Nature & Wildlife

Two of our local beaches, Harlech and Bennar Beach in Dyffryn Ardudwy, have won the ‘Green Coast Award’ again this year. The award is aimed at rural beaches which provide a “natural, unspoilt environment’ as well as the excellent water quality standard required to achieve the more recognizable ‘Blue Flag Award’. The award is given out by the nice people at ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ with financial help from Europe. It’s great to see that our fantastic beaches are getting recognition at that sort of level. But I guess the downside might be that if more people visit our beaches it’ll be harder no maintain the standard. So mum’s the word!

There are 14 peaks in Wales over 3000 feet, or so I thought until recently. Apparently Tryfan’s credentials are under suspicion. Despite being one of the most handsome mountains in the Snowdonia National Park it’s height of 3002 feet has always meant that it only ever just scraped over the pass mark.

Three men, John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips are out to put the issue to rest once and for all however. They’ve already got form in this area having recently highlighting that Sgurr nan Ceannaichean did not qualify as a Munro Mountain. The Munro’s being the Scottish equivalent of the over 3000 feet club.

I for one really hope that one of my favorite mountains passes the grade. You can keep a track of the survey work by visiting the GandJSurvey channel on YouTube.

If you fancy having a go at climbing all 14 peaks the Snowdonia Society have put a great website together at www.14peaks.com . The record of 4hrs 19minutes has stood since 1988. Good luck with that!

The Glaslyn Ospreys are now proud parents to three chicks, the second chick was born on Thursday 14 May at 6.10am and the third chick was seen at 5.42am Sunday 17 May.

The recent stormy weather is a cause of concern with some twigs been blown off the nest early this morning (Monday 18 May), however the chicks are safe and well and the mother is doing an excellent job of mantling the chicks to protect them from the elements.

Mantling is one of the vital roles of the mother, if the chicks get wet and cold their body temperature will drop and they become vulnerable, they will need to keep dry and warm at this stage to ensure their successful growth.

The father is also doing his bit and working hard to catch local trout from the estuary down in Porthmadog to feed the chicks. He has been seen bringing between four and five fish to the nest every day, this will help the growth and development of the chicks and in six weeks they will start to learn the basics of flying.

Geraint Williams of The RSPB

We’re very proud that ‘Upland Escapes’ have selected us as one of their accommodation providers for their packaged walking holidays. Upland Escapes, founded in 2005, offer flexible and guided walking holidays for their clients. With established destinations in places such as the Austrian Alps the French Pyrenees and Grand Canaria they were keen to establish another base in Snowdonia.

It’s particularly pleasing that such experienced walking experts considered the mountains at our back door would offer the best walking experience to their clients. In turn, we’re very impressed by the package they offer. Thoroughly researched guided walks combined with gourmet picnics and our accommodation of course. Best of all they’ve asked Sheena and Gary, a local couple, to act as their guides or ‘upland managers’. You couldn’t hope to meet two nicer people.

Mountain landscapes and miles of sandy of beach are a rare combination destined to make the soul sing. The Rhinog Mountains are a secret wilderness of rock, heather and grassland, cut by streams and dotted with lakes. Upland Escapes

A pair of Red Kites seem to be regulatr visitors to the farm these days. We see them most freequently in the morning hovering over the fields next to the house. They’re easily distinguished from our resident Buzzards by their forked tails, giving them their welsh name “Boda Wennol” or Swallow Hawk. The UK Red Kite population was, at one stage, reduced to 10 breeding pairs in remote locations in Mid Wales. Their reappearance at Byrdir is testament to the success of the conservation efforts of many local people there.

Some of the bramble on the lane up to farm are beginning to ripen already. I always think its ironic how I spend hours carefully nurturing various fruit bushes in the garden while my favorite fruit grows wild and free on the side of the road. I always have to fight the urge not to run over raiders from the village who come up to pick them. I shouldn’t as there’s more than enough to go round.
My uncle John always told me that bramble leaves could be used to sooth a burn. Boiled up they’re also a good tonic for soar throats as well apparently. But be warned Uncle John used to tell me all sorts of rubbish like that.

I took this photo of some creatures living in our pond, but I have no idea what they are. I’m guessing that the dead animal being eaten is a smooth newt, but what are the other two? The shrimp like beastie on the right kept his tail on the surface of the water. It looked like he was breathing through it if that’s any help to anyone.
It is illegal to sell smooth newts under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Another revenue stream for the farm up the swanny, never mind.