A long-awaited installment from Ken’s big year… My year started with me birding mostly in the Midlands, seeing many species that are nowadays difficult to find in my home county of Anglesey such as, grey partridge, green woodpecker, willow tit, marsh tit and tree sparrow. I had a short break in Norfolk with Pete James […]
Seal Pup in Aberystwyth – What to do if you find one?
This afternoon I received a call from a friend because there was a seal pup on the beach in Aberystwyth and he thought it needed attention. I’m no seal expert, but I do have experience of marine mammals from my time working for Sea Watch Foundation. I hoped I would turn up, see a happy […]
Climbing on Anglesey’s sea cliffs
The Anglesey sea cliffs provide Adventure climbing with a capital A. On Ynys Gybi (Holy Isle), from Rhoscolyn to North Stack there is a wealth of spectacular and challenging opportunities for the climber. A veritable smorgasbord of bewildering rock formations; convoluted geological intrusions, vast sea caves and arches, sea stacks and promontories, all constantly evolving […]
Our Wild Coast – outdoor environmental education on Anglesey
Marine education occurs in various ways at the North Wales Wildlife Trust. As well as our Living Seas Wales work, which aims to enthuse the public, as well as school and community groups about our marine wildlife, we have the “Our Wild Coast” project, which works more intensely with groups of young people across the […]
Halen Mon – Anglesey Sea Salt & free saltcote tours
As well as providing us with this sea-themed recipe for you to try at home, Halen Môn are kindly offering a free saltcote tour for two. To enter the competition, please visit our Facebook page and ‘like’ the post about this blog. A winner will be selected at random and contacted for their email address […]
Turbulent (or not) times ahead for Anglesey’s Marine Mammals and Seabirds?
Coastal areas are diverse habitats. This interface between marine and terrestrial habitats supports groups of animals happiest in water and land, respectively. It also represents home for a few specialised and robust species that choose to have the best of both worlds by living in the extreme intertidal habitats. This aggregation of marine, terrestrial and intertidal […]
Coastal Artwork by Jayne Huskisson, Textile Artist
What is it that draws us to the coast? For me it taps into all of the senses; the wide open spaces of the summer sky reflected in the deep blue sea with an unbroken horizon, the smell of the salty air, the feel of the warm, soft sand between my toes and the hypnotic […]
Why do we celebrate Anglesey Marine Week?
If you’ve stepped foot on the Anglesey coast path, felt the sand through your toes at Ynys Llanddwyn or Traeth Bychan, or seen glittering mackerel lifted from the rocks at Moelfre or Tŷ Croes then you’ll know precisely why we celebrate Anglesey’s surrounding seas each summer. I am not a native of the island, I […]
Ken does Islay!
On the 15th February I am heading back to the East Midlands and join Pete James to visit Holme Pierrepont to see the spotted sandpiper, a vagrant from North America which probably arrived last autumn but was only identified last month when Neil Glenn made a visit here. The bird showed well for us on […]
Ken breezes through the start of February with more good birds on his patch
A strong north westerly wind is blowing as we move into February and waves are crashing over the top of the breakwater in Holyhead. Plenty of birds are sheltering in the safety of the harbour, great northern diver, red-throated diver, great crested grebe, red-breasted merganser, guillemot, razorbill and at least 8 black guillemots which are […]
About The Author
From my new home on the wonderful isle of Anglesey I have been lucky enough to be immersed in Welsh wildlife. Since moving here I have met so many wonderful people who also have a passion for British wildlife and thought this would be the ideal way to share my enjoyment of the natural wonders of the island and further afield with anybody who cares to listen! Just so you know… I was born with a passion for wildlife and the outdoors (thanks Mum and Dad) and went on to study Medical Microbiology and Zoology at Leeds University. It was in 2010 whilst volunteering for the Wildlife Trust on the Isles of Scilly that birds showed on my radar too. The wonderful Paul Long saw me hurriedly making my way across the harbour on St Mary’s and assumed I was heading for the Red-throated Diver, I followed him and hence I’d been on my first ‘twitch’! It didn’t seem right to tell him that actually I was just desperate for the loo. Since meeting them on Scilly, my passion for birds and wildlife had been nurtured by the encyclopedic Neil Glenn and the inspiring Dr Rob Lambert (both residing in Nottingham, my birth place). I can thank the RSPB for my first paid work in conservation. I am particularly thankful that that work was here, on an island I have grown up visiting (I have spent many hours on the rocks and straits while my Dad was chasing Conger-bongers or the elusive Bass!). Moving here in spring 2010 only made me fall deeper in love with Anglesey; where the sky meets the mountains, meets the sea. One of the little-known gems of Anglesey is Mr Ken Croft. Ken is a birding legend, spotting many rarities and first birds for Britain. I can thank Ken for all I know about birds. If you are lucky enough to bump into the ‘Welsh Wizard’ then you’ll be engulfed in his enthusiasm and expertise. Through Naturebites, Kathy and Ken offer guided wildlife tours on Anglesey. Please see the 'Wildlife Tours' page on our website for more details of how to join in.