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 20 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).

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).

2, calling just north of Aberffraw - Porth Cwyfan (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.

Week: Saturday 27th June - Friday 3rd July 2026.

It was a good week for Quail (5 birds), Roseate Tern (4 birds), while the return passage of waders continued to grow.  An apparent over-summering Wigeon at Llyn Cefni was noteworthy, with the same site also producing a good summer count of Tufted Duck.  There were no new additions to the year list, which remains at 199 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Mute Swan

53, at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

Red-breasted Merganser

3, at Traeth Dulas (28th).

Tufted Duck

47, at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

Pochard

1, at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

Gadwall

c.6, at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

Wigeon

1, drake at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

Teal

7, chicks, at Cors Ddyga (1st).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

25, at Traeth Dulas (28th).

20, at Moel y Don (29th).

Golden Plover

1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (29th).

Ringed Plover

1, at Traeth Dulas (28th).

Whimbrel

1, at Cemlyn (28th).

Curlew

Up to 67, at Traeth Dulas (67 on 1st, 51 on 28th).

11, at Moel y Don (29th).

4, large chicks at Cors Ddyga (1st).

158, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Black-tailed Godwit

4, at Cors Ddyga (1st).

6, at Malltraeth cob pool (3rd).

Common Sandpiper

4, at Moel y Don (29th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (1st).

3, at the Alaw estuary (2nd-3rd).

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (3rd).

Green Sandpiper

2, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Redshank

1, on old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (1st).

13, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

2, at Malltraeth cob pool (3rd).

Greenshank

5, at the Alaw estuary (2nd-3rd).

Ruff

1, at Cors Ddyga (29th, 1st).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, off North Stack, Holyhead (27th).

Puffin

2, flew west past Cemlyn (28th).

Roseate Tern

Up to 4, at Cemlyn (4 on 2nd, 3 on 1st, 2 on 27th).

Grebes & Divers:

Nothing of note.

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Quail

1, at Cors Ddyga (1st - 3rd).

3, at the Alaw estuary (2nd-3rd).

1, at Talwrn (2nd).

Great Bittern

1, in flight at Cors Ddyga (1st).

Little Egret

11, at Traeth Dulas (1st).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

First report for the year of newly fledged birds at Cors Ddyga (29th).

Red Kite

1, one mile south of Benllech (28th).

1, over Gadfa (28th).

1, over Aberffraw dunes (30th).

1, over A55 near LlanfairPG (3rd).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (3rd).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at the Cefni reservoir (3rd).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, at Newborough warren (3rd).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Gadfa (29th).

White Wagtail

1, at Cemlyn (28th).

Siskin

1, male at a garden feeder at Talwrn (2nd).