Wales’s second drake BAIKAL TEAL of the year resided in the company of Northern Pintail at Foryd Bay, Gwynedd, on 5th and possibly relates to the bird present at Llangorse Lake, Powys, during January – although would have had to have swapped its favoured Eurasian Teal for Northern Pintail in the interim. Ringing recoveries of Northern Pintail in North Wales suggest that the majority originate from Iceland – so, not the ideal location for carrier species you’d expect a duck from the Far East to be associating with – although some in Ireland are known to arrive from the east.

A LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with Pink-footed Geese at Oakenholt Marsh RSPB, Clwyd, on 18th would have proved a highly notable record if wild, though likely relates to the known wandering escape. Ring-necked Duck were again well-represented, with 10 birds at eight sites.

Gwent’s adult drake SMEW was again at Llandegfedd Reservoir on 12th, with a well-twitched GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Cors Ddyga RSPB, Anglesey, on 17th. A trio of SURF SCOTER provided uncharacteristically good views off Llanddulas, Conwy, for much of the month, with another off Benllech, Anglesey.

An Iceland Gull at Kenfig Hill, Glamorgan, was particularly popular, with others at Newport Wetlands, Gwent, Dryslwyn, Carmarthen, and Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire, the latter sharing the site with a juvenile Glaucous Gull. A Grey Phalarope at the private Port Talbot Docks, Glamorgan, was unfortunately off-limits.

Two incredibly keen Northern Wheatears were back in the Cambrian Mountains on 23-24th, with a Little Ringed Plover in Glamorgan. A Hoopoe was at Marloes, Pembrokeshire, from 16th, while Siberian Chiffchaffs were at five sites between Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan.