Week: Saturday 31st October 2026 - Friday 6th November 2026.

A week for raptors.

Long-eared Owl is probably a rare breeder on the island, but its secretive and almost entirely nocturnal behaviour means that records are less than annual.  The last few records (2018, 2024) have been down to young chicks giving away the location of a nesting site by their ‘squeaky gate’ call.  This week news emerged of an adult bird whose image had been caught on a trailcam (1st).    

The following day (2nd) news broke of a juvenile female Pallid Harrier that had been photographed at Cors Ddyga.  This will become only the 2nd record for the island.  The bird was seen from the 2nd-4th, but could be elusive at times.  Subsequent to its finding, news emerged of a ring-tailed Harrier with reddish underparts having been seen by two separate observers at Cors Ddyga on the 1st, so it is likely that the bird had been present at least a day before news broke.  Whilst the bird wasn’t seen on the 5th or 6th, it is still hoped that we might get further sightings as others have over-wintered at sites in the UK.

The drake American Wigeon continued its stay at Traeth Dulas, while a significant number of Lapland Bunting were found in the Hen Board - Cemlyn area.

Long-eared Owl and Pallid Harrier were new for the year and took the cumulative year list to date to 220 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.  

Wildfowl:

Whooper Swan

6, at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (1st).

3, on the lagoon at Cemlyn (2nd).

1, at the Inland Sea (2nd).

Up to 11, on fields north of Cors Ddyga (11 on 3rd, 5 on 2nd).

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (6th).

Common Scoter

1, at the Inland Sea (1st).

Goldeneye

2, at the Inland Sea (1st).

6, on the lagoon at Cemlyn (2nd).

Goosander

1, at Malltraeth (31st).

Shoveler

20, at Malltraeth (31st).

American Wigeon

1, drake, at Traeth Dulas (31st-1st, 6th).

Waders:

Grey Plover

Up to 14, at Cemlyn (14 on 31st, 2 on 6th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (3rd).

Golden Plover

1300, at Cemlyn (1300 on 31st, 80 on 6th).

American Golden Plover

1, juvenile, at Cemlyn (31st, 6th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

3, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

20, at Traeth Dulas (4th).

Black-tailed Godwit

1, at Valley tidal doors (2nd).

c. 30, at Cors Ddyga (3rd).

Woodcock

1, at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (2nd).

1, at Gadfa (5th).

2, at Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn (5th).

Snipe

5, at Malltraeth (31st).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Church Island / Ynys Tysilio (4th).

Green Sandpiper

2, at Valley tidal doors (31st, 2nd).

Redshank

10, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

3, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

Greenshank

2, at Malltraeth (31st).

8, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Knot

6, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

Ruff

1, at Cors Ddyga (3rd).

Purple Sandpiper

1, at Cemlyn (31st, 6th).

Little Stint

1, at the Inland Sea (1st-2nd).

Seabirds and gulls:

No records of note.

Grebes & Divers:

Little Grebe

7, at Malltraeth (31st).

Slavonian Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (1st, 3rd).

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2nd).

Red-throated Diver

1, flew west past Cemlyn (31st).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (4th).

Cattle Egret

1, flew west at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st).

Water Rail

1, at Valley tidal doors (31st).

Raptors:

Long-eared Owl

1, at a private site near Talwrn (1st).

Pallid Harrier

1, juvenile female at Cors Ddyga (1st-4th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Llyn Llywenan (31st).

5, at Cors Ddyga (3rd)

Red Kite

1, from B5111 at Llangwyllog (3rd).

1, over A55 at Gaerwen (4th).

1, at Talwrn (1st-6th).

Passerines & others:

Kingfisher

1, at the Alaw estuary (1st).

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

1, over tidal pool at Moelfre (6th).

Green Woodpecker

1, at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st, 1st).

Hooded Crow

1, on fields at the entrance to The Range (2nd).

Blackcap

1, at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st).

1, at Wylfa woods car park (2nd).

Cetti’s Warbler

3, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

Chiffchaff

2, at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st).

1, at Wylfa woods (1st - 2nd).

1, at Amlwch Port water treatment plant (1st).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

Siberian Chiffchaff

1, at Wylfa woods (1st).

Redwing

200, flew over Traeth Dulas (4th).

Fieldfare

80, at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (3rd).

200, flew east at Mynydd Bodafon (4th).

Brambling

1, flew west at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st).

1, at Mynydd Bodafon (4th).

Crossbill

8, at Cestyll, near Cemlyn (31st).

Snow Bunting

Up to 2, at The Trwyn, Cemlyn (2 on 3rd & 4th, 1 from 1st - 2nd, 6th).

3, at The Range, Holyhead (2nd).

Lapland Bunting

1, on the coastal path west of Point Lynas (31st, 1st).

15, on fields at Hen Borth (3rd).

2, over the Trwyn, Cemlyn (4th).