THIS is an easy tramp along the east shore of Wales's finest inland wildfowl lake, Llyn Alaw, with the alternative of returning along various adjoining quiet lanes. Park at the Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water Visitor Centre and head across the dams, keeping your eyes open for summer visitors like the Sand Martin with the Swallows, and their young. Other visitors like Common Sandpipers, are already gathering to head south. More spectacular, but less likely, is a view of an Osprey hovering over the water,as these large black and white fish eagles regularly stop by en route between Africa to Scotland. The path closely follows the shore all the way up to the north end of the lake, and should give you many views of the varied waterfowl. Beautiful Great Crested Grebes might still be performing territorial dances, or be cruising with lovely little striped chicks on their backs. The stately and elegant forms of Grey Herons and Mute Swans are also usually in evidence. Although Alaw is a great place for winter wildfowl, there are many resident geese and diving and dabbling ducks to see. Shoveller, Mallard, all breed, as do Pochard, Tufted and the introduced and notorious Ruddy Ducks. As many of you may well know, Anglesey's population of this vigorous and striking American stifftail duck is being culled, for it is spreading to the continent and threatening the small Spanish population of its rare cousin, the White headed Duck. The problems are many, for if they can interbreed then they are not a separate species anyway; the culling is unpopular and not very successful; and some of us think that the Ruddies can probably help the very small numbers of White Headeds by re-introducing more vigorous genes back to them. But like Grey Squirrels and Mink, I guess the Ruddies are here to stay - unless real action is taken. At the north and shallower end of the lake is the hide, and this is also a good spot for waders like Green Sandpiper and Terns, especially as we get into August and September. Look out for the sadly declining Grey Partridge, no longer a common sight. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs might just still be singing in many bits of wood, and other warblers like Sedge, Willow and Grasshopper and Whitethroat, croaking Cuckoos, and bright Whinchats could all be seen. Malltraeth has been rather quiet, with two Little Egrets and just a few Shelduck chicks alongside the returning waders, although good numbers of Passerines bred on the Cob embankment. Crossbills breed in Newborough Forest, while various summer meadow flowers still brighten the rides and the Cob. Elsewhere, an uncommon but very vocal Corncrake graced Bull Bay Golf course, but was upstaged by a very elegant and fast flying Black-winged Pratincole hawking for insects over Mona Airfield - for its usual home is Russia. The much reduced numbers of Anglesey Brown Hares continue to give concern, while growing numbers of rabbits at least ensures more buzzard. philip@snow.swinternet.co.uk Tel'Fax (01407) 840512 | 
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