Wondering why we needed to knock part of the existing building down at South Stack?  Why could it not simply be renovated?  When the RSPB purchased the Cafe and buildings at South Stack the rear of the property was a family home and the layout of the building was not well suited as an office, for storage or to receive deliveries.  Also, visitor numbers have increased vastly over recent years and it is well documented that…

Whilst the building is being demolished at South Stack we're delighted to find that we have had a bumper year for chough chicks.  26 chicks are known to have fledged on the reserve, up from 15 last year.  They can be seen on the reserve being fed by their parents.  Mum and dad teach them the skills they need to survive and once they learn to feed themselves they will leave their parents and join the 'non breeding flock…

This week at South Stack we have seen skips and demolition equipment arrive on site ready to get to work knocking down the rear of the visitor centre.  Its not as simple as just knocking the building down though.  Before the bulldozers can start work the windows will need to be removed and wiring taken out along with any other items that can be reused or recycled.   

Members of the team at South Stack met recently with representatives…

The team at South Stack have been delighted to see contractors R L Davies & Son Ltd (RLD) start work on the new Visitor Centre development over recent weeks.  Their compound is all setup and a new entrance has been put in place for visitors.  They have begun by stripping out the inside of what was our old office building and the visitor toilets.  Demolition work should begin this week. Sandwiches, drinks and ice…

We’re improving the visitor centre and café at RSPB South Stack. This new development will provide visitors with better facilities, including a stunning ground-to-ceiling view from the café to RSPB South Stack’s dramatic spectacle, as well as a new café seating area and toilets.

Following consultation with the appointed contractor - R L Davies & Son Ltd (RLD), a new time frame has been…

Spring is an exciting time of year at South Stack, and many visitors to the nature reserve enjoyed the unusually warm weather during half-term week. Stonechats are starting to hold territory on the heath, choughs are actively renewing their pair bonds, and we’ve seen guillemots and razorbills on the seacliff ledges, though it will be many weeks before they lay eggs.

We’ve been finishing off the last of the winter…

To walk along the cliffs of RSPB South Stack on a late summer evening provides the release from everyday stresses. The scenes on offer are what photographer’s dreams are made of; a deeply red-coloured sky fading away in the distance, choughs criss-crossing mid-air. Although the nesting seabirds – puffins, razorbills and guillemots - have now left the cliffs there’s still plenty to see. The reserve is now in bloom. The…

I arrived at South Stack on a dull, wet and windy late Friday afternoon in December and was welcomed by the team here and shown my accommodation, which I have to say is absolutely brilliant, perched up on the cliffs with sea views. It’s a good place to enjoy the wind too, which is part and parcel of the experience here. Rain isn’t unknown either and so acclimatising to and exploring the island at the week-end was challenging…

The weather is finally warming up and the Spring birds are starting to arrive. Up to five thousand guillemots can often be seen on the cliffs - they have been coming and going since January but won't stay permanently until they start breeding sometime in April.

Guillemots on the cliff

Razorbills have also recently arrived but like the guillemots won't stay until they start breeding. A pair of peregrine falcons…

Within the RSPB volunteers are an important part of the day to day running of all aspects of this wonderful charity.  From working on reserves, administration, people engagment to working in the shops and cafes, without volunteers we wouldn't be able to continue giving nature a home.

Here at RSPB South Stack we recently had an awards ceremony to celebrate the hard work put in by our volunteers over the years, which…

The team here at RSPB South Stack have been enjoying the sunshine and so have the wildlife. Last week an adder slithered up to the visitor centre, a rare treat to see these secretive reptiles up close.

The adder, Britain’s only venomous snake is quite common throughout the UK and lives in bushy undergrowth which makes seeing one tricky. Although venomous, these snakes are non aggressive only attacking when provoked or…

Hi Everyone, For the past few years from September to November we've had a flock of sheep grazing Holyhead Mountain as part of our close shepherding conservation grazing programme. We're excited to announce that this year we've been able to double the amount of grazing and so from mid July to end of November, our flock of Hebridean sheep will graze the mountain as part of our close shepherding project. Our Shepherd…

We have much to report since our last blog to keep you updated with the latest news from South Stack Cliffs.

