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

Two further species added to the 2025 year list - Snow Bunting and Black-throated Diver.  A report of a Spoonbill in flight over the A55 near Cors Ddyga came to nothing (if you have details, please contact the County Recorder).  5 species of Grebes are still on offer, with 3 species of Diver also being logged this week.  The cumulative year list increases to 153 (LISTS). 

Snow Bunting - South Stack - 3rd March (Martin Jones).

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

1, at Llyn Cefni (4th).

10, at Ty Croes (7th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

18, at Beaumaris (2nd).

2, at Moel y Don (2nd).

3 at Newborough Beach/Ynys Llanddwyn (3rd).

148, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

26, from Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th).

Velvet Scoter

1, immature drake off Llanddona beach (2nd).

Common Scoter

c 400, immature drake off Llanddona beach (2nd).

Wigeon

60, at Malltraeth (2nd).

54, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Pintail

67, at Malltraeth (2nd).

51, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Teal

43, at Malltraeth (2nd).

Tufted Duck

78, drake at Llyn Cefni (4th).

Scaup

1, drake at Llyn Cefni (4th).

Pochard

19, at Llyn Penrhyn (5th).

Goldeneye

4, at Llyn Maelog (2nd).

6, on the Menai Strait off the Gazelle Inn (2nd).

6, at Llyn Cefni (4th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (5th).

Shelduck

35, at Malltraeth (2nd).

Goosander

6, females at Llyn Maelog (2nd).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at the Inland Sea (5th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (7th).

Sanderling

Up to 5, at Traeth Lligwy (5 on 2nd, 4 on 6th).

3, at Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (2nd).

1 at Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th)

3, at Red Wharf Bay (6th).

Dunlin

41, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

43, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

16, from Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th).

Knot

116, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Purple Sandpiper

1, at Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (2nd).

27, at Trearddur Bay (3rd)

12+, at Cemlyn (3rd).  A colour ringed bird was found to have been ringed on the 6th June 2024 at Nidingen, Sweden.  It is only the 3rd to be reported in the UK.  

Grey Plover

5, at Cemlyn (3rd).

Common Ringed Plover

11, from Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th).

Lapwing

2, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Jack Snipe

1, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Snipe

71, at Llyn Coron / Abcommon (2nd).

Woodcock

1, at Llyn Coron / Abcommon (2nd).

Greenshank

1, on the upper stretch of the Braint estuary (2nd).

3, at Malltraeth (2nd).

1, at Traeth Dulas (4th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

1, flew over the Inland Sea (5th).

Redshank

65, at Traeth Dulas (4th).

39, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

48, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

2, from Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th).

Black-tailed Godwit

3 at Malltraeth (2nd).

Oystercatcher

88, at Newborough Beach/Ynys Llanddwyn (3rd).

162, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

13, from Cymyran - Rhoscolyn (6th).

Curlew

101, at the Alaw estuary (4th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, at Llyn Llywenan (7th).

Black Guillemot

1, off Molefre (1st, 5th).

3, in summer plumage off Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (2nd).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

2, at Red Wharf Bay from Llanddona beach (6th).

Black-throated Diver

1, at Red Wharf Bay from Llanddona beach (6th).

Red-throated Diver

30, off Llanddona beach (2nd).

6, offshore from Porth y Môr, near Traeth Lligwy (2nd).

23, off Benllech seafront (6th).

36, at Red Wharf Bay from Llanddona beach (6th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (1st - 7th).

Black-necked Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (5th).

1, at Beddmanarch Bay (7th).

Slavonian Grebe

Up to 3, at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 7th, 1 from 4th - 5th).

Little Grebe

13, at Llyn Cefni (4th).

Great Crested Grebe

5, off the Mermaid Inn, Brynsiencyn (2nd).

4, of the Anglesey Riding Centre (2nd). 

3, at Newborough Beach/Ynys Llanddwyn (3rd).

Passerines & others:

Snow Bunting

1, at South Stack, Holyhead (2nd-3rd).

1, at Point Lynas (5th).

Chiffchaff

1, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

2, at the plantation, South Stack (6th).

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (7th).

Cetti’s Warbler

1, in a ditch near the pig shed, Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (3rd).

Dipper

1, at the Afon Cefni from Market Street, Llangefni (1st).

1, at the Afon Cefni opposite Asda, Llangefni (5th).

Common Starling

c. 100.000, at Llangefni Retail Park near Lidl (1st-7th).

Kingfisher

2, at the Dingle, Llangefni (2nd).

Water Pipit

3-4, at Cors Ddyga (7th).

Common Crossbill

3, flew over at Newborough forest (3rd).

Siskin

5, flew over at Newborough forest (3rd).

Stock Dove

5, at Cemlyn (3rd).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

2, at Cors Ddyga (2nd).

