Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Trip away from SS15 – Wales – May 2025 (part 2)

On 7th May 2025, I visited the following sites: 

NWWT Cemlyn, Anglesey 

RSPB South Stack, Anglesey

RSPB Cors Ddyga, Anglesey

My first visit of the day was to NWWT Cemlyn just 4.5 miles from Pengraig campsite and allowing for an early morning start.

NWWT Cemlyn comprises a unique, elliptical shingle ridge known as Esgair Cemlyn. Beyond the ridge, there is a shallow lagoon surrounded by gorse and grassland. All year round, waders and wildfowl can be seen around the lagoon at the adjacent shorelines but the site is best visited from May through to July when the islands within the lagoon host the large and very noisy nesting colonies of Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns.



















The highlights from my visit included the following: Sandwich Tern (c.500), Arctic Tern (c.100), Common Tern (c.50), Mediterranean Gull (1), Black-headed Gull (+++), Oystercatcher (10), Ringed Plover (5), Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (2), Red-breasted Merganser (male and female), Shelduck (9), Mallard (6 including a female with ducklings), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (4), Swallow (2), Sand Martin (2), White Wagtail (2), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Stonechat (pair carrying food to a presumed nest), Linnet (6)

Addition to my 2025 UK year list: Arctic Tern

Here are some photos from my visit .... 
















Photo: Sandwich Tern
















Photo: Sandwich Tern















Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Terns

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Terns

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern

Photo: Sandwich Tern















Photo: Arctic Tern















Photo: Arctic Tern

Photo: Arctic Tern















Photo: Common Terns
















Photo: Common Tern
















Photo: Common Terns
















Photo: Common Tern
















Photo: Common Tern
















Photo: Common Tern















Photo: Common Tern

Photo: Common Tern























Photo: Common Terns






















Photo: Common Terns






















Photo: Common Tern






















Photo: Common Terns


Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatchers






















Photo: Oystercatchers






















Photo: Oystercatchers






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatchers






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatcher






















Photo: Oystercatchers






















Photo: Oystercatcher























Photo: Shelduck























Photo: Shelduck























Photo: Red-breasted Merganser























Photo: Red-breasted Merganser























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Grey Heron























Photo: Black-headed Gull























Photo: male Sedge Warbler























Photo: male Sedge Warbler























Photo: male Sedge Warbler























Photo: male Sedge Warbler























Photo: male Stonechat























Photo: White Wagtail

After a very successful visit to NWWT Cemlyn, I drove back to Holyhead and then on up to RSPB South Stack for an extended visit following my brief visit the previous evening. The sunny day proved to be much more productive than my visit in May 2024 when there was thick sea fog!

The highlights from my visit included the following: Gannet (1), Fulmar (1), Shag (2), Puffin (5), Razorbill (++), Guillemot (++++), Black Guillemot (1), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (++), Herring Gull (++), Chough (2), Rock Pipit (1), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Swallow (c.10), Stonechat (1 pair plus another male)

Additions to my 2025 UK year list: Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Puffin, Razorbill, Guillemot

Here are some photos from my visit ....



















Photo: Guillemots

Photo: Guillemots

Before leaving Anglesey, I visited RSPB Cors Ddyga which lies within one of the largest lowland wetlands in Wales. The lakes, ponds and ditches that make up of the site are some of the most important in the UK and host more than 30 scarce wetland plants. The site is also important for breeding waders, winter wildfowlOtters and Water Voles.

The main target of my visit was the long-staying European White-fronted Goose which I successfully located with a small group of Greylag Geese.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): European White-fronted Goose (1), Greylag Goose (c.50), Canada Goose (c.10), Mute Swan (3), Lapwing (c.20), Oystercatcher (1), Shoveler (8), Gadwall (4), Mallard (4), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (2), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male), Swallow (8), Stonechat (1 pair)

Additions to my Wales list: European White-fronted Goose, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)

Here are some photos from my visit ….
















Photo: distant cropped record shot of European White-fronted Goose

After visiting RSPB Cors Ddyga, I drove 75 miles south to my overnight stay at Gwerniago campsite at Pennal near Machynlleth. This farm campsite had excellent facilities and was surrounded by beautiful wooded hills.

I recorded the following at or around the campsite which included an amazing “dawn chorus” (heard only records in italics): Tawny Owl (1 calling male)Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (2), Blackcap (at least 1 singing male)Chiffchaff (at least 1 singing male), House Martin (c.10), Goldcrest (1 singing male), Blue TitGreat TitRobinBlackbirdSong ThrushChaffinchPheasantWoodpigeon


















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