Trip report- north, mid and west Wales
11th May 2014
Dates: 7th to 10th May 2014
Destination: north, mid and west 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:
Worlds End, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy
Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Elan valley, Powys
Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys
Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
I had additionally planned trips to Skomer Island and Ramsey Island in Pembrokeshire plus Cwm Clydach RSPB reserve near Swansea and Nagshead RSPB reserve in the Forest of Dean but the poor weather and issues with my car rental forced me to return home early.
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip.
I had originally planned a camping itinerary but the poor weather meant that “plan B” came in to operation.
On the 7th May, I stayed at the Pont-y-Pair Inn in Betws-y-Coed.
On the 8th May, I stayed at the Crown Inn in Rhayader.
On the 9th May, I stayed at the Travelodge in Pembroke Dock.
Weather:
The weather was generally very poor with a lot of heavy rain and strong winds but there were also a few bright and sunny periods.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 95 bird species , 5 mammal species, 1 reptile species and 1 amphibian species.
Trip list - north, mid and west Wales
With regard to the birds, I was able to add 22 species to my 2014 list and 3 species to my Wales life list.
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip.
Worlds End, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Black Grouse, Whinchat, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Lesser Redpoll
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy: Little Egret, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Wheatear, Reed Warbler
Valley Wetlands RSPB, Anglesey: Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin
Beddmanarch Bay, Anglesey: Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Great Northern Diver (probable)
Holyhead, Anglesey: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey: Chough, Raven, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Stonechat, Swallow
Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey: Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Common Buzzard
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd: Ring Ousel, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Common Redstart, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, Common Buzzard, Grey Squirrel
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion: Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sedge Warbler, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Cwmystwyth area: Brown Hare
Rhayader area, Powys: Red Kite, Common Buzzard
Elan to Llanwrthwl area including Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Raven, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Tree Pipit, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nant-y-Arain near Ponterwyd, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Cormorant, Swallow, Swift, Linnet, Harbour Porpoise, Atlantic Grey Seal
Fishguard harbour, Pembrokeshire: Sandwich Tern
Elegug Stacks, Pembrokeshire: Guillemot, Razorbill
Destination: north, mid and west 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:
Worlds End, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy
Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion
Elan valley, Powys
Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys
Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
I had additionally planned trips to Skomer Island and Ramsey Island in Pembrokeshire plus Cwm Clydach RSPB reserve near Swansea and Nagshead RSPB reserve in the Forest of Dean but the poor weather and issues with my car rental forced me to return home early.
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip.
I had originally planned a camping itinerary but the poor weather meant that “plan B” came in to operation.
On the 7th May, I stayed at the Pont-y-Pair Inn in Betws-y-Coed.
On the 8th May, I stayed at the Crown Inn in Rhayader.
On the 9th May, I stayed at the Travelodge in Pembroke Dock.
Weather:
The weather was generally very poor with a lot of heavy rain and strong winds but there were also a few bright and sunny periods.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 95 bird species , 5 mammal species, 1 reptile species and 1 amphibian species.
Trip list - north, mid and west Wales
With regard to the birds, I was able to add 22 species to my 2014 list and 3 species to my Wales life list.
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip.
Worlds End, Berwyn Mountains, Denbighshire: Black Grouse, Whinchat, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Lesser Redpoll
Conwy RSPB reserve, Conwy: Little Egret, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Wheatear, Reed Warbler
Valley Wetlands RSPB, Anglesey: Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin
Beddmanarch Bay, Anglesey: Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Great Northern Diver (probable)
Holyhead, Anglesey: Black Guillemot
South Stack RSPB reserve, Anglesey: Chough, Raven, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Stonechat, Swallow
Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey: Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Common Buzzard
Nant Ffrancon valley, Snowdonia, Gwynedd: Ring Ousel, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Common Redstart, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, Common Buzzard, Grey Squirrel
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve, Ceredigion: Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sedge Warbler, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Cwmystwyth area: Brown Hare
Rhayader area, Powys: Red Kite, Common Buzzard
Elan to Llanwrthwl area including Carngafallt RSPB reserve, Powys: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Raven, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Tree Pipit, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nant-y-Arain near Ponterwyd, Ceredigion: Red Kite
Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Cormorant, Swallow, Swift, Linnet, Harbour Porpoise, Atlantic Grey Seal
Fishguard harbour, Pembrokeshire: Sandwich Tern
Elegug Stacks, Pembrokeshire: Guillemot, Razorbill