First sounds of a seabird spring

Fulmar (Dave Williams)

Gurgling calls of Fulmars, cackles of Herring Gulls and guttural sounds of Cormorants greeted me back on their Anglesey breeding sites at the weekend, the early signals of their high-rise cliff cities returning to life. They are among 29 species included in a Seabird Conservation Strategy out for consultation by Welsh Government. It shows where birds are vulnerable to human activities, including recreational disturbance, offshore wind turbines and fishing, including within the Special Protection Areas designated for some species off North Wales. The consultation closes on 14 February and RSPB Cymru is urging supporters to show their support for an effective seabird action plan by contacting the Deputy First Minister, in English neu Gymraeg.

Other signs of change were increased numbers of Eider and an impressive 175 Great Crested Grebes in Conwy Bay. A male Black Redstart continues to visit Great Orme copper mine, with a female at the north end of the headland and others at Aberdaron and Kinmel Bay. Bramblings have been reported from several places, including 10 in a garden near Caernarfon and seven at Llyn Brenig, but there could be many more across Clocaenog forest. Crossbills, already with nestlings to coincide with open pine cones, are widespread across forestry plantations. A Great Grey Shrike was reported in conifers between Bala and Lake Vyrnwy last week and Hawfinch flocks commute around Llanrwst and Caerhun.

A couple of Slavonian Grebes are in Menai Strait while a dozen Great Northern Divers are in Caernarfon Bay. Large skeins of Pink-footed Geese over Rhyl on Saturday probably originated on the Dee estuary or the Lancashire Mosses.

Long-stayers include Long-tailed Duck, Surf and Velvet Scoters off Old Colwyn/Llanddulas and Green-winged Teal at Glan-y-Môr Elias near Llanfairfechan. A Red-necked Grebe remains on Llyn Penrhyn, another on Llyn Tegid, where a male Ring-necked Duck displayed to a female Tufted Duck. Nine Mandarin Ducks brought a colourful touch of the exotic to Pont Croesor, where the first Glaslyn Osprey should arrive next month. A Chiffchaff singing in Bagillt signals longer days, even though the weather suggests that plenty of winter remains.