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

On one hand, much of the weather across the week wasn’t particularly good for birding.  On the other hand, it did create the conditions for an absolute gem of a bird.  Thanks to John Oates’ perseverance, a Little Auk found in the bay at Trearddur Bay provided some with a lifer, while others got their best ever views of this small seabird.  Most often seen distantly on autumn seawatches, it is a rare bird on the west coast - so much so that the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee added it to the list of species they consider on the 1st January 2024. It will become just the 31st accepted record for Anglesey since the 1st January 2000: https://sites.google.com/view/anglesey-bird-news/rare-scarce/welsh-birds-rarity-committee/little-auk.

The addition of Little Auk takes the cumulative 2026 year list up to 150 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  With migrants being recorded in small numbers elsewhere in the UK, perhaps we will get a few further species added in the next few weeks.

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

7, flew out from Llyn Coron and to the North-West (21st).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

66, at Penmon Pool (22nd).

59, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

44, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Shelduck

60, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (23rd, 24th, 25th).

Eider

8, at Penmon Point (22nd).

2, off Moelfre (27th).

Common Scoter

29, off Moelfre (27th).

Red-breasted Merganser

7, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Greater Scaup

2, drake and a duck at Llyn Llygeirian (22nd).

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

Wigeon

65, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

180, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Pintail

8, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

27, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Teal

4, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

70, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Grey Plover

3, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

3, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Lapwing

111, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

216, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Curlew

56, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

75, at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (24th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

10, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour, Cemaes Bay (25th).

Redshank

106, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

57, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Greenshank

2, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

3, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

1, on old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (27th).

Purple Sandpiper

Up to 11, at Trearddur Bay (11 on 27th, 6 on 26th, 3 on 23rd).

12, at Penmon Point (25th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

2, off Penmon Point (25th).

Razorbill

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (22nd).

1, at Trearddur Bay (25th).

c. 100, at Penmon Point (22nd).

Little Auk

1, at Trearddur Bay (25th).

Guillemot

5, at Penmon Point (22nd).

Mediterranean Gull

5, adults at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Great Black-backed Gull

38, on Ynys Moelfre (27th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

13, at the Alaw estuary (27th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 4, at Beddmanarch Bay (4 on 27th, 3+ on 24th, 1 on 22nd).

Up to 2, at the Inland Sea (2 on 22nd & 25th, 1 on 24th & 27th).

Red-throated Diver

1, at Penmon Point (22nd).

1, at Trearrdur Bay (24th).

1, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (25th).

3, off Moelfre (27th).

Great Northern Diver

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 26th, 1 on 22nd, 24th, 27th).

Up to 2, at the Inland Sea (2 on 23rd & 27th, 1 on 22nd & 25th).

1, at Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (24th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Bittern

1, booming at Llyn Penrhyn (24th).

Little Egret

3, between Cymyran and Four Mile Bridge (22nd).

Great Egret

Up to 2, at Llyn Coron  (2 on 21st, 22nd, 1 on 24th).

Cattle Egret

1, between Four-mile Bridge and Trearddur Bay (22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th).

Raptors:

Red Kite

2, from junction 3 of A55 near Caergeiliog (24th).

Merlin

1, at the mouth of the Alaw estuary (24th).

Passerines & others:

Siskin

Up to 10, on garden feeders at Talwrn (10 on 26th, 7 on 22nd).