Red Kite

1, over the upper stretch of the Braint estuary (2nd).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

Up to 5, in Llanfwrog area (5 on 7th, 4 on 4th).

Great Egret

Up to 3, at Cors Ddyga (3 on 7th, 1 on 2nd).

2, at Llyn Llywenan (7th).

Little Egret

7, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (2nd).

Great Bittern

1, ‘booming’ at Llyn Maelog, Rhosneigr (2nd).

Grey Heron

6, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (2nd).

Water Rail

1, at Cemlyn (3rd).

Week: Saturday 22nd February 2025 - Friday 28th February 2025.

This is the first week in which there were no new additions to the year list, but we have done pretty well to keep the interest ongoing whilst we wait for the influx of spring migrants.  There are still good opportunities to catch up with rarer grebes and there is evidence of some movement of birds not least with Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Meadow Pipits that are often the first signs of migration.  Both daylight hours and day time temperatures are moving in the right directions.  The sun and warmth today brought sightings of a number of species of butterfly including Painted Lady, Peacock and Red Admiral.  It was a pity that we didn’t get to notch up a Sand Martin and Northern Wheatear during the month of February, but it shouldn’t be too long before we do see them and by the middle of March we might also have the first Puffin and Sandwich Tern - so plenty to look forward to in the next 2-3 weeks.  The cumulative year list continues at 151 (LISTS).

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Whooper Swan

5, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, at Llyn Cefni (22nd).

10, on fields near Llangristiolus (22nd).

Pink-footed Goose

200, on fields near Llangristiolus (22nd).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

88, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

1, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Long-tailed Duck

1, female type off Benllech seafront (24th).

1, female type at the Inland Sea (24th, 26th ).

Wigeon

133, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Pintail

44, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Scaup

1, drake at Llyn Cefni (22nd).

2, female type at the Inland Sea (24th).

Eider

Up to 5, off Benllech (5 on 22nd, 4 on 26th, 1 on 24th).

Goosander

25, 13 drakes and 12 ducks on Llyn Coron (22nd).

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (22nd).

1, off slipway by pier at Cemaes Bay (24th).

Sanderling

c. 10, at Red Wharf Bay (22nd).

Purple Sandpiper

2, at Porth Cae Du, Rhoscolyn (27th).

13, at Trearddur Bay (27th).

Lapwing

28, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Jack Snipe

2, at Red Wharf Bay (22nd).

2, at The Range, Holyhead  (26th).

Snipe

6, at The Range, Holyhead  (26th).

Woodcock

1, at Llyn Cerrig Bach (22nd).

1, at Cors Bodeilio (22nd).

Greenshank

1, at Church Island, Menai Bridge (22nd).

2, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

30, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

1, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

1, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

10, on the lighthouse island, South Stack (24th).

5, at the Alaw estuary (25th).

Fulmar

3, from The Range, Holyhead over a 1hr seawatch (27th).

Black Guillemot

1, off Benllech seafront (26th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

1, at the Inland Sea (22nd).

1, at Holyhead harbour (24th).

Red-throated Diver

Up to 14, off Benllech (14 on 26th, 3 on 22nd).

3, from The Range, Holyhead over a 1hr seawatch (27th).

Red-necked Grebe

1, at Llyn Penrhyn, RSPB Valley Wetlands (22nd, 25th-28th).

Black-necked Grebe

2, at the Inland Sea (22nd, 25th 26th   ).

Slavonian Grebe

1, at the Inland Sea (22nd,   ).

Up to 2, at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 25th, 1 on 22nd,   ).

1, off Benllech seafront (24th).

Passerines & others:

Chiffchaff

1, at Bodffordd water treatment plant (22nd).

1, at Newborough forest (22nd).

1, along cycle track at Llangefni marshes (28th).

Cetti’s Warbler

2, from cycle track at Llangefni marshes (28th).

Meadow Pipit

c. 30, on fields at Gadfa (28th).

Common Crossbill

2, singing at Newborough forest (24th).

Chough

10, flew over Llyn Penrhyn (25th).

Hooded Crow

1, at The Range, Holyhead  (26th).

Raptors:

Hen Harrier

1, ring-tail, west of Tregele (25th).

Marsh Harrier

3, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, at Llyn Penrhyn (25th).

Red Kite

2, over A55 near Llanfairpwll (22nd).

1, over A55 near Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, at Caergeiliog (22nd).

1, at Aberffraw (22nd).

1, at Plas Newydd (22nd).

1, near Llyn Coron (22nd).

Merlin

1, near Valley Wetlands RSPB (22nd).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

5, in field near Traeth Penial, Llanfwrog (23rd).

Great Egret

1, at Cors Ddyga (22nd).

1, on marsh on Llangefni side of A55 (25th).

1, from cycle track at Llangefni marshes (28th).

Great Bittern

1, ‘booming’ near Valley Wetlands RSPB (22nd).