 Black Guillemot (Julian Hughes) At a time when some of Wales’ breeding seabirds are in trouble, meriting the launch of a conservation strategy to which the new Plaid Cymru government committed in its election manifesto, some good news is heartening. Teenage me would be amazed at the recent increase in Black Guillemots around our coast. In the 1980s, I remember seeing my first, at Fedw Fawr, a little visited part of Anglesey east of Traeth Coch. A handful bred there from the 1960s, recolonising the region after only sporadic breeding attempts since they abandoned Ynys Llanddwyn and the Little Orme in the late 18th century. In the last 30 years, Black Guillemots have bred at a handful of other sites around northwest Wales, mostly around Anglesey where they can find clefts in the rock at the base of cliffs. As occurs frequently in Scotland and Ireland, they have found space among the ferries in Holyhead harbour, a couple of pairs even taking to nestboxes provided for them. Nonetheless, when the latest Britain & Ireland breeding seabird survey figures were published in 2023, the Welsh population of Black Guillemots was put at just 38 individuals. Tiny compared to sites farther north, but numbers breeding in Scotland have fallen by 44% since 1986.  Map of April counts from selected places in northwest Wales. Blue dots show additional sites where Black Guillemots were present in smaller numbers (excluding a new site to the east) Things in Wales have changed. Last summer, I reported on 82 Black Guillemots in Conwy Bay and wondered whether these were local breeders or from elsewhere. Shore-based counts totalled more than 90 in spring 2026, suggesting the Welsh population is larger than we knew. Conwy Bay is the stronghold, with double-figure counts of birds at three sites and three pairs at the newest nest site, beneath the railway tunnel near Penmaenmawr. It was a delight to watch adults taking Butterfish into holes high up the rock face. Another new breeding site has been confirmed east of Colwyn Bay, while sightings off RSPB South Stack and at Morfa Nefyn might suggest a further expansion in their range. On land, more Quails were heard last week – three at Aberffraw, singles at Holt, beside the Clwyd estuary and in the Carneddau below Ffynnon Llugwy – and a Roseate Tern was at Afon Wen near Criccieth. Read more about breeding seabirds in North Wales in last week’s BirdNotes.
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 Fulmar (Dave Williams) The seabird breeding season seems to be over so quickly… Many young auks, gulls and terns have already fledged from their nests and are making their way in the world, somewhat unsteadily and demanding food from parents for several weeks. Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins jump from their nesting cliffs before they can fly, the first move in a life of numerous hazards, but just making it to the water is a career win. They are now at their most vulnerable, and watersports enthusiasts are asked to give seacliffs and birds a wide berth until the end of summer. The Northwest Wales Marine Code is backed by North Wales Police, among others.
For dedicated volunteers and staff who manage and monitor our seabird colonies, it’s been an intensive few months, and they will be relieved that bird flu has not hit our coasts again. There is a way to go for Fulmars and Gannets, however; some chicks at Wales’ two gannetries off Anglesey and Pembrokeshire – won’t fly until October. North Wales Little Tern Group reports that our smallest terns are having a successful season at Gronant beach, managed by Denbighshire Council, and RSPB Point of Ayr with at least 170 young fledged and still more to come. Welcome news after a couple of tough years at both sites. Gordon Graham, volunteer co-ordinator at Point of Ayr was recently honoured by the RSPB for outstanding leadership at its Flintshire reserve. On Anglesey, North Wales Wildlife Trust reports over 1700 Sandwich Tern nests at Cemlyn lagoon, with youngsters starting to leave the site, while it has also been a good season for Britain’s largest Arctic Tern colony on The Skerries, wardened by RSPB Cymru. Two smaller tern colonies on the island have fared less well, illustrating the value of birds having a choice of multiple sites. At RSPB South Stack, North Wales’ most visited seabird city by humans, surveys found more than 13,000 Guillemots, 1470 Razorbills and almost 300 pairs of Herring Gulls, while counts of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes on Ynys Seiriol/Puffin Island are up on recent years, positive news following efforts to eradicate rats on the island. Bird-ringers report that it’s a productive year for Kittiwakes there. In other news, Quails continue to sing at Penrhyn Bay, Cemlyn, Aberdaron and Pengroeslon, with new birds at Holt, Rhoshirwaun, Llandegfan and Llanrhydlad.  Ospreys on a nest platform in the Glaslyn Valley (Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife/Friends of the Ospreys) Summer heat must be making life pretty grim, deadly in some cases, for chicks in nests, especially those without shade. Young House Martins are especially vulnerable as mud nests dry out, and the emergency intervention may be necessary.
