Week: Saturday 7th February - Friday 13th February 2026.

Dipper is perhaps best described as an uncommon resident breeder, with numbers during the winter perhaps being supplemented by cold weather movements from the mainland.  Despite being present all year around, it can be difficult to find in autumn and winter when the likes of the Afon Cefni are in flood. Occasional records emerge on smaller and slower moving tributaries and news of one caught and colour ringed recently allows this species to be added to the 2026 year list.

The first Bufflehead for Wales - subject to acceptance by the BBRC - was a drake seen at the Point of Ayr, Flintshire on the 8th December 2025, with what was presumed to be the same bird at Y Foryd, Gwynedd from the 19th December to the 25th January after which there were no sightings.  To the delight of many, what is presumed to be the same drake was relocated at Llyn Coron on the 9th February - becoming the first for the island - subject to the usual caveat.

Caspian Gull was only added to the County List in 2024, courtesy of a bird seen first on the Bangor side of the Menai Strait before flying over to and landing at the Cadnant estuary - the observers being on the Bangor foreshore.  The discovery of a 1st winter Caspian Gull at Llyn Trafwll will become only the second for Anglesey - almost as good as a first given that the observers were on the island!

The addition of Dipper, Bufflehead, and Caspian Gull takes the 2026 year list up to 148 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

9, on fields near Cors Ddyga (7th, 10th).

8+, in roadside fields near the Bodffordd end of Llyn Cefni (13th).

Black Swan - Category E

Up to 3, on fields near Cors Ddyga (3 on 7th, 1 on 9th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

66, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

White-fronted Goose - Russian

8, reported on flooded fields near Rhosneigr (9th).

Pink-footed Goose

210, at Cors Ddyga (9th).

43, at Llyn Trafwll (13th).

Shelduck

27, at Moel y Don (8th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (7th, 11th).

1, presumably the same as the above at Beddmanarch Bay (8th, 11th).

Common Scoter

c. 50, at Fedw Fawr (10th).

Bufflehead

1, at Llyn Coron (9th - 13th).

Goldeneye

Up to 11, at the Alaw estuary (11 on 8th, 3 on 10th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw - viewed from Penbol (8th, 9th).

Red-breasted Merganser

2, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Goosander

4, at Llyn Alaw - viewed from Penbol (8th).

44, at Llyn Coron (9th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Pochard

34, at Llyn Llygeirian (8th).

6, at Llyn Penrhyn (13th).

Shoveler

23, at the Gorad flood, Valley (9th).

Wigeon

c. 90, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Pintail

c. 20, at the Braint estuary (8th).

51, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Teal

c. 50, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

280, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Golden Plover

5000, at Malltraeth sands (8th).

1000+, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

Lapwing

6,500 at Malltraeth sands (8th).

1200, on fields near the Braint estuary (8th).

Curlew

41, at Moel y Don (8th).

31, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

2, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Black-tailed Godwit

300+, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

Jack Snipe

1, at Llyn Coron (11th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour near the Titanic memorial, Cemaes Bay (7th, 10th).

Redshank

18, at Moel y Don (8th).

40, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Greenshank

2, at the Braint estuary (8th).

4, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

2, at Traeth Dulas (11th).

Turnstone

10, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Ruff

Up to 8, at Cors Ddyga (8 on 10th, 2 on 8th & 12th).

Dunlin

30+, at Cors Ddyga (12th).

Purple Sandpiper

20, at Trearddur Bay (8th).

21, at Cemlyn (9th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Black Guillemot

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (7th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (8th, 10th).

c. 50, at Fedw Fawr (10th).

Guillemot

c. 200, from Moelfre (10th).

Mediterranean Gull

2, at Four Mile Bridge (8th).

1, at Cemlyn - darvic ringed White EA02 - ringed in Belgium (9th).

3, at Llyn Trafwll (11th).

1, on fields near Llyn Llywenan (13th).

Caspian Gull

1, 1st winter at Llyn Trafwll (11th, 13th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

7, at the Alaw estuary (10th) - Anglesey’s first spring migrant with winter records being scarce - rare.

Cormorant

18, from Moelfre (10th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 7th & 10th, 1+ on 8th).

2, at the Inland Sea - near cob wall (11th).

Red-throated Diver

1, flew over Bro Goronwy football pitch, Moelfre during a match (7th).

8, in the bay at Cemlyn (9th).

4, at Fedw Fawr (10th).

1, from Moelfre (10th).

Great Northern Diver

Up to 3, at the Inland Sea - viewed from the Anchorage Hotel (3 on 7th, 1 on 11th).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (7th, 8th).

1, at Four-mile bridge (8th).

1, in the bay at Cemlyn (9th).

Up to 2, at Holyhead harbour (2 on 11th, 1 on 8th & 10th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Bittern

1, booming at Cors Ddyga (10th).

Great Egret

Up to 5, at the NE end of Llyn Alaw - viewed from Penbol (5 on 9th, 1 on 8th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (8th).

2, at Llyn Coron (9th).

Cattle Egret

1, from the B4545 near Trearddur Bay - Cefn Coch Christmas Trees (8th, 12th).

Up to 4, on fields off the lane to Porth Trwyn Mawr / Sandy Beach, near Llanfwrog (4 on 13th, 3 - 4 on 8th).

2, off one of the approach roads to Llyn Coron (11th).

Water Rail

1, at the Braint estuary (8th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, female at Llyn Llygeirian (8th).

1, at Llyn Coron (11th).

4, at Llyn Llywenan (13th).

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (13th).

1, flew from Tywyn Trewan and towards Llyn Trafwll (13th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Coron (9th).

1, near Gallows Point, Beaumaris (9th).

Merlin

1, female at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, flew across the mouth of Cemaes Bay (7th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (10th).

Firecrest

1, at Newborough forest (9th).

Dipper

1, caught and colour ringed on a tributary of the Afon Braint (week ending Friday 6th February).

Black Redstart

1, male on roof of a house at the corner of Salem Street and Maes Salem, Amlwch (11th).