On Monday, 8 December 2025, a Bufflehead was found at the Point of Ayr, Flintshire, where it spent several hours before flying off. Cheshire listers were hopeful that the bird might continue east into the county, but no further reports followed, and the trail soon went cold.
The bird was refound on 19 December at Foryd Bay, Caernarfon, confirming that it had remained in North Wales. Jenna and I made a run out that day to visit the site and, on arrival, the Bufflehead was showing extremely well, allowing excellent views. It was a great bird to catch up with again, my previous encounter having been in April 2004 at Pugneys Country Park, Yorkshire.
Bufflehead is a small, compact diving duck native to North America, breeding across Canada and Alaska and wintering mainly in the United States. The adult male is distinctive, with a bold white head patch contrasting sharply against glossy black and white plumage, while females are more subdued, characterised by brown-grey plumage and a small white cheek patch.
In the UK, Bufflehead is a very rare vagrant. While some individuals are considered genuine transatlantic vagrants, others may involve escapes from captivity, as the species is commonly kept in wildfowl collections. As a result, each record is assessed carefully.
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