Fingers are firmly crossed among vigilant volunteers watching Osprey nests where chicks should fledge this week or next. Colour-ringing of chicks will enable birds to be identified when they return as adults, but weighing and measuring them also enables their sex to be assessed, since females are heavier. From nests in North Wales with public viewing, it should be a productive season, with much flapping in readiness for maiden flights:
Elsewhere, on nest platforms erected by Friends of the Ospreys group, pairs are rearing young in Eryri and on Anglesey, the first ever nest on the island. A male hatched from Glaslyn in 2022 paired with a Rutland 2022 female to rear three chicks in Monmouthshire. Sadly, cold and wet weather in early June caused the death of a brood at a second nest at Llyn Clywedog when the chicks were only 10 days old. The Osprey team at Llyn Brenig have extra reason to celebrate after being presented with the Rural and Wildlife Crime Award by the North Wales Police Commissioner recently. Dŵr Cymru and North Wales Wildlife Trust accepted the award on behalf of the team. The Quail summer continues with up to six near Cemlyn, three at RSPB Cors Ddyga, two at Bagillt, several at Pontgroeslon and single males at Penrhyn Bay, Aberdesach, Gronant, Pensarn and on the southern slope of Yr Wyddfa. At several sites, the disyllabic call of females suggests that breeding attempts in North Wales are possible if conditions remain suitable. Elsewhere, a Black Redstart was unseasonal on Penrhyn Bay promenade and Roseate Terns are regular at Cemlyn lagoon.  Quail (Henry Cook) Dropping into Cwm Eigiau under blue skies last week, where Whinchats and Stonechats were raising young and the distant reel of a Grasshopper Warbler pulsed on the breeze, I was pleased to add a Quail to the tally of around 25 reported in recent weeks. Others in the last week include three beside the Alaw estuary and others at RSPB Cors Ddyga, Talwrn, Kinmel Bay and near Llyn Brenig. Some called from unharvested crops, others from ungrazed valley meadows, and like the one I heard in the Carneddau in upland grass or heath. Last summer saw the highest number of Quail in Wales since the last bumper total, in 1989 when 237 were reported. Given the range of cover in which they’ll hide, this may be the summer you add your record to the picture of a national influx. Listen on the xeno-canto website to familiarise yourself with the three-note whispy call.
Quail is our only migratory ‘gamebird’, although it’s illegal to shoot one in Britain. They maximise breeding success by nesting in southern Europe from February and, if weather conditions are favourable, migrating north for another breeding attempt. Since Quail are capable of reproducing from 12-15 weeks of age, some now arriving in Wales may only have hatched in France or Iberia in May. It’s a strategy also adopted by Painted Lady butterflies, in which successive generations move north in waves; these are also abundant in Britain this year. Quails migrate after dark, but short nights at northern latitudes mean they can make landfall early in daylight, as did one photographed by Henry Cook passing a Channel ferry off the Isle of Wight recently. Other scarce visitors were a Glossy Ibis over Talwrn, near Llangefni, on Sunday, up to three Roseate Terns at Cemlyn and belated news of a Black-crowned Night-heron filmed over Capel Curig last month. |
Bird notesA weekly update of bird sightings and news from North Wales, published in The Daily Post every Thursday. Archives
October 2026
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