

Crossbill

1, at South Stack (1st).

Siskin

7, at South Stack (1st).

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

While it is still relatively quiet in respect of spring migrants, the week still produced the first Sandwich Tern and Manx Shearwater.  Together, they take the 2026 year list up to 158 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

10, on fields at Capel Coch (22nd).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

246, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

334, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

White-fronted Goose - Greenland

16, on fields to the east of the Lon Las cycle track - 3 fields north of Pont Marquis (25th).

Shelduck

23, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Goldeneye

4, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

2, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Greater Scaup

1, duck on the lagoon at Cemlyn (22nd, 27th).

Shoveler

6, on Twr reservoir off South Stack road (26th).

Pintail

2, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

68, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Grey Plover

3, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

19, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Golden Plover

120, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

Curlew

14, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

c. 20, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

1, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

11, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Black-tailed Godwit

c. 6, at Malltraeth cob pool (22nd).

Snipe

2, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

Green Sandpiper

1, at Valley tidal doors (22nd).

1, on a pool to the south of the road from Bryteg to Maenaddwyn (26th).

Redshank

28, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Greenshank

4, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

2, at Valley tidal doors (22nd).

1, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Turnstone

3, at Rhoscolyn (21st).

Knot

55, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Purple Sandpiper

1, at Rhoscolyn (21st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

1, off South Stack (22nd).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

Black Guillemot

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (25th).

Sandwich Tern

1, at the Alaw estuary (21st).

2, at Cemlyn (22nd).

3, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

Kittiwake

6, flew past The Range over a 30 minute seawatch (25th).

Mediterranean Gull

4, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

2, adults at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Manx Shearwater

25, flew past The Range over a 30 minute seawatch (25th).

Gannet

52, flew past The Range over a 30 minute seawatch (25th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

1 at the Inland Sea (21st, 22nd).

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 25th, 1 on 21st).

Great Northern Diver

1 at the Inland Sea (21st).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (21st, 24th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Little Egret

6, from Cymyran to Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Great Egret

2, at Llyn Llywenan (21st, 22nd).

Cattle Egret

8, on roadside fields from lane to Sandy Beach caravan park / Porth Trwyn Mawr, near Llanfwrog (22nd).

Water Rail

1, at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (22nd).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

Red Kite

1, over Talwrn (22nd).

3, at The Range / South Stack area (23rd).

1, over Junction 5 of A55 - Rhosneigr exit (23rd).

1, at Llaingoch, Holyhead (23rd).

Merlin

1, female near Llyn Coron (21st).

Passerines & others:

Sand Martin

2, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

12, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

Barn Swallow

1, at South Stack (21st).

Cetti’s Warbler

2, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

Willow Warbler

1, along Lon Las cycle track, near Cors Ddyga (21st).

Chiffchaff

6, at Llyn Llywenan (21st).

Black Redstart

1, female type near the barrier at the start of the concrete road (21st).

1, female type at Rhoscolyn churchyard (21st).

1, male on approach road to Foel, South Stack (22nd).

Northern Wheatear

4, at South Stack (21st).

2, at Cemlyn (22nd).

2, at Cymyran dunes (22nd).

1, at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (26th).

Crossbill

3, flew over South Stack (22nd).

Siskin

6, on a garden feeder at Talwrn (22nd).