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Cemlyn Nature Reserve
Cemlyn Nature Reserve, near Cemaes on Anglesey, is an internationally important sea bird colony. Up to three species of tern nest each summer on a series of islands in a lagoon. The terns return to breed on Anglesey from their wintering grounds off the coast of Africa and elsewhere.
The Sandwich tern colony is one of the largest in the UK and in 2006 held about 10% of the UK breeding population.
Highlights: Sandwich, Common and Artic terns; Golden plover; Oyster catcher; Ringed plover; Curlew; Dunlin; Redshank; Purple Sandpiper; Grey seals; common lizard; adder.
Location: Cemlyn is sign-posted from Tregele on the A5025 between Valley and Amlwch. Although the roads to the site are narrow, there are two car parks adjacent to the reserve
Grid references. SH329936 & SH336932.
The reserve is open throughout the year: admission is free.
The Sandwich tern colony is one of the largest in the UK and in 2006 held about 10% of the UK breeding population.
Highlights: Sandwich, Common and Artic terns; Golden plover; Oyster catcher; Ringed plover; Curlew; Dunlin; Redshank; Purple Sandpiper; Grey seals; common lizard; adder.
Location: Cemlyn is sign-posted from Tregele on the A5025 between Valley and Amlwch. Although the roads to the site are narrow, there are two car parks adjacent to the reserve
Grid references. SH329936 & SH336932.
The reserve is open throughout the year: admission is free.
Disastrous summer for Sandwich terns
The North Wales Wildlife Trust, responsible for one of Wales’ best bird watching sites, is in a sombre mood as one of the only Sandwich tern colonies in Wales suffered a disastrous summer.
The Wildlife Trust wardens at Cemlyn Nature Reserve had been hoping for a repeat of the success of recent years, with large numbers of breeding terns and perhaps some unusual bird visitors.
As Chris Lane, explained ‘Things started well at Cemlyn, we had over 1000 pairs of Sandwich tern nesting alongside other birds, but we have just had one of the wettest Junes on record. This makes it difficult for the terns as they have to keep their eggs dry and get out to sea to feed.’
The bad weather was not the only thing making life difficult for the terns. Jon Rowe, the second warden, explained, ‘the bad weather has been a problem for other birds as well. Unfortunately this has included Herring gulls – who are always on the look out for an easy meal, and this year they turned their hungry eyes to the tern chicks at Cemlyn.’
The Herring gulls regularly took eggs and young chicks. When the gulls attack the colony, the Sandwich terns become agitated; flying around in large groups trying to defend their young. This disturbance creates another problem – the eggs and chicks rapidly chill, and the nests are abandoned.
Chris added ‘July is usually the noisiest month. Tern chicks will be flying for the first time, but still calling for food from their parents who call as they return from long flights out to sea. But this year the terns have all started for their wintering grounds early leaving an eerie silence here at Cemlyn. But there is always next year and we will be doing everything in our power to avoid a repeat of the problem’.
Cemlyn is managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust.
The North Wales Wildlife Trust, responsible for one of Wales’ best bird watching sites, is in a sombre mood as one of the only Sandwich tern colonies in Wales suffered a disastrous summer.
The Wildlife Trust wardens at Cemlyn Nature Reserve had been hoping for a repeat of the success of recent years, with large numbers of breeding terns and perhaps some unusual bird visitors.
As Chris Lane, explained ‘Things started well at Cemlyn, we had over 1000 pairs of Sandwich tern nesting alongside other birds, but we have just had one of the wettest Junes on record. This makes it difficult for the terns as they have to keep their eggs dry and get out to sea to feed.’
The bad weather was not the only thing making life difficult for the terns. Jon Rowe, the second warden, explained, ‘the bad weather has been a problem for other birds as well. Unfortunately this has included Herring gulls – who are always on the look out for an easy meal, and this year they turned their hungry eyes to the tern chicks at Cemlyn.’
The Herring gulls regularly took eggs and young chicks. When the gulls attack the colony, the Sandwich terns become agitated; flying around in large groups trying to defend their young. This disturbance creates another problem – the eggs and chicks rapidly chill, and the nests are abandoned.
Chris added ‘July is usually the noisiest month. Tern chicks will be flying for the first time, but still calling for food from their parents who call as they return from long flights out to sea. But this year the terns have all started for their wintering grounds early leaving an eerie silence here at Cemlyn. But there is always next year and we will be doing everything in our power to avoid a repeat of the problem’.
Cemlyn is managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust.
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