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Anglesey Raven Roost (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MarkHows
- Start date
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Parking is plentiful at Newborough Warren so far as I remember Mark. I checked my notebook for that year and it wasn't hugely helpful.
We walked into the forest and immediately found you couldn't see very far, but the ground is not flat and there were a couple of hills with places where you could scramble up a bank from the forestry tracks and get a view over the forest.
We also met some guys who were distributed about the forest doing a co-ordinated roost count, and they said there were a couple of drinking pools around which Ravens concentrate towards roosting time. Because the whole forest is the roost you don't get the whole congregation in one lump, but we had about 400 Ravens in one flock over a drinking pool from the hill viewpoint which wasn't at all bad!
I believe another good place to watch individuals would be along the line of the dunes, where with any wind at all you will find Ravens playing on the updraughts - I've seen cracking Autumnwatch film from there in past years. I seem to remember most of the Ravens are immatures, and the forest acts as a meeting and bonding place for them.
When we were there it was hitting between 1800 - 2000 but it varies widely year to year.
Thanks for the public question - it had slipped my mind. Sorry.
John
We walked into the forest and immediately found you couldn't see very far, but the ground is not flat and there were a couple of hills with places where you could scramble up a bank from the forestry tracks and get a view over the forest.
We also met some guys who were distributed about the forest doing a co-ordinated roost count, and they said there were a couple of drinking pools around which Ravens concentrate towards roosting time. Because the whole forest is the roost you don't get the whole congregation in one lump, but we had about 400 Ravens in one flock over a drinking pool from the hill viewpoint which wasn't at all bad!
I believe another good place to watch individuals would be along the line of the dunes, where with any wind at all you will find Ravens playing on the updraughts - I've seen cracking Autumnwatch film from there in past years. I seem to remember most of the Ravens are immatures, and the forest acts as a meeting and bonding place for them.
When we were there it was hitting between 1800 - 2000 but it varies widely year to year.
Thanks for the public question - it had slipped my mind. Sorry.
John
Andrew Clarke
Well-known member
Hi Mark
Two options come to mind to view the roost. The first is to use the small free car park at SH 410 671 then walk for several km's on the reasonable tracks along the southern edge of the Cefni Estuary. The track through the conifers here borders the saltmarsh which usually supports a small Merlin and Hen Harrier roost - always a nice bonus. Crossbill are often seen in the forest also. As I remember it when I last visited the Raven roost was concentrated on the south side of the mouth of the estuary but you will see birds arriving from all directions.
The other access point is to head SW from Newborugh village then pay a small toll (few quid) and drive right down to the beach car park at SH 408 634 and walk north for a shorter distance along the beach from here. It's a great site with spectacular views - worth them alone.
Most winter birding interest is based around raptors, waders and wildfowl. There are a few other sites in the area - the famous cob pool at Malltraeth on a high tide, the Braint Estuary to the south and the small pool at Llyn Rhos-ddu for example. Bear in mind that the whole area is grossly underwatched so there's a good chance of having the place to yourself!
Good Birding & Best Wishes
Andrew
Two options come to mind to view the roost. The first is to use the small free car park at SH 410 671 then walk for several km's on the reasonable tracks along the southern edge of the Cefni Estuary. The track through the conifers here borders the saltmarsh which usually supports a small Merlin and Hen Harrier roost - always a nice bonus. Crossbill are often seen in the forest also. As I remember it when I last visited the Raven roost was concentrated on the south side of the mouth of the estuary but you will see birds arriving from all directions.
The other access point is to head SW from Newborugh village then pay a small toll (few quid) and drive right down to the beach car park at SH 408 634 and walk north for a shorter distance along the beach from here. It's a great site with spectacular views - worth them alone.
Most winter birding interest is based around raptors, waders and wildfowl. There are a few other sites in the area - the famous cob pool at Malltraeth on a high tide, the Braint Estuary to the south and the small pool at Llyn Rhos-ddu for example. Bear in mind that the whole area is grossly underwatched so there's a good chance of having the place to yourself!
Good Birding & Best Wishes
Andrew
Last edited:
David Smith
Warrington Lancs
Just adding to the comment re' how beautiful that area is you can see some of that imediate area on my web site (see link below)
If you pay the small toll and drive straight through to the main car park you can then walk along the beach (parallel to the forrest) and onto the island....well worth it if you have the time.
The Cob pools are just a few miles up the road....you should see Pintail and we have, on several occasions, seen a Barn Owl on the fence at the side of the road
http://www.thenatureofphotography.co.uk/gallery_228037.html
If you pay the small toll and drive straight through to the main car park you can then walk along the beach (parallel to the forrest) and onto the island....well worth it if you have the time.
The Cob pools are just a few miles up the road....you should see Pintail and we have, on several occasions, seen a Barn Owl on the fence at the side of the road
http://www.thenatureofphotography.co.uk/gallery_228037.html
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
I remember years back watching the roost from the Cob embankment. Fantastic sight.
CB
CB
