Trip report- mid and north Wales
14th May 2013
Dates: 11th to 13th May 2013
Destination: mid and north Wales
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my annual visit to the region to see bird species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia, particularly summer migrants.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birdwatching were:
Dinas RSPB reserve, Carmarthenshire
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip.
On the 11th May, I stayed at the Royal Oak Inn in Rhandirmwyn.
On the 12th May, I stayed at the Swallow Falls Hotel in Betws-y-Coed.
Weather:
The weather was mostly very sunny albeit rather chilly in the wind and there were also some heavy rain showers.
Highlights:
The following summarises the notable bird species seen on my trip, many of which were first records for 2013.
Dinas RSPB reserve: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Sand Martin, Cuckoo (heard only), Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Rhandirmwyn to Tregaron: Whinchat, Wheatear, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper, Red Kite, Common Buzzard
Borth: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Oysterctacher, Cormorant
Ynyslas: Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift, Siskin, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret
Aber Ogwen: Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Shelduck, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe
Holyhead: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve: Chough, Raven, Hooded Crow, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake
Beddmanarch Bay: Whimbrel, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Cormorant
Nant Ffrancon valley: Wheatear, Common Redstart, Common Buzzard, Raven
Penmaenmawr: Gannet, Fulmar
Conwy RSPB reserve: Dunlin, Little Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Sandwich Tern, White Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Swift
Destination: mid and north Wales
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my annual visit to the region to see bird species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia, particularly summer migrants.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birdwatching were:
Dinas RSPB reserve, Carmarthenshire
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip.
On the 11th May, I stayed at the Royal Oak Inn in Rhandirmwyn.
On the 12th May, I stayed at the Swallow Falls Hotel in Betws-y-Coed.
Weather:
The weather was mostly very sunny albeit rather chilly in the wind and there were also some heavy rain showers.
Highlights:
The following summarises the notable bird species seen on my trip, many of which were first records for 2013.
Dinas RSPB reserve: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Sand Martin, Cuckoo (heard only), Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Rhandirmwyn to Tregaron: Whinchat, Wheatear, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper, Red Kite, Common Buzzard
Borth: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Oysterctacher, Cormorant
Ynyslas: Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve: Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift, Siskin, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret
Aber Ogwen: Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Shelduck, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe
Holyhead: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve: Chough, Raven, Hooded Crow, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake
Beddmanarch Bay: Whimbrel, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Cormorant
Nant Ffrancon valley: Wheatear, Common Redstart, Common Buzzard, Raven
Penmaenmawr: Gannet, Fulmar
Conwy RSPB reserve: Dunlin, Little Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Sandwich Tern, White Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Swift