Llanfairfechan - end of summer

Small Copper

Back from the Bird Fair at Rutland Water, lovely sunny day here if rather breezy – no day trips to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) today! The Robin breeding season is over, they have moulted and the pairs have split up. Heard several Robins singing, the function is to defend individual feeding territories – this is the autumn / early winter song which gradually fades out leading up to December. These singing birds could include females, whereas from Christmas onwards only male Robins sing. Read all about it in The Life of the Robin by David Lack.

Not all birds have finished breeding though – lots of House Martins and Swallows about (the Swifts have all gone), and Woodpigeons carry on singing (and laying eggs) until October. No luck with Turtle Doves though this year; when I was living in North Wales in the late 1960’s, Turtle Doves were common breeders in NE Wales and a few bred on Lleyn and Meirionnydd. Now these have all gone - read about it in The Breeding Birds of North Wales by Brenchley et al (2013). I haven’t seen a Turtle Dove anywhere in Britain this year.

Getting a bit late for good butterflies, but quite a few showy ones on our Buddleia including a Painted Lady the other day and several Commas. Then this morning a Common Blue appeared (very scarce round here this year and our first in the garden for 2015), plus a very smart Small Copper. This picture was actually taken just up the road in August last year.

Several Purple Hairstreaks seen on our butterfly transect route earlier this month, we try to do this every week for Butterfly Conservation. Viewing one of these individuals I even saw the ‘hairstreak’ mark on the hindwing, usually they are too high up on the oaks or ashes to see this. They lay eggs on the oaks and visit the ash trees for honeydew. 

Geoff Gibbs

Glory be to the Wales Coast Path!

Common Blue!?

After cappuccino at the Whistling Sands beach café we didn’t see a soul for the next 3 hours. Along the way so many wild flowers, birdsongs and sounds of the sea, snails galore and stunning blue butterflies in one section; how could they possibly be called Common Blue? A pair of peregrines swooped along the cliffs and as we approached Mynydd Mawr we were into the land of the Choughs, with their bright red beaks and legs and cat-like calls.

As we skirted the almost sheer cliffsides the term ‘views to die for’ came to mind.

At eye level, in a windswept sloe tree, was a nest with vibrant looking caterpillars of the Lackey Moth.

Lackey Moth

About 7 hours later, singing the praises of the Wales Coast Path, we walked the final stretch along the beach to the Tŷ Newydd hotel. My first delight was a pint of Brenin Enlli, sitting on the terrace, looking back on where we had walked. For supper the crab salad, with a shared portion of chips and mayo, was perfection, topped only by the room. With its mini balcony looking onto the beach beneath, the sea so close, we could have skimmed stones from the bedroom. Falling asleep with the door wide open was noisy but great.

The following day we walked the section including Penarfynydd where we saw a hare run across the top of the ridge above the farm. That made 3 of the Llŷn’s ‘Big 5’ – chough, peregrine and hare but alas we failed to see porpoise and grey seal.

Glory be to the Wales Coast Path!

Hell's Mouth Porth Neigwl