Week: Saturday 16th May - Friday 22nd May 2026.

The 18th provided a bit of a spurt to the year list with three new additions - Curlew Sandpiper, Pomarine Skua and Spoonbill.  It also produced a late Hen Harrier.
A Little Stint (21st) made it four new additions to the year list, while a second Bee-eater for the year (22nd) was noteworthy.  The last two days of the week saw a significant arrival of Spotted Flycatcher, with good numbers of Crossbill on the Friday. 
The four new additions to the year list takes the tally up to 192 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Eider

Up to 18+, at Moelfre (18+ on 22nd, 16 on 16th).

Common Scoter

5, flew NW past Porth Nobla (19th).

Red-breasted Merganser

2, at Moelfre (16th).

Waders:

Ringed Plover

c. 20, at Malltreath (18th).

12, at Porth Nobla (19th).

Little Ringed Plover

1, flew west over the main scrape at Cors Ddyga (18th).

Whimbrel

2, at Moelfre (16th, 17th).

1, at Cefni estuary (19th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (20th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at Cefni estuary (19th).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 10, at Malltraeth cob pool (10 on 19th, 7 on 17th).

Turnstone

3, at Moelfre (18th).

9, at Porth Nobla (19th).

4, at Cemlyn (21st).

Curlew Sandpiper

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 21st, 1 on 18th-20th).

Sanderling

11, at Porth Nobla (19th).

Up to 2, at Cemlyn (2 on 20th, 1 on 21st).

Dunlin

2, at Porth Nobla (19th).

19, at Cemlyn (21st).

Little Stint

1, around the smaller of the two islands in the lagoon, Cemlyn (21st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Pomarine Skua

1, photographed by swimmers on the beach at Porth Trecastell (18th).

Razorbill

8 pairs, which appear to be breeding on Ynys Moelfre (22nd).

Roseate Tern

2, at Cemlyn (20th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Spoonbill

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (18th-19th), with presumably the same at Cors Ddyga (21st-22nd).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew west over Carmel Head (22nd).

Hen Harrier

1, female photographed flying through Rhoscolyn (18th).

Marsh Harrier

1, female Cors Ddyga (22nd).

Red Kite

1, over the minor road between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (17th).

Passerines & others:

Cuckoo

1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, at Carmel Head (22nd).

Bee-eater

1, flew west over Carmel Head - photographed (22nd).

Kingfisher

1, along the Afon Cefni, Llangefni (22nd).

House Martin

100+, flew over Carmel Head with good numbers also noted over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

Spotted Flycatcher

7, at Cemlyn (21st).

5, at Hen Borth (21st).

1, along the Afon Cefni, Llangefni (22nd).

8, at Carmel Head (22nd).

1, at Porth yr Ogof, Wylfa (22nd).

Northern Wheatear

1, at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (17th).

7, on the coastal path between Porth yr Ogof and Porth Wylfa (22nd).

Yellow Wagtail - (not identified to race, presumed flavissima)

1, at Carmel Head (22nd).

Redpoll

10, at Cemlyn (16th).

4, over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

6, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (22nd).

Crossbill

14, over Cestyll gardens (22nd).

20+, flew over Carmel Head (22nd).

3, flew over Mynydd Bodafon (22nd).

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 to race, 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).