Week: Saturday 19th April 2025 - Friday 25th April 2025.

Five new additions to the 2025 year list, included Lesser Whitethroat, Garganey, Purple Heron, Swift and Arctic Tern.  These take the 2025 year list up to 192 (LISTS).  The week also saw the arrival of good numbers of Whimbrel.  

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

1, at the Alaw estuary (19th-24th).

2, flew NW over Carmel Head and out to sea (25th).

Mute Swan

31, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).

Russian White-fronted Goose

1, on fields north of the A55 at Llangefni marshes (21st & 23rd ) and at Cors Ddyga (22nd & 24th).

Snow Goose

1, with Greylag Geese and Swan flock on fields, east bank of the Alaw estuary (22nd-25th).

Pink-footed Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Up to 3, at Cors Ddyga (3 on 24th, 1 on 22nd & 23rd).

Garganey

2, drake and duck on a flooded field, east of the cycle path and south of RSPB Cors Ddyga  (20th, 22nd).

Long-tailed Duck

1, drake at the Inland Sea (19th, 21st, 25th).

Common Scoter

3, north past The Range, Holyhead (25th).

Goosander

1, female at the Alaw estuary (23rd).

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

2, at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (23rd).

2, at the Alaw estuary (23rd).

5, on rocks by the stone bridge at Cemlyn (25th).

Common Ringed Plover

105, at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Dunlin

215, at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Ruff

2, at Cemlyn (24th).

Greenshank

2, on the Alaw estuary (23rd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

1, at Carmel Head (25th).

Black-tailed Godwit

16, at Cemlyn (19th).

Whimbrel

Up to 27, at Cemlyn (27 on 20th, 18 on 19th, 3 on 25th, 2 on 24th).

8, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (20th).

43, at the Alaw estuary (43 on 23rd, 13 on 19th).

50+, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (24th).

40+, over Ynys Feurig, Rhosneigr (24th).

1, at Traeth Dulas (24th).

43, at Carmel Head (25th).

3, at The Range, Holyhead (25th).

54, on fields in land from Porth y Mor, near Lligwy (25th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Manx Shearwater

86, north past The Range, Holyhead over a 1hr seawatch (23rd).

Mediterranean Gull

2, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25th).

Mediterranean Gull x Black-headed Gull hybrid

1, at Cemlyn - photographed (24th).

Sandwich Tern

Up to 1232, at Cemlyn (1232 on 24th, 1190 on 24th, 1004 on 20th, 613 on 19th).

Arctic Tern

3, at Cemlyn (24th).

Common Tern

Up to 34, at Cemlyn (13 on 24th, 34 on 20th, 21 on 23rd).

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

Common Swift

2, over Cors Ddyga (22nd).

Cuckoo

1, at Cestyll gardens, near Cemlyn (23rd).

1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (24th).

1, at Fronddu, Cemlyn (25th).

1, at Carmel Head (25th).

Reed Warbler

1, at Cemlyn (24th).

Sedge Warbler

3, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (20th).

3, at Cemlyn (20th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, at Rhoscolyn (19th).

3, at Cors Ddyga (20th).

1, at Cemlyn (20th).

1, at Holyhead mountain (20th).

1, at Tregele (22nd).

1, at Cestyll gardens, Cemlyn (24th).

Lesser Whitethroat

1, at Penmon Point (20th).

1, at Tyddyn-gele (22nd).

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (24th).

1, off minor road at Llyn Llywenan (24th).

Common Whitethroat

1, at Rhoscolyn (19th).

4, at Cemlyn (20th).

6, at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (24th).

Yellow Wagtail

2, flew over Carmel Head (20th).

White Wagtail

55, at Cemlyn (20th).

20, at Carmel Head (25th).

20, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25th).

Tree Pipit

3, at Carmel Head (20th & 25th).

Whinchat

1, at Cors Ddyga (20th).

1, male along the east side of the shingle ridge, Cemlyn (23rd).

1, at Cemlyn (24th).

1, at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (24th).

1, at Carmel Head (25th).

Northern Wheatear 

4, at Rhoscolyn (19th).

12, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (20th).

15, at The Range, Holyhead (23rd).

Siskin

1, at Cemlyn (20th).

Stock Dove

2, at Presaddfed (23rd).

4, at the Alaw estuary (23rd).

Hooded Crow

3, at Carmel Head (20th).

1, flew over Cemlyn (20th).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, flew east over Cemlyn (19th).

1, flew over the south end of Cors Ddyga (20th).

1, feeding on a fish whilst perched on railway bridge near Llyn Coron (25th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Cemlyn (19th).

1, female at Llyn Llywenan (20th).

Red Kite

2, at Presaddfed (23rd).

1, at Carmel Head (25th).

Merlin

1, at Cemlyn (19th).

1, female at Cors Ddyga (20th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (21st).

1, at Llangefni marshes (21st).

