Week: Saturday 1st February 2025 - Friday 7th February 2025.

A Little Gull off Benllech (30th), a pair of Crossbill at Pentraeth Forest (1st), and a Yellow-legged Gull at Holyhead (7th) were all new for the year list.  The list rises to 147 (LISTS).  

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

2, at Cors Ddyga (1st).

27, on fields to the SW of Maenaddwyn (7th).

Greenland White-fronted Goose

12, at the Cefni valley (1st).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

319, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

1, at the Inland Sea (7th).

Long-tailed Duck

Duck, at the Inland Sea (1st).

Scaup

2, ducks at the Inland Sea (4th, 7th).

1, duck at Llyn Penrhyn (6th).

Eider

3, off Benllech (2nd).

Common Scoter

150, off Benllech (2nd).

Pochard

12, at Cefni reservoir (2nd).

Tufted Duck

110, at Cefni reservoir (2nd).

Eurasian Wigeon

80, at Cemlyn (3rd).

283, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Goldeneye

10, displaying drakes at Cefni reservoir (2nd).

Red-breasted Merganser

2, at Red Wharf Bay from the Ship Inn (2nd).

2, from Penrhos Coastal Park (2nd).

Goosander

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands (1st).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (7th).

Purple Sandpiper

Up to 15, from the Trearddur Bay slipway (15 on 1st, 14 on 2nd, 6 on 3rd, 2 

15, at Cemlyn (5th).

Golden Plover

200, at Cemlyn (2nd).

Grey Plover

71, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Ringed Plover

12, at Red Wharf Bay from the Ship Inn (2nd).

132, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Lapwing

c. 250, at Cemlyn (3rd).

324, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Dunlin

146, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Knot

211, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Turnstone

34, at Beddmanarch Bay (2nd).

Jack Snipe

1, between Cors Ddyga and Pont Marquis (1st).

Redshank

74, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

51, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Oystercatcher

136, at the Alaw estuary (3rd).

Curlew

120, at Cemlyn (3rd).

Seabirds and gulls:

Gannet

2, off Point Lynas (3rd).

Fulmar

11, on cliffs at Church Bay (3rd).

Yellow-legged Gull

Adult, on fields at rear of Holyhead golf course (7th).

Mediterranean Gull

7, at Beddmanarch Bay (2nd).

1, at the Inland Sea (7th).

Little Gull

1, off Benllech (30th).

Black Guillemot

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (1st).

Divers & Grebes:

Red-throated Diver

3, off Benllech (2nd).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (2nd, 6th).

1, reported on the Menai Strait from Menai Bridge (4th) - as a species where the WBRC requires a description, the observer is asked to contact the County Recorder.

Great Crested Grebe

16, off Benllech (2nd).

18, from Penrhos Coastal Park (2nd).

Black-necked Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (2nd).

Slavonian Grebe

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2nd).

1, at the Inland Sea (2nd).

Little Grebe

14, at Cefni reservoir (2nd).

Passerines & others:

Chiffchaff

1, at Cefni reservoir (2nd).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

Blackcap

Male, at garden feeders at Benllech (6th).

Black Redstart

1, on a rocky outcrop near lighthouse steps (6th).

Crossbill

Pair, at Pentraeth forest (1st).

Hooded Crow

1, on fields adjacent to the car park for The Range, Holyhead (6th).

Raptors:

Hen Harrier

1, male at Cors Ddyga (30th).

Marsh Harrier

Female, at Llyn Penrhyn (1st).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

Female, at South Stack (6th).

Red Kite

2, over Talwrn (1st).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

1, at Llanfachraeth (3rd).

1, at Church Bay (3rd).

Merlin

1, at the Inland Sea (1st).

1, at The Range (6th).

1, over dunes near Braint estuary (7th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (1st).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (1st).

Water Rail

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

1, at Cors Bodeilio (2nd).

Week: Saturday 25th January 2025 - Friday 31st January 2025.

