Week: Saturday 14th March - Friday 20th March 2026.

We are still holding on to a few winter visitors, not least the splendid drake Smew that continues its stay at Llyn Alaw.  Other winter visitors that may soon be off include White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Geese, and Whooper Swans all of which were seen across the week.

The fine and settled weather in the latter half of the week encouraged migration, with good numbers of migrants such as Sand Martin, Chiffchaff and Northern Wheatear.  But among the species that had already been notched up on the year list, there were 4 new species.  Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Puffin and Tree Sparrow all put in an appearance.  Tree Sparrow can now be considered rare on Anglesey, so three heard and then seen flying over the lagoon at Cemlyn with a flock of Goldfinches was particularly noteworthy.  Likewise, a flock of c.30 Crossbill away from traditional sites was an impressive count.

The four new additions take the 2026 year list up to 156 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

13, on roadside fields between Bodffordd and Llangwyllog (14th).

3, on fields to the NW of Cors Ddyga (19th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

2, at Holyhead Harbour (14th, 18th).

184, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

38, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

White-fronted Goose - Russian

Up to 10, on fields to the east of Llyn Coron (10 on 18th, 3+ on 14th).

Pink-footed Goose

2, on fields at Llyn Coron (14th).

2, flew over at Llyn Llywenan (14th).

c. 130 on fields north of Cors Ddyga - from stone bridge (c.130 on 18th, 33 on 19th).

Egyptian Goose

1, at the seasonal flood opposite the Pig y Rhos turning, Burwen (18th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (20th).

Shelduck

2, at Llyn Llywenan (14th).

c. 110, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, juvenile or female at the Inland Sea (14th), at Beddmanarch Bay (14th).

Eider

1, drake in the bay at Cemlyn (18th).

9, at Traeth Bychan (18th).

1, flew west at Cemlyn / Hen Borth (19th).

7, at Ynys Moelfre (19th).

20, at Penmon Point (20th).

Goldeneye

Up to 6, at Llyn Llywenan (6 on 20^th, 4 on 14th).

Smew

1, drake at the NE end of Llyn Alaw (14th, 19th).

Red-breasted Merganser

4, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

Goosander

1, flew up from the Afon Ffraw near Llyn Coron (14th).

Greater Scaup

2, drake and a duck at the Inland Sea (14th).

1, duck on the lagoon at Cemlyn (14th, 15th, 17th, 20th).

Wigeon

156, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

c. 300, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Pintail

11, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

35, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Teal

c. 100, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Waders:

Oystercatcher

c. 300, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Grey Plover

1, at Cemlyn (19th).

Golden Plover

Up to 300+, at Cemlyn (300+ on 17th, 200+ on 19th).

Ringed Plover

4, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Curlew

c. 45, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Snipe

8, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Common Sandpiper

1, on the Afon Wygyr / harbour, Cemaes Bay (20th).

Green Sandpiper

1, on a pool to the south of the road from Bryteg to Maenaddwyn (14th, 19th, 20th).

1, on the wet fields to the east of Ynys Wen cemetery (15th).

Redshank

27, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

c. 180, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Greenshank

3, at the Alaw estuary (17th).

1, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

2, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Ruff

1, at Cors Ddyga (18th).

Purple Sandpiper

Up to 15, at Cemlyn (15 on 18th, 14 on 19th).

3, at Penmon Point (20th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Puffin

Up to 3, off Ellin’s Tower, South Stack (3 on 19th, 1 on 20th).

Black Guillemot

28, at Fedw Fawr (18th).

3, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

1, at Holyhead Harbour (20th).

Mediterranean Gull

Up to 12, at the Inland Sea (12 on 17th, 5 on 14th).

4+, at Cemlyn (17th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

3, at Llyn Llywenan (14th).

13, on a ploughed field near Llyn Coron (18th).

Grebes & Divers:

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 17th, 1 on 14th).

Great-crested Grebe

5, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Red-throated Diver

6, at Porth y Mor, near Traeth Lligwy (18th).

Great Northern Diver

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (14th).

2, at the Inland Sea (14th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (18th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Little Egret

17, at Malltraeth cob (19th).

Great Egret

Up to 2, at Llyn Llywenan (2 on 20th, 1 on 14th).

Cattle Egret

1, on roadside fields from lane to Sandy Beach caravan park / Porth Trwyn Mawr, near Llanfwrog (19th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

1, over the wet field near Pencareg, near Cemlyn (20th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (20th).

Red Kite

2, at Llyn Llywenan (14th).

1, to the south of the road from Bryteg to Maenaddwyn (15th).

2, over Holyhead mountain (18th).

1, at Cemlyn / Hen Borth (19th).

2, over Wylfa woods (19th).

2, over Cemaes Bay (20th).

Merlin

1, at Aberffraw (15th).

Peregrine

1, flew over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (17th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at the pool at Penrhos coastal park (16th, 17th).

Hooded Crow

1, on a field at The Range (19th).

Sand Martin

Up to 6, at Cemlyn (6 on 18th, 3 on 17th).

1, at South Stack (20th).

c. 10, at Llyn Llywenan (20th).

Barn Swallow

1, over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (18th).

1, over A5025 near Pandy Cottage, Tregele (18th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Valley tidal doors / A55 (14th).

Willow Warbler

1, near Llyn Coron (18th).

1, at Penmon Point (20th).

Chiffchaff

3, at Porth Eilian (17th).

6, near Llyn Coron (18th).

3, at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (18th).

Redwing

c. 20, at Llyn Llywenan (14th).

Black Redstart

1, female on coastal cliffs at South Stack (18th).

Northern Wheatear

2, at South Stack (18th, 20th).

2, at Cemlyn - on rocks near east car park (18th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (18th).

1, at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (19th).

2, at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (19th).

Tree Sparrow

3, flew over Cemlyn lagoon and headed in the direction of Tyn Llan (20th).

Redpoll

2, at Newborough Forest (14th).

Crossbill

c. 30, in conifers at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (20th).