1, at Carmel Head (25th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Purple Heron

1, seen in flight at Cors Erddreiniog (22nd).

Cattle Egret

Up to 5, at the flood off Gorad Road, Valley (5 on 21st & 24th, 2 on 20th).

Week: Saturday 12th April 2025 - Friday 18th April 2025.

Common Redstart and Tree Pipit can be found reasonably easily in Eryri / Snowdonia, but on Anglesey both are scarce passage migrants. Generally, one might only expect 5 or so records of Common Redstart each year, while the vast majority of Tree Pipits are identified on call as they fly over.  Both were added to the year list this week.

Other new summer migrants included Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Common Tern.  Whilst we occasionally have a wintering Whimbrel, none were reported over the winter months so it was left to this week for this passage migrant to be added for the year.  

Finally, a drake American Wigeon was found at the Alaw estuary - only the 5th record for the island.  Collectively, these 8 new additions take  the 2025 year list up to 187 (LISTS).  

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

1, at the Alaw estuary (12th-16th).

Egyptian Goose

2, at the pool north of the A5025 at Burwen (18th).

Pink-footed Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (15th-16th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Up to 29, at Traeth Dulas (29 on 15th, 10 on 13th) - including 2 darvic ringed birds that were ringed at Penmon Pool on the 9th February 2019.

c 300, at the Inland Sea (15th).

American Wigeon

1, drake on the Alaw estuary (15th-16th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, 1st winter drake at the Inland Sea (16th-18th).

Greater Scaup

2, pair at the Inland Sea (16th-17th).

Pintail

3, at Malltraeth cob pool (15th).

7, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

Teal

c 10, at Malltraeth cob pool (15th).

6, at Cemlyn (17th).

Gadwall

2, at Llyn Alaw (13th).

Tufted Duck

28, at Llyn Alaw (13th).

Red-breasted Merganser

10, at Traeth Dulas (13th).

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

2, Cemlyn to Hen Borth (12th).

1, at Llyn Alaw (13th).

1, from Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (15th).

4, at Alaw estuary (16th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

2, at Valley doors (16th).

2, at Porth y Garan, Rhoscolyn (16th). 

Little Ringed Plover

1, Cemlyn to Hen Borth (12th).

1, flew over Cemlyn (18th).

Dunlin

8, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Snipe

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

Greenshank

3, on the Alaw estuary (16th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

18+, from Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (15th).

37, at the Alaw estuary (15th).

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (18th).

Whimbrel

1, Cemlyn to Hen Borth (12th)

Up to 8, Inland Sea (8 on 12th, 1 on 17th).

2, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Up to 6, at Rhoscolyn (6 on 16th, 1 on 17th & 18th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

8, at the Inland Sea (12th).

11, on the main island at Cemlyn (11 on 14th, 4 on 15th).

2, from Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (15th).

Common Gull

2, on the main island at Cemlyn (14th).

Common Tern

2, at Cemlyn (16th)

2, at the Inland Sea (2 on 16th, 1 on 17th).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (18th).

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of note.

Passerines & others:

Common Redstart

1, male along the road to South Stack (12th).

Tree Pipit

2, flew over calling between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

1, flew over Cemlyn (16th).

Cuckoo

1, calling at Rhoscolyn (12th).

Ring Ouzel

1, on field at the entrance to The Range, Holyhead (12th).

Sedge Warbler

2, at Cemlyn (12th).

1, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

2, around Bryn Ffysiwn, Rhoscolyn (16th). 

Grasshopper Warbler

1, belated report of bird reeling at Rhoscolyn (4th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

1, at Wylfa SSSI (15th)

3, at, Cemlyn (12th & 15th).

2, at South Stack (17th).

1, at Rhoscolyn (18th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

Willow Warbler

c. 30, Cemlyn to Hen Borth (12th).

73, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

31, at South Stack (17th).

Chiffchaff

17, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

11, at South Stack (17th).

Garden Warbler

1, at Valley Doors (15th).

Blackcap

7, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

3, at South Stack (17th).

Common Whitethroat

1, at Fedw Fawr (12th).

1, at Wylfa sports club (15th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

1, at Gadfa (17th).

1, at South Stack (17th).

White Wagtail

c. 100, Cemlyn to Hen Borth (12th).

7, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

c. 15, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

House Martin 

1, at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

8, at South Stack (17th).

Whinchat

2, males at Cors Ddyga (18th).

Northern Wheatear 

9, between South Stack and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (12th).

12, at Garreglwyd, Rhoscolyn (16th). 

3+, at Porth Saint, Rhoscolyn (16th). 

7, at The Range, Holyhead (17th).

15, at Rhoscolyn (18th).

Stock Dove

3, at the Alaw estuary (16th).

Crossbill

2, at South Stack (17th).

Raptors:

Red Kite

1, at Ynys y Fydlyn (17th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

7, at various sites between Valley and Llanynghenedl (13th-16th).