Now arriving at Conwy International

The Conwy estuary, as are all good wetlands, is like an airport restaurant, open to visitors from all over the world. But its opening times are determined by the tide. When the tide is rising or falling, the runways are busy, bringing more wading birds to feed; but when the tide is high, the doors close while the muddy shelves are re-stocked, and the birds move on to the lagoons, either to carry on feeding, or to have a rest.

August is one of the busiest months at Conwy International. For example, it tends to be the month with the highest count of curlews, as adults and this year’s juveniles from northern Britain and Iceland stop for a few days – or longer – to feed up.  There are several hundred redshanks too; the Vardre Viewpoint, which we built last year, is the best place to see them.

Among this week’s visitors to the reserve have been black-tailed godwits, a few dunlins, multiple common sandpipers and green sandpipers, whimbrels, greenshank and a small number of snipe. Our great crested grebe chicks are now quite large, and we’re hopeful that they’ll fledge to adulthood.  Little egrets have not quite reached the three-figures of the previous week, but 66 on Monday (4th) was a good count nonetheless.

Wednesday (6th) saw a small ‘fall’ of migrating warblers. That’s always a bit exciting, as you never quite know what’s going to pop up next in any bush. There were several garden warblers, lots of blackcaps, and a reed warbler next to the estuary, not a place we expect to see them! A few sand martins have been among the many house martins, and a swift on Sunday (10th) is worth noting, as it could be the last one until April.

We’ve had good views of stoats this week, mostly along the estuary, but also on the Ganol Trail, and there have been lots of butterflies, including common blues, and lots of gatekeepers. A few common darter dragonflies are flying, around the dipping pond seems a favourite habitat. There are still plenty of six-spot burnet moths too – look on the thistle flowers or the ragwort; thanks to Adrian Foster for the photo.