For those of you that have visited us over the last two months, you may have been some of the lucky few to catch a glimpse of our peregrine falcon nest. We were lucky enough to follow the chick’s progress right from hatching to fledging on Thursday 19 June. Both adults and chick are still being seen in the…

It was a great start to half term week with both our seabirds for beginners and optics events drawing in the crowds and getting people closer to the wildlife here at RSPB South Stack Cliffs. Guillemots, razorbills, puffins, shags, kittiwakes, and fulmars were some of the wonderful seabirds we learnt about on our seabird walk, and the retail team were helping the public with expert knowledge on the various binoculars…

Our Wonderful Ellins Tower with the Lighthouse in the background.

On the 24th,25th and 26th of May 2014 RSPB South Stack held an optics weekend. This gave members of the public the opportunity to try out a very comprehensive range of RSPB optics. There were RSPB staff on hand to explain the ins and outs of the particular item being tried out.

We had a full range to offer (without any obligation) were it was possible…

This Sunday 18 May, RSPB South Stack Cliffs will be attending the Holyhead Sea Cadets event at their base at Newry Beach. We hope the day will bring a great turn out of people visiting the event and supporting the Sea Cadets and local stall holders. RSPB South Stack will be there to tell people about what we are doing to give nature a home and just what you can do to help. Another reminder that the next event…

It has been a pleasure these last few weeks working with the Holyhead Girl Guides to help design a new wildlife garden area at the South Stack Visitor Centre. The girls have been involved with helping design different parts of the garden area and doing lots of research into the different materials used for wildlife gardening. They've been busy drawing up some rather elaborate designs that Kevin McCloud (of grand designs…

The recent sunshine has meant a bumper sightings list here at RSPB South Stack Cliffs here is an update of just some of the things you might see if you call in for a visit. Choughs Mr and Mrs Mousetrap have been seen going in and out of their nest a lot more frequently. We have a camera once again on the nest, this time in full colour. Pop in to the Visitor Centre or Ellin’s Tower to follow their progress. …

You've probably all noticed that we’re closing down our Conwy and South Stack Facebook pages and we have set up a new ‘RSPB North Wales’ page. We understand that some of you will be disappointed to see these pages go. Here are some questions that you might have about all this change... Why haven’t you just changed the page name? Unfortunately Facebook doesn't allow us to change the name of the page unless you have…

Enjoy a tasty homemade Christmas lunch this year at RSPB South Stack Visitor Centre. Starters are Creamy Garlic Mushrooms served on toasted bloomer bread or Homemade Vegetable Soup served with crusty roll. You will follow this up with a succulent Roast Turkey with traditional garnish or Brie and Cranberry Puff Pastry Parcel, both served with all the trimmings. For Pudding, we offer a Homemade Cream Trifle, Christmas…

On Tuesday the 8th of October 2013 Lill one of our flock migrated to Australia, she hitched a ride on a much bigger bird (Qantas). Before starting her journey she stopped off for a feed with the rest of her flock at the 'Mandarin Royal' Holyhead.

We all had a smashing Chinese meal and everyone was able to say their last farewell. As well as showing pictures of the night I have include pictures of South Stack…

Saturday the 22nd of June we held a Bioblitz at South Stack. This is a snapshot in time of recordings of all wild life. We had experts and the general public pooling their recordings.

The data was recoded using 'Cofnod'a North Wales Recording Service. Below is an extract from their website and will explain who they are better than I can.

About Us

Cofnod is one of four Local Records Centres (LRCs…

Sunday the 9th of June was a glorious day. We held a demonstration of sheep shearing for the public. Events like this demonstrate the versitility of the RSPB.

We not only protect Birds, Reptiles, Flora and Fauna,  we interact with all wild life. Sheep play a major role in helping to keep the South Stack reserve healthy. They graze the Heather and Gorse to keep the grass at a level where the Chough can reach the invertebrates…

Here are 10 fascinating facts about moths you might not know:

1) There are over 2400 species of moth in the UK alone.

Moths outnumber the amount of butterfly species in the UK by over 40 to one.There are over 2400 species of moth in the UK, compared to 59 butterfly species. Moths species range in size between the size of a pencil tip to as big as bat.

2) Some moths only fly during the day.

The UK boasts almost three…

I started my day at the visitor centre before making my way down to Ellins Tower.

The scenery is breathtaking I never tire of it, I was to spend the day in the tower with Charlotte our Assistant People Engagement Officer, our job was to meet and greet people. We get many visitors many of which are on holiday, others are mainly people who have come specially to see the nesting sea birds.

On approaching the tower…