Local Wildlife

[SteveH]

Coastguard called to 'people disturbing seals' on Llandudno beach

The public have been warned to stay away from the animals

The coastguard have issued a warning after they were called to a North Wales beach following reports of people "disturbing" seals. Llandudno coastguard asked people to stay away from the animals after the incident at Angel Bay on the Little Orme on Sunday.

They said seals could injure themselves trying to get away when disturbed, or could hurt someone with a "nasty bite".

"The seals will soon be leaving for the summer but whilst there are still seals on the beach we would advise people to stay away.

"The seals are easily spooked and can injure themselves or other seals in trying to get away from people and if you get too close, they can give a nasty bite."

[SteveH]

We had an unusual, but pleasant event yesterday, a large mixed flock of small birds came into the garden, they where everywhere,
shrubs, beds, lawn even in the pots, they stayed for about five minutes, the highlight was a couple of Goldfinches, we could not get a photo, afraid they would fly off, a stock photo of a Goldfinch below, we could not see any reason for the visit.
 

[DVT]

Does anyone have an App called Merlin on their phone - if not, download it (free) and you can have some fun!  It is an App for identifying birds by their call and also visually if you can get a pic.  I have found it to be quite accurate on the birds of Bodnant.

Earlier today I was on the moors just south of Llansannan and could hear birds singing - I thought I knew what they were so opened to App to play the sound of the bird I thought it was.  What a result - within less than a minute this little feller came down and came to within a few feet of me!

... and it is a photo taken by me!

[SteveH]

Lucky you, I cannot remember the last time I heard or have seen a Sky Lark.

[SteveH]

Bird flu: Calls for government vaccine as lockdown lifts

Poultry keepers say the Welsh government should make a bird flu vaccine available to avoid future outbreaks.

This year has seen the world's largest ever bird flu outbreak, and some feel more preventative action could be taken.

A vaccine is already used in some countries outside of Europe.

But the government said the best protection is through hygiene and biosecurity measures.

Bird flu is an infectious disease of poultry and wild birds that has been around for a century. It usually flares up in autumn before fading away in spring and summer.

Since October 2022, Wales has seen six confirmed cases of avian influenza.

Poultry had been kept indoors since 2 December to protect them from the disease.

But the birds are now permitted outside on a phased basis as they are reintroduced to daylight.

Poultry keepers will only release birds for an hour at a time to allow them to adapt after such a long time indoors. 

Vaccination is considered a controversial solution as there isn't sufficient evidence that countries which have introduced the vaccine have managed to control the virus.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) in Wales claim vaccination has some positive effects but say it does not solve all problems.

Ioan Humphreys, who has 32,000 birds on his farm in Newtown unrelated to the latest confirmed case, said he is "worried" about the lifting of the housing rule.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65299311


Maybe all birds should wear masks...

[SteveH]

Traffic stops for cat celebrities whose decadent 'bromance' is talk of North Wales seaside town
Bud and Sparky have their own Facebook page and a legion of fans in Colwyn Bay

A story for cat and animal lovers     

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/traffic-stops-cat-celebrities-whose-26743350

[SteveH]

Sitting in the sun this morning, I heard a noise in the shrubs, had a look, saw nothing, kept hearing noises, closer look revealed a pair of nesting Blackbirds on the ground, the male was very unhappy with me, tried to scare me off, lots of alarm calls etc, was not over keen on the pigeons arriving for breakfast either, I was concerned over their choice of nest site, at the base of a sparse Lilac shrub, I was considering discouraging them, but searched Google.........

result..
The nest, built by the female, is low down in any suitable cover. Trees, shrubs and climbers are preferred, but nests can be found inside buildings, occasionally even on the ground. The nest is a substantial cup of grass, straw, small twigs and other plant material.

Always learning, will give them some space 

[Ian]

We have a nest in a similar location and the young are very human-friendly, we've found.

[SteveH]

Warning to parents and dog owners after venomous snake spotted on popular North Wales beach
Adders will not usually attack unless they are provoked or feel threatened

Parents and dog owners have been put on alert for venomous snakes across north west Wales. Adders are more likely to bite as the weather warms and the snakes emerge from hibernation.

Already there has been an unconfirmed report of a dog being bitten at Newborough, Anglesey. Walkers have also reported multiple sightings of adders on the Llŷn Peninsula, another North Wales location where the snakes tend to be more numerous.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/warning-parents-dog-owners-after-26825194

[Helig]

Adders are common at Loggerheads Country Park where they like the warm, or hot, rocks. They also like sandy soil and can be found at Wepre in the woods and fields.

[SteveH]

I spotted a large bird flying over the house last week, which I guessed as a Blue Heron, and Mrs H has pointed out on the RSPB Conwy reserve FB site a couple of photos taken by Sarah Horricks.

[SteveH]

Glaslyn osprey finds new lovebird and set to become dad again

An osprey who lost his mate has found a new lovebird and is set to become a dad again.

Aran returned to Glaslyn, in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, in April.

His partner, Mrs G, did not come back and is now believed to be dead after 20 years of returning from Africa to Wales.

But Aran, named after the national park's Yr Aran summit, has partnered up with a new bird in Wales.

She has been named Elen, after the mountain Yr Elen, which sits in Eryri's Carneddau range.

Rebecca Phasey, education officer for osprey protection group Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, said: "Aran attracted a new partner to the nest, and they bonded for a few weeks.

"And now she has laid two eggs. So we're so hopeful we'll see chicks in the Glaslyn nest again."

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65538964

[SteveH]

Resident spots stunning octopus in shallow waters of Deganwy

AN OCOTPUS was spotted in the shallow waters of Deganwy beach, and should serve as a ?good reason? to protect the seas from pollution.

The octopus was found by Liz McIndoe, a member of the Friends of the West Shore group, which is dedicated to helping to improve amenities of the West Shore Promenade in Llandudno.

The tentacled creature appears to be a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), which is normally found on the south and west coasts of the UK but does not usually come so close to the shore.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23522036.resident-spots-stunning-octopus-shallow-waters-deganwy/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

The North Wales towns and villages in the grip of 'extraordinary' bee swarms

Residents across North Wales have been left aghast by the sheer number of bee swarms descending in towns and villages this month. May often marks the start of the swarming season but beekeepers and householders are reporting larger numbers than usual.

In the past week, bees have made new homes in scores of attic spaces, from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Bethesda, Gwynedd. They?ve been reported in Dwyran on Anglesey, in willow trees in Ruthin, Denbighshire, and on chimneys in Llanwst, Conwy. A man reported a swarm in a bird box in Northop Hall, Flintshire.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-towns-villages-grip-26965181

[SteveH]

A ring Ouzel has appeared again in the garden this summer, I spotted it, and of course no camera, but got it just in case, and got lucky, along with a few regulars............the pigeon colours are getting more varied than ever.

Ring ouzels are black and white thrushes, similar in appearance to a blackbird. They spend the winter in Spain and northwest Africa, returning to the uplands of the UK to breed in the summer. Nesting often begins in late April, with two broods of chicks being common. Males sing from prominent crags and boulders, claiming a territory with their beautiful but desolate song. They have a varied diet that includes worms, insects and berries.

Ring Ouzel info... https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/ring-ouzel