Week: Saturday 5th September - Friday 11th September 2026.

Further harbingers of the autumn, with the first returning Brent Geese and Purple Sandpiper!
The wind direction didn’t quite move far enough to the north to bring the best of seawatching conditions, but it was good enough on Wednesday 9th which delivered good counts of Arctic Skua, several Leach’s Petrel, a Balearic Shearwater, a European Storm-petrel and a Little Gull.
Once rare on the island, Turtle Dove has become annual over the past 7 years.  One was seen on the approach to Cemlyn - also on the 9th.  Whether such birds are wild has become a little more difficult to determine over recent years given several reintroduction schemes in the south of the UK that are working on bolstering wild populations.  It is not always possible to check for rings etc., and it is probably best to err on the side of the bird being of genuine wild origin.
Both Leach’s Petrel and Turtle Dove were new for the year and takes the cumulative year list to date up to 209 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

6, at Beddmanarch Bay (5th).

2, at Cemlyn (5th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (7th).

1, flew past Point Lynas (9th).

1, flew past Bull Bay (9th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (5th).

Greylag Goose 

c. 500, flew in to roost at Llyn Maelog (9th).

Common Scoter

c. 160, flew west past Cemlyn (5th).

15, flew past Holyhead breakwater (7th).

550, flew past Point Lynas 6.40am - 9.15am (9th).

c. 350 flew past Bull Bay 06.50am - 08.50am (9th).

Wigeon

1, at Llyn Cefni (8th).

Pintail

1, at Llyn Cefni (8th).

Coot

28, at Llyn Rhos Ddu (6th).

70, at Llyn Maelog (6th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

115, at Moel y Don and from the coastal path to the west (6th).

Ringed Plover

Up to 18, at Llyn Cefni (18 on 5th, 12 on 8th, 11 on 11th, 8 on 6th, 5 on 7th).

17, at Traeth Dulas (6th).

13, at Porth Cwyfan (6th).

20, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

5, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (8th).

Little Ringed Plover

1, at Llyn Cefni (11th).

Lapwing

35, at Llyn Cefni (6th-8th).

25+, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).

Curlew

45, at Moel y Don and from the coastal path to the west (6th).

69, on Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (6th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

3, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

6, flew past Bull Bay (9th).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 18, at Llyn Cefni (18 on 6th, 13 on 7th & 11th, 12 on 8th, 11 on 5th, 10 on 9th).

Up to 5, at Llyn Llywenan (5 on 11th, 2 on 5th).

2, at the Cefni estuary (7th).

c.6, at Malltraeth cob pool (10th).

Snipe

4, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

1, along the Afon Crygyll, Rhosneigr (6th).

7, at Llyn Llygeirian (7th).

Common Sandpiper

1, along the Afon Crygyll, Rhosneigr (6th).

3, at Church Island / Ynys Tysilio (8th).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).

Green Sandpiper

Up to 4, at Llyn Cefni (4 on 5th, 3 on 6th & 7th, 2 on 8th, 9th, 11th).

Wood Sandpiper

2, at Llyn Cefni (5th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).

Spotted Redshank

2, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

Up to 6, at Llyn Cefni (6 on 9th, 5 on 8th, 4 on 11th, 2 on 6th, 7th, 10th).

Redshank

4, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

55, on Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (6th).

25, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

14, at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Greenshank

Up to 2, at Llyn Cefni (2 on 8th, 1 on 5th - 7th).

1, off Church Island (6th).

1, at Moel y Don and from the coastal path to the west (6th).

1, at Valley tidal doors (6th).

1, at the Cefni estuary (7th).

Up to 10, at Traeth Dulas (10 on 8th, 9 on 9th).

12, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

Turnstone

15, at Porth Cwyfan (6th).

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (8th).

Knot

2, at Malltraeth cob pool (10th).

Ruff

Up to 11, at Llyn Cefni (11 on 5th, 5 on 6th, 7th & 8th, 4 on 9th, 3 on 11th, 2 on 10th).

4, at Malltraeth cob pool (10th).

Curlew Sandpiper

1, at Cemlyn (5th, 10th, 11th).

Up to 2, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (2 on 5th & 7th, 1 on 6th & 10th).

