Storm-hit beach ready to welcome terns

Purple Heron (Michael Thackeray)

Rangers from Denbighshire Council and volunteers from North Wales Little Tern Group spent this week putting up the fences that should protect Wales’ largest Little Tern colony from beach users, dogs and predatory mammals when the birds return from West Africa to Gronant soon. The RSPB has been undertaking similar work at its Point of Ayr nature reserve in neighbouring Flintshire. Recent storms demolished the Gronant viewing platform and remodelled the beach, and seasonal wardens hope that northerly winds don’t coincide with high tides in the coming months. A Snow Bunting and Whinchat were at Gronant on Saturday.
 
It was good to see a Pied Flycatcher and hear Cuckoo at Pensychnant above Conwy on Sunday while doing a Breeding Bird Survey. Both species arrived on territories across North Wales last week, as have more Ring Ouzels; more than 20 were seen in the Carneddau at the weekend, with 11 on passage at Penycloddiau in the Clwydian range and five over Llanfair DC. Several dozen Swifts flew up the Cefni Valley with House Martins on Monday, when two Cattle Egrets were found at Ffynnongroyw.
 
Several Purple Herons were in Wales last week, including at Cors Dyfi nature reserve and near Aberffraw. Four Cranes that flew up the Dee estuary were seen from Connah’s Quay but headed east across Wirral. Hawfinches are at a couple of sites in the Conwy Valley, a summer-plumage Spotted Redshank remains at RSPB Conwy and a Corncrake called on Bardsey all week. A Turtle Dove purred briefly near Edern and a Spoonbill was at Dinas Dinlle. A Redwing over Penrhyn Bay may be one of the last of the winter and Waxwings were at Halkyn and Colwyn Bay. Two Ring-necked Parakeets have been in Llandudno gardens, with sightings from the Great Orme to RSPB Conwy.