An Anglesey Visit

We booked a sea safari, a rib-ride round Puffin Island. It was a bit like pre-booking the Snowdon Mountain Railway and when the day arrives, so do the clouds. Clouds didn’t obliterate our view but, despite ‘waterproofs’ and thermals, the rain and the speed made us wet and very cold. Upon reflection we should have taken the slow boat from Beaumaris, with the cover over the back, and maybe a gin and tonic or a hot mug of soup; but then we’d have missed the thrills and spills of the ride itself.

We saw plenty of seals, a few puffins and on the return, several porpoises swimming north up the Menai Strait. The sea was perfectly calm making it easy to see the fins parting the water. Views of the nesting birds were good but nowhere near as spectacular as when I visited the island with the RSPB the previous May. This is what it looked like last year: 

Anglesey Sea Zoo was great, a wonderful insight into local marine life; good to see such emphasis on local species and their conservation although I felt a bit guilty about the lobsters pre-booked for that evening. I’m sure our lobsters, which were very tasty, were sustainably harvested.

Newborough Beach and Llanddwyn Island were stunning in the sunshine. £4 to park seemed a bargain for the experience on a sunny afternoon. Coastal wild flowers were at their best and the paths, buildings and monuments looked well cared for. Two people riding horses on the beach added to the idyllic picture. Lots of people out with dogs, several off the lead – this despite signs saying no dogs at this time of year. Who enforces this regulation?

Our hotel had a sun drenched balcony complete with a greeny yellow moth on the decking. The following afternoon the drenching was by rain and the resourceful moth had retreated beneath an overhang in the wall. 

Before the rain came we took a coastal woodland walk around a section of Red Wharf Bay; woodland flowers are so much more advanced compared to upland Snowdonia.

No visit would be complete without popping in to see the terns at Cemlyn. We crunched along the shingle, the wind and the rain on our backs, until we were opposite the breeding island.  The ardour of the males was in no way dampened by the weather. Let’s hope they have a good season.

Anglesey AONB Winter Bird Watch

Saturday 15^th February is a date to put in your diary if you would like to see the spectacle of winter birds on Anglesey. This time last year 100 different bird species were recorded on the day of the event plus bottlenose dolphins and otters. I went along to meet Lowri Hughes (the organiser) and Ben Stammers (one of the bird experts) for a preview of what might be on show at Cemlyn, one of the many sites to be surveyed on the day.

Lowri and Ben on the shingle ridge at Cemlyn

Rather than try to repeat  Ben’s descriptions and the overall atmosphere you can hear what’s on offer on this Sunday’s Country Focus on Radio Wales. This programme is now available as a podcast for 30 days after broadcast. Click here for details of the podcast.

The terns for which Cemlyn is most famous are not due to arrive until mid March, which is just as well because the islands in the lagoon, where they nest, are currently submerged.  Between now and mid March Ben and members of the North Wales Wildlife Trust will regulate the flow of water to make sure there is sufficient island nesting space.

If you would like to take part please make contact with Lowri on 01248 752 446 or by email to lehpl@anglesey.gov.uk

The plan is for everyone to meet at Penrhos Coastal Park car park at 8.15am to split into different groups, then once the day’s bird watching has been completed, everyone will meet back at Caffi’r Parc at Breakwater Country Park for some food and a chat about the days sightings at around 4.15pm.

Islands almost completely under water

Cemlyn NWWT Reserve, NW Anglesey

Cemlyn is the place to visit now, better than oakwoods as the bluebells are over and the pied flycatchers have fledged and left the area (the Springwatch ones that died were late broods, the ones in the main nesting period did much better).

Visit Cemlyn to see Sandwich terns flying low over your head to feed their chicks a few yards away, each adult with one sandeel, sprat or young cod in its beak. 1600 pairs make a grand spectacle and it's the only colony in Wales! The NWWT wardens will point out the less numerous common and arctic terns, also the pair of Mediterranean gulls whose eggs have now hatched.

Go any day, or join one of the guided walks (Tuesday & Sunday 2pm up to the end of July).
No charge for visiting or for the walks, but a donation in the NWWT box would be welcome.

Directions are on the NWWT website. The easiest is the A55 route, turn off for Valley (NOT the RAF camp) and at the traffic lights in Valley turn right onto the A5025. After 9 miles, turn left (signed to Jam Factory & Cemlyn). Pass the Jam place, 1km further on keep left until you see the lagoon, then right for the car park.

I'd hoped to include Huw's UTube clip of film from 2010 but he'll have to add that.