Up to 4, at Llyn Cefni (4 on 9th, 3 on 11th, 2 on 8th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

Sanderling

1, at the Alaw estuary (7th).

2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (8th).

Dunlin

3, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (6th).

65, on Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (6th).

Up to 6, at Llyn Cefni (6 on 8th, 5 on 11th).

22, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

Purple Sandpiper

2, flew past Bull Bay (9th).

Baird’s Sandpiper

1, probable, at Malltraeth cob pool - but regrettably not confirmed sufficiently for BBRC submission (6th).

Little Stint

1, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

Up to 3, at Llyn Cefni (3 on 7th, 2 on 8th, 1 on 6th & 9th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, flew past Point Lynas (5th).

19, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 11.30am (9th).

18, flew past Bull Bay 06.50am - 08.50am (9th).

2, flew past Cemlyn (9th).

Black Tern

1 flew past Point Lynas 09.30am - 11.30am (9th).

Sandwich Tern

436, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 11.30am (9th).

Little Gull

1, juvenile, past Point Lynas (9th).

Kittiwake

600, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 09.15am (9th).

Great Black-backed Gull

15, at Traeth Dulas (9th).

European Storm-petrel

1, flew past Cemlyn (9th).

Leach’s Storm-petrel

2, flew past Cemlyn (8th).

2, flew past Bull Bay (8th).

5, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 09.15am (9th).

5, flew past Bull Bay 06.50am - 10am (9th).

2, flew past Cemlyn (8th).

Fulmar

4, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 09.15am (9th).

Manx Shearwater

150, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 09.15am (9th).

Balearic Shearwater

1, flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port (9th).

Gannet

60, flew past Point Lynas 06.40am - 09.15am (9th).

Grebes & Divers:

Little Grebe

1, off Church Island (6th).

13, at Llyn Llygeirian (7th).

c.40 at Llyn Cefni (8th).

Great-crested Grebe

2, juveniles, at Llyn Rhos Ddu (6th).

Red-throated Diver

2, flew past Bull Bay 6.50am - 0850am (9th).

4, flew past Point Lynas 6.40am - 9.15am (9th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Little Egret

13, roosting on Ynys Weltog, off Church Island, Menai Bridge (6th). 

24, at Llyn Cefni (8th).

Great Egret

Up to 4, at Llyn Cefni (4 on 5th, 2 on 8th, 1 on 6th & 7th).

Grey Heron

21, roosting on Ynys Weltog, off Church Island, Menai Bridge (6th). 

Water Rail

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (6th).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, fishing at the Inland Sea (7th).

Goshawk

1, juvenile over Mynydd Bodafon (7th).

Marsh Harrier

1, female at Llyn Llygeirian (7th, 11th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

1, over Talwrn (7th, 8th).

2, over Tregele (7th).

1, over the B5110, c. 1 mile NE of Llangefni (8th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (11th).

Hobby

1, being mobbed by hirundines near the Black Lion pub, Llanfaethlu (6th).

Passerines & others:

Turtle Dove

1, on approach road to Cemlyn then flew towards Hen Borth (9th).

Stock Dove

2, at Llyn Llygeirian (7th).

Kingfisher

1, at Cemlyn (5th).

1, at Valley tidal doors (6th).

1, at Holyhead Country Park (7th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (8th).

1, at Porth Wylfa (9th).

Reed Warbler

1, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

Sand Martin

1, at Llyn Llywenan (5th).

House Martin

c. 50, at Holyhead Country Park (7th).

Cetti’s Warbler

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 11th, 1 on 5th).

1, along the Afon Crygyll, Rhosneigr (6th).

1, at Llyn Cefni (8th).

Willow Warbler

1, at Rhoscolyn (7th).

Blackcap

1, at Llyn Cefni (6th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Rhoscolyn (7th).

Common Whitethroat

2, at Rhoscolyn (7th).

Starling

c.75,000 , in evening roost in reedbeds at Llyn Maelog (9th).

Fieldfare

1, at Bodorgan estate (5th).

Northern Wheatear

1, along the Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (6th).

1, at Holyhead breakwater (7th).

5, at Rhoscolyn (7th).

Linnet

c.120, feeding on Sea Lavender, Afon Crygyll, Rhosneigr (6th).

c. 70, at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Week: Saturday 29th August - Friday 4th September 2026.

