Most years we try and get at least one trip to Anglesey for a long weekend, trying to time it so we can watch Risso's Dolphins off Point Lynas. This year we choose the first weekend in August, knowing that we may be too early for Risso's, but later weekends, weren't as convenient, plus most of September is booked up with a trip to the North East and also a fortnight in Botswana.
Friday 2nd August
We started our weekend off on the north coast at Cemlyn Bay, home to nesting terns and waders. Parking in the western car park, we trudged across the shingle beach until we reached the area near the nesting islands and set about photographing Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns, as they returned from their fishing trips to feed their young. We have normally visited in June or July, when the young terns are still present, by early August many of the terns have left, but it does make it easier to focus on a single tern as it returns to the colony.
Sandwich Terns
The shingle beach also held a small number of waders - Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
Shingle Beach at Cemlyn
Ringed Plovers on the tide line
After three or four hours we headed to Amlwch and the Dinorben Arms Hotel, which was to be our base for the next few nights.
Saturday 3rd August
After an early breakfast on Saturday we headed to Point Lynas, parking in the free car park near the cove, and then walking the 1.5km to the Lighthouse. Reaching the lighthouse we then wandered over the area below it, finding a comfy rock to sit on (easier said than done). We arrived at about 08:30, a couple of hours before high tide, the best period for cetacean activity. After about half-an-hour a female Harbour Porpoise with a calf surface just off shore as they headed west, but unfortunately, that was the extent of cetacean activity. A pair of Chough made up for the lack of Risso's Dolphins; Gannets and Sandwich Terns fished out to sea, a Grey Seal was present for most of the time and Shags and Cormorants vied for attention.
Top Row: Grey Seal and Cormorant
Middle Row: Chough
Bottom Row: Carrion Crow
We left Point Lynas around High Tide and headed to the RSPB Reserve at South Stack. Best known for its seabird colonies and Choughs, the site has more to offer. Most of the seabirds had left, but Choughs were everywhere!! A walk along the clifftop produced some approachable Linnets. After lunch in the café we headed off to Holyhead Mountain to look for Chough and Stonechat. Again several Chough, and two Kestrels, were ever present, but it was the number of Grayling that caught our attention.
Top Row: South Stack Lighthouse; Grayling; Linnet
Bottom Row: Chough; Bell Heather
With the sun still shining we decided to make the most of the weather and headed to another RSPB Reserve - Valley Wetlands. The area supports assorted wildfowl in the winter and during the breeding season, the reedbeds support Bittern and breeding warblers, but it was butterflies that again stole the show: Grayling, Wall, Common Blue, Small Copper, Peacock amongst others.
Top Row: Valley Lakes; Small Copper
Second Row: Peacock; Wall Brown
Third Row: Common Blue; Grey Heron
Bottom Row: Great Crested Grebe and young.
Sunday 4th August
Having failed to see any dolphins at Point Lynas on Saturday, we opted for a return visit on Sunday. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful again, but a single Harbour Porpoise put in an appearance and two Grey Seals were present along with numerous Shags and Cormorants, plus some obliging Herring Gulls.
Top Row: Herring Gull; Cormorant
Middle Row: Shag
Lower Row: Male (left) and female (right) Grey Seals
After lunch we headed to Amlwch Port, still in search of dolphins, small consolation was another Grey Seal and a Harbour Porpoise, and then onto Cemlyn.
We arrived at Cemlyn with the tide still in, so heading towards tern colony for a few more flight shots of the terns, before heading back to the beach were waders had started to gather to feed as the tide went back out. Several waders were present: Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Redshank and a single Greenshank.
Top Row: Sandwich Tern
Second and Third Row: Ringed Plover
Fourth Row: Meadow Pipit
Lower Row: Sanderling; tern island.
Monday 5th August
The last day of our weekend dawned with light rain, so we decided to head for The Dingle, a woodland nature reserve where Red Squirrel are the main attraction. None of the winter feeding stations were in operation, but three Red Squirrels were seen; with rain and no light due to the tree canopy, photos are absent. Nuthatch, Blue and Great Tits were all present, along with Treecreeper, Robin, Dunnock and other woodland birds. We then moved onto the RSPB Conway Reserve for high tide. Roosting waders included Curlew, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Lapwing and a Common Sandpiper. Thirty Little Egret were present and a Great Crested Grebe with two young were feeding in front of one of the hides.
Common Sandpiper (left) and Great Crested Grebe with young.
We may not have seen any Risso's Dolphin, but we still had a great weekend away - there's always another day for the Dolphisn.
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