The changing state of Wales’ birds

Glossy Ibis (Marc Hughes)

Publication by the Welsh Ornithological Society of the birds recorded in Wales brings the national list to 460 species. The total was boosted by appearance of six never previously seen in Wales, including an unprecedented four types of songbird that crossed the Atlantic during ex-Hurricane Lee in September 2023.

The updated status reflects the changing abundance of several species in the last five years. Little Auk and Bewick's Swan, once annual visitors to Wales, are now considered scarce; just one Bewick’s Swan has been seen in Wales this winter, on the Dee estuary this week. Lesser Scaup, Black-winged Stilt and Caspian Gull are among the rare migrants that have become more common in recent years. Bittern and Marsh Harrier are now classed as regular breeders now they are established at several sites thanks to reedbed restoration projects. But Grey Partridge is now considered only an Occasional Breeder, although its true status is clouded by releases.

Glossy Ibis is among several Mediterranean waterbirds that are now more frequent in Britain, with the first ever record of nesting in 2023, in Cambridgeshire. One in a pool next to Porthmadog Cob at the weekend was a good winter record for North Wales. A Red-necked Grebe on Llyn Tegid was almost 45 years to the day since the site’s first, while a Ring-necked Duck and Scaup are also on the lake. Other unusual sightings include a Surf Scoter off Colwyn Bay, Black Redstart on the Great Orme, Slavonian Grebes off Bangor Pier and Borth-y-gest, and a Little Gull passed Criccieth during Storm Éowyn. Eight Hawfinches winter at Coed Cilgroeslwyd near Ruthin and there are several more around Llanrwst. A Snow Goose on Llyn Coron is of unknown origin, but a leg-ring showed that a Ring-necked Parakeet in a Deganwy garden almost certainly escaped from an aviary.
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The Welsh List 2025 can be downloaded from the WOS website.