Seabirds and Waders.

It was a good week for Arctic Skua with a minimum of 20 birds noted off the NW coast, although there may have been more with 37 sightings noted at various sites along the coast.  Added to which there were the first sightings of the year of Sabine’s Gull and Black Tern, plus sightings of European Storm Petrel and Balearic Shearwaters.  Subject to favourable winds, the forthcoming weeks should see further records of scarce seabirds.

Wader sightings at various sites continued to provide interest, with the highlight being 6 Spotted Redshank at one site.  This has been a scarce wader on the island over recent years with perhaps 1 or 2 records across the year.  2 at Llyn Cefni, then 6 at Llyn Llywenan is quite unprecedented.

Black Tern and Sabine’s Gull were both new for the year and takes the cumulative year list to date up to 207 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Mute Swan

55, at Llyn Cefni (3rd).

Common Scoter

18, flew past Cemlyn (29th).

11, flew past Bull Bay (31st).

6, flew past The Range (3rd).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at Traeth Dulas (29th, 31st, 2nd) - 1 female and 3 well grown chicks.

Gadwall

71, at Llyn Cefni (1st).

Wigeon

Up to 11, at Llyn Cefni (11 on 2nd, 4 on 1st, 1 on 30th).

Pintail

1, at Llyn Cefni (2nd).

Teal

9, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

4, at Garreglwyd, Rhoscolyn (1st).

Coot

130, at Llyn Cefni (3rd).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

c.90, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

313, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Grey Plover

1, at Cemlyn (4th).

Golden Plover

46, at Cemlyn (29th).

Ringed Plover

Up to 12, at Llyn Cefni (12 on 4th, 9 on 2nd, 7 on 1st, 4 on 31st, 1 on 30th).

10, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (31st).

20+, at Cymyran (31st).

35, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

12, at Traeth Dulas (2nd).

Lapwing

Up to 22, at Llyn Cefni (22 on 1st, 18 on 2nd).

Whimbrel

1, at Malltraeth (1st).

1, calling at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Curlew

60, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (31st).

Up to 82, at Traeth Dulas (82 on 2nd, 39 on 31st).

35, at Cymyran (31st).

218, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

70, in fields at Malltraeth (1st).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

3, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 8, at Llyn Llywenan (8 on 31st, 4 on 1st, 1 on 29th).

Up to 20 at Llyn Cefni (20 on 1st, 15 on 30th & 3rd, 12 on 31st, 11 on 2nd).

3, at Cemlyn (31st).

Up to 3, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (3 on 1st, 2 on 30th).

Snipe

8, at Llyn Llywenan (30th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

Common Sandpiper

3, at Cemlyn (29th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (31st).

1, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

Green Sandpiper

Up to 2, at the Alaw estuary (2 on 29th & 31st, 1 on 3rd).

2, at Llyn Cefni (2nd).

Wood Sandpiper

1, at Llyn Cefni (29th).

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 31st, 1 on 30th).

Spotted Redshank

Up to 6, at Llyn Llywenan (6 on 2nd & 4th, 5 on 3rd - photographed, 1 on 29th, 31st).

Up to 2, at Llyn Cefni (2 on 1st, 1 on 2nd & 4th).

Redshank

Up to c. 140, at Malltraeth cob (c 140 on 30th, 41 on 31st).

12, at the Alaw estuary (31st, 1st).

1, at Llyn Cefni (2nd).

Greenshank

1, at Valley tidal doors (29th).

Up to 2, at Llyn Cefni (2 on 31st & 2nd, 1 on 30th & 1st).

Up to 11, at Traeth Dulas (11 on 2nd, 10 on 1st, 3 on 31st).

Up to 2, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (2 on 3rd & 4th, 1 on 30th, 1st).

Up to 17 , at the Alaw estuary (17 on 1st, 15 on 3rd, 11 on 31st).

Turnstone

4, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

1, at Cymyran (31st).

5, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Knot

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 31st, 1 on 29th).

2, at Malltraeth cob pool (30th).

Up to 7, at the Alaw estuary (7 on 1st, 1 on 31st).

7, at Traeth Dulas (2nd).

Ruff

1, at Llyn Llywenan (29th, 30th, 3rd).

