Walking in Wales – Harlech & Porthmadog

We recently enjoyed a holiday in Wales.

Fri 28/08/15 Harlech beach Area. Sunny

After a look around Harlech village we enjoyed a walk, north, along a very windy huge beach this afternoon.

Sat 29/08/15 Barmouth & Shell Island. Sunny

We caught a packed train to a very busy Barmouth today, a very pretty village with a small harbour.

We caught the train back to Dyffryn Ardudwy and decided to walk back to Harlech via Shell Island.

We enjoyed a beautiful, long walk along the beach and decided, because the tide was out, to take a short cut via Shell Island to Harlech. We walked a good 3 miles to the end of the island but the water was still flowing back and the mud banks looked very dodgy indeed. So we had to retrace our steps to get to the road and then another hike to the railway station near Llanbedr for the 18:00 train. With it being a bank holiday Saturday and a very busy area we should have realised that this train would be cancelled!

The next (possible) train was at 20:00 so we did what comes natural, and headed to the pub – the Victoria Inn at Llanbedr. We arrived there after a 20 minutes 'stroll'.

A pint (or two) of Guinness later and feeling human again,we phoned for a taxi and got back to our campsite at 20:00. Ah! Tea Time.

Sun 30^th August 2015 Ynys area - sunny

We had a bike ride to Ynys and called at a stunningly beautiful little place called Llanchollwyn, where there is absolutely nothing. There were great views across the bay to Portmeirion.

C100 Canada Geese, c500 BHG, c10 Little Egret and 2 possible Black Tailed Godwit were on the estuary.

Mon 31^st Aug 2015 – sunny again.

We keep looking at the weather and the rain seems to be missing this little bit of the country.

We changed Caravan Parks today to Tyddyn Llwyn. It has a huge Dragon on the doorstep to welcome you.

We had a walk into Porthmadog, the railway station there takes some beating.

On the estuary c30 Redshank, c20 Mute Swan, GBBG, Little Egrets and Oystercatchers and possible Dunlin or probably Redshank - (the white on the back is throwing me a bit) and possibly 4 F. or Juv. Teal

Tues 1^st September 2015. Criccieth Area.

We enjoyed a beautiful long hike today going to Borth-y-Gest, Morfa Bychan, Black Rock Sands and eventually Criccieth.

Some great birds were seen along the way.

Sandwich Tern, Stonechat M,F and Juv, Buzzard, Raven – quite common here.

There were hundreds of Pied/White Wagtail all along the shore line with a flock of Linnet flying about. Also 4 small Waders which I believe are 3 Dulin and a Sanderling.

There was a scrawny looking Corvid that I could not ID,(I though it might be a juv. Raven but it looks very small) and a Kestrel & a Raven sparring, high up.

Wed 2^nd September 2015 Criccieth Area.

We caught the train to Criccieth and did yesterdays walk the other way around.

Poss. Juv. Shellduck and a Huge flock of Oystercatcher > 1,000.

Thur 3^rd September 2015.

We called a Caernarfon on the way home. The first day with rain since our arrival.

4 F. Goosander and C20 Mute Swan on the water with a Heron and 6 Cormorant about also.

Pics:- 

Fri 28/8/15.

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Dunlin ?

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Dunlin/

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I guess this is a Meadow Pipit seen in the huge sand dunes

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Harlech Castle

Sat 29/08/15

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Shell Island - tents everywhere

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Sun 30th Aug.

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A lady & her 2 young sons were getting very excited with these bugs!!

Some sort of Dung Beetle living off Dog Poo!!

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Are these Mallard? I cannot find another duck with a blue wing flash, in my Collins Bird Book!!

Mon 31st Aug

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I think these are Teal.

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Redshank ?? The white back is throwing me a bit

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Tues 1st Sept.

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Wed 2nd Sept.

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>1,000 Oyks

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Thus 3rd Sept.

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