Trail newsThis week, we've started work to upgrade another section of our trails to make them more wheelchair and pushchair-friendly, and to reduce the puddles following heavy rain. We've started on the section to Tal-y-fan Hide, which is now open, and where you've traditionally required a small boat if it's been raining hard. The guys are doing the section beyond the bridge pond today, and we hope that the new surface will be down by tonight and open to foot traffic over the weekend.
The irony of these improvements is that, temporarily, it'll be a bit more difficult for wheelchair users. It takes a few days for the slate to bed down and the surface is quite soft until it does. If you're planning a visit using a wheelchair/mobility scooter in the next couple of weeks, please ring us so that we can tell you the latest and advise you on the best route. We're confident that by Easter, all areas will be accessible again.
Next week, work will start on the section from the Carneddau Hide to the 'return loop' close to the A55. This will sort out the drainage in another traditionally wet area, but will mean that there will be trail closures each day. You will always be able to get right around the reserve, but may find you have to take a different route to usual, and that the Carneddau Hide is shut early next week.
Wildlife newsOK, that's enough footpath news, how about some birds? There continue to be a good number of migrants around for early April, with plenty of sand martins, willow warblers and chiffchaffs each day, a few swallows and blackcap has been heard a couple of times. A house martin on Wednesday (30th) was a very early record, and a wheatear (28th) is one of only a handful seen so far. A few white wagtails have been on the estuary this week, but April is the month that they usually go through. Star bird of the week is an osprey that flew up the Conwy Valley on Sunday (27th) afternoon
Red-breasted mergansers are plentiful too, perhaps gathering before they head into the hills to breed. A black-tailed godwit dropped in this morning, while a grey plover (28th), 2 greenshanks (29th) and a dunlin (30th) are the only other waders of note. On a winter theme, a redwing (30th) and a couple of siskins (1st) have been spotted, and a single pochard remains on the shallow lagoon.
It's not been a great week for butterflies, but bumblebees are a little more resistant to cool weather, and we've seen three different species this week. Check out the willow pollen to see them busy feeding.
Julian HughesSite Manager, Conwy