Storm Éowyn produced a couple of early Manx Shearwater for two hardy observers, while the Big Garden Birdwatch produced a Brambling.  Both were new for the year, as was a Hen Harrier and for now I’ll include the Snow Goose of unknown origin.  So, four new additions during the week.  That takes the year to date total up to 144 (LISTS).  

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

5, at Llyn Padrig (26th).

Up to 13, at Cors Ddyga (13 on 29th, 4 on 28th).

Mute Swan

17, at Llyn Padrig (26th).

Greenland White-fronted Goose

15, at the Cefni valley (26th, 29th).

Barnacle Goose

2, at Llyn Padrig (26th, 29th).

Pink-footed Goose

220, in flight over Cors Ddyga (29th).

Snow Goose

1, flew over Llyn Coron with Greylag Geese (25th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

376, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Long-tailed Duck

Duck, at the Inland Sea (26th, 31st).

Drake, off Benllech seafront (30th).

Scaup

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (25th, 26th, 29th, 30th).

1, at the Inland Sea (26th, 29th, 31st).

Eider

23, off Benllech seafront (23 on 29th, 15 on 30th).

Common Scoter

5, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th).

c. 180, off Benllech seafront (30th).

Pochard

7, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Tufted Duck

c. 180, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Teal

c. 75, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Eurasian Wigeon

c. 125, at eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Gadwall

8, at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Goosander

2, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley wetlands (26th).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (26th, 29th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (26th, 31st).

Grey Plover

16, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Lapwing

c. 200, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

Knot

36, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Spotted Redshank

1, on the Afon Cefni at Malltraeth (8th, 26th ).

Greenshank

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (25th).

2, at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (29th).

1, at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (31st).

Bar-tailed Godwit

33, at the Alaw estuary (28th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Manx Shearwater

2, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th ).

Gannet

55, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th ).

Fulmar

63, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th).

Kittiwake

34, flew past North Stack, Holyhead - 3hr seawatch (25th ).

60, flew past Benllech seafront (31st).

Mediterranean Gull

2, on fields near Llanfachraeth (29th).

4, from Four-mile Bridge (30th).

Adult winter, at Beddmanarch Bay (30th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1, on fields between Bryngwran and Llanfaelog (26th ).

Black Guillemot

2, at Porth Eilian (29th).

1, off Benllech seafront (29th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (30th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

1, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th).

1, flew past Point Lynas (29th).

1, at the Inland Sea (30th, 31st).

Red-throated Diver

8, flew past North Stack, Holyhead (25th).

1, flew past Point Lynas (29th).

15, off Benllech seafront (30th).

1, at Holyhead harbour (30th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (25th, 29th, 30th).

Black-necked Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (26th, 29th, 31st).

Slavonian Grebe

2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 26th, 1 on 30th & 31st).

1, at the Inland Sea (29th, 31st).

Passerines & others:

Firecrest

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (31st).

Chiffchaff

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (29th, 31st).

Black Redstart

1, reported near the car park at South Stack (28th).

Water Pipit

1, at Cors Ddyga (26th).

Brambling

1, female at a private residence - during Big Garden Bird Watch (26th).

Siskin

c. 10, in lakeside conifers at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

Kingfisher

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (25th ).

Chough

30+, flew over Llyn Penrhyn (30th).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead (26th).

Raptors:

Hen Harrier

1, ringtail at the Cefni valley (28th).

Marsh Harrier

1, at Llyn Coron (26th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (28th).

1, at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

Red Kite

1, at Llyn Coron (30th).

1, flew over Beddmanarch Bay (30th).

Merlin

1, at the Inland Sea (30th).

Goshawk

1, over Cors Erddreiniog (25th ).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Coron (26th ).

1, at Cors Ddyga (29th).

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (29th).

1, on fields to the north of Pont Croeso (30th).

1, at Valley doors (30th).

Water Rail

1, seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (25th).

1, heard calling at Llyn Llywenan (29th).

3, calling from lakeside reeds at the eastern basin of Cefni reservoir (29th).

1, heard calling at Valley doors (30th).