What goes on at RSPB Cors Dyddga

11/02/2020

After the previous talk, I wasn’t sure whether attending another “bird group” talk would be relevant or beneficial for me. However, after having a look on their Facebook page I saw this week’s talk was about a local RSPB reserve, and so decided it could be quite interesting.

The talk was given by Ian Hawkins who is the site manager of RSPB Cors Ddyga reserve.

Cors Ddyga is a special scientific site of interest, about 15% of this is the RSPB reserve.

The site, found on Anglesey, is essentially a large wetland habitat, holding host to more than 30 scarce wetland plants.

The main reason for this reserve was to bring back Bitterns (Botaurus stellaris) as a welsh breeding bird.

The landscape of the reserve has changed massively over the years, from 1994 where there were two lakes and rush fields to 2012 where there are lakes, pools reed beds and grazing marshes.

The Bittern isn’t the conservation problem it once was now, thanks to this reserve, there are now over 200 breeding males.

Marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus) have also returned to the area, this wasn’t planned but very much welcomed.

Other remarkable features include the first recorded breeding of the Savis warbler (Locustella luscinioides) in wales.

The grassland supports one of the only lapwing colonies in wales.

Islands and banks have been created to stop the wash out of soil and aquatic invertebrates that the lapwings enjoy eating.

In 2017 a visitor trail opened up. Which is think is an important aspect to help with the education of the public.

I really loved hearing about the “behind the scenes” of running a site such as this one. I never saw myself as doing the more business and creation side of working with animals, but this did intrigue me. I still don’t think birds are of the greatest interest to me but hearing about them and all of the things this reserve in particular has achieved (and is continuing to achieve) was wonderful.

To find out more about the reserve, check out the link below

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/cors-ddyga/

For more information on Bangor’s ornithological society, follow their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/384082195059181/