Up to 11, at Llyn Cefni (11 on 30th, 8 on 31st - 2nd).

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (30th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (31st).

Curlew Sandpiper

Up to 3, at Malltraeth cob and surrounds (3 on 29th & 31st, 2 on 3rd & 4th, 1 on 30th).

Up to 5, at the Alaw estuary (5 on 3rd, 3 on 31st, 2 on 29th, 1st & 4th).

1, at Cemlyn (31st, 4th).

Sanderling

1, at Cymyran (31st).

2, at Cemlyn (31st).

1, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Dunlin

12, at Valley tidal doors (29th).

1, at Llyn Cefni (30th).

Up to 13, at Llyn Llywenan (13 on 30th, 12 on 31st, 10 on 1st).

45, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (30th).

Up to 43, at the Alaw estuary (43 on 1st, 4 on 31st).

14, at Traeth Dulas (2nd).

Little Stint

Up to 3, at Llyn Llywenan (3 on 3rd, 2 from 30th-2nd).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, flew past Cemlyn (29th).

10, flew past Point Lynas between 6.55am and 8.45am (31st).

5, flew past Llam Carw (31st).

9, flew past Cemlyn (31st).

6, flew past Point Lynas between 7.30am - 10.15am (1st).

2, flew past Llam Carw, Amlwch Port, between 9.30am- 10.30am (1st).

1, flew past Bull Bay (1st).

2, dark phase birds flew past Bull Bay (2nd).

1, pale phase flew past Cemlyn (4th).

Black Tern

1, flew past Cemlyn (31st).

2, flew past Bull Bay (2nd).

Sandwich Tern

c. 40, at Bull Bay (2nd).

Kittiwake

c. 140, flew past Cemlyn (31st).

Sabine’s Gull

1, flew past The Range (3rd).

Mediterranean Gull

7, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

European Storm-petrel

1, flew past Bull Bay (31st).

Manx Shearwater

35, flew past Cemlyn (29th).

Balearic Shearwater

3, flew past Cemlyn - 1 am, 2 pm (4th).

Grebes & Divers:

Red-throated Diver

1, flew past Point Lynas between 6.55am and 8.45am (31st).

1, flew past Cemlyn (31st).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Little Egret

18, at Llyn Cefni (2nd).

Great Egret

2, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

Up to 4, at Llyn Cefni (4 on 30th & 2nd, 3 on 1st, 2 on 3rd) - one bearing a red ring with the letters AHU inscribed in white.  Ringed as a chick at a nest at RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset on the 20th April 2026. Identified as a female by DNA analysis of a feather. Noted at Rhuddlan, Denbighshire on the 29th June and the 14th July.

3, at Llyn Alaw (1st).

1, flew over Beddmanarch Bay (3rd).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, at Malltraeth cob (30th, 1st).

1, possibly 2, at Llyn Alaw (1st).

Marsh Harrier

Up to 2, at Malltraeth cob and nearby (2 on 31st, 1 on 30th).

Up to 2, at the Llyn Llywenan (2 on 1st, 1 on 31st).

Red Kite

1, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

1, at the Llyn Llywenan (31st-1st).

Hobby

1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at Malltraeth cob (30th).

1, at Llyn Cefni (30th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (31st, 1st, 3rd).

1, at Traeth Dulas (2nd).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

Hooded Crow

1, at Carmel Head (3rd).

Sedge Warbler

1, at Carmel Head (3rd).

Reed Warbler

1, at Carmel Head (30th).

Sand Martin

3, at Llyn Cefni (1st).

25, flew through Traeth Dulas (2nd).

Barn Swallow

Estimated 100,000 in evening roost at reedbeds at Llyn Maelog (31st). 

House Martin

20, flew through Traeth Dulas (2nd). 

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Llyn Maelog (31st).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (4th).

Willow Warbler

1, at Carmel Head (3rd).

Garden Warbler

1, at Llyn Cefni (30th).

Blackcap

4, at Llyn Cefni (30th).

Common Whitethroat

3, at Carmel Head (3rd).

Spotted Flycatcher

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

Northern Wheatear

1, at turning for The Range, Holyhead (29th).

3, at Cemlyn (29th).

2, at Carmel Head (30th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (2nd).