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Gwynedd bird life. With it's diverse wildlife and stunning scenery Gwynedd is a fantastic place to visit and see the wide range of bird life that lives and visits the area throughout the year.
Iolo Williams is a TV presenter best known for his S4C nature programmes. He comments on Gwynedd saying he has travelled the world in search of bird life, but always finds himself making his way back to Gwynedd where he gets his best pictures.
Gwynedd bird life includes the Manx Shearwater. This small shearwater has long straight slim wings and is black above and white below. It flies with a series of rapid stiff-winged flaps followed by long glides on straight wings over the surface of the sea, occasionally banking or 'shearing'.
If you are interested in Gwynedd birdlife you will also be able to see Choughs. While its black plumage identifies it as a crow, the chough (pronounced 'chuff') has a red bill and legs unlike any other member of the crow family. It has a restricted westerly distribution in the British Isles and because of its small population size and historically declining populations, it is listed as a Species of European Conservation Concern. Despite this, numbers in Gwynedd are increasing and the loud, ringing chee-ow call is becoming a familiar sound along the coast, as well as in the mountains. It readily displays its mastery of flight with wonderful aerial displays of diving and swooping.
Gwynedd bird life also includes Redstarts. These summer visitors are immediately identifiable by their bright orange-red tails, which they often quiver. Breeding males look smart, with slate grey upper parts, black faces and wings, and an orange rump and chest. Females and young are duller. They tend to 'bob' in a very robin-like manner, but spend little time at ground level. They are mainly found in the north and west of the UK, with the greatest concentrations in Wales. They particularly like upland oak woodlands alongside streams, where mature tress are required for nesting.
Using our site you will be able to see different areas in which you can find bird life around Gwynedd.
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Cwm Idwal, a National Nature Reserve in the Snowdonia mountains is a fantastic introduction to glacial geology. A well-marked route takes you into the heather-clad upland world of the raven, with arctic alpine plants, fast-flowing streams frequented by dipper, and the sheer scale and grandeur of its icescraped amphitheatre. At the end of the summer an on-site event will give you the chance to see Cwm Idwal as you've never seen it before. This will be followed in the autumn by local showings of a specially commissioned film celebrating Cwm Idwal, with music by local musician Gwilym Morus.
Gwaith Powdwr nature reserve (81 acres), on the Dwyryd estuary is a gateway to the hanging oak woodlands of the Vale of Ffestiniog. Gnarled and ancient trees clad with mosses, liverworts and lichens support pied flycatchers and redstarts, while the rivers and streams are home to otters and sewin (sea trout). Along with activities and workshops throughout the summer, a wildlife and art festival celebrating our local woodlands and rivers will be held at Gwaith Powdwr towards the end of July.
To get a real feel for the Gwynedd sea and coast, one of the best places to visit is Uwchmynydd. Standing on the headland at the very tip of the Llŷn, you are in no doubt about the power of the sea, the resilience of the cliffs, and the value of the coastal heaths for key birds such as the chough and stonechat. What is hard to grasp is the richness of the awe-inspiring wildlife that lives beneath the waves. Discover Gwynedd will give you a glimpse of the under-seascapes, through rock-pooling, boat trips to offshore islands, innovative marine wildlife information, and a special celebration of the sea in mid August.
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