A weekend in North Wales

We had a family get together this weekend, staying at Godrer Coed, a cottage near Glan Conwy. On Thursday we spent the day on the Great Orme which was full of flowers including a few of my favourites such as bloody cranesbill and the two species of rockrose.

I don't think that I've ever seen hoary rockrose so well and I've certainly never noticed the grey / green, almost icy leaves before. 

Common rockrose has deeper green leaves and does not have the icy leaves.

Bee orchids are in full flower now, especially at Conwy RSPB.

Friday was a day on Anglesey and we started at the ever impressive South Stack with all of the usual seabirds seen including about five puffins from the steps down to the lighthouse. Also on the cliffs, a couple of specimens of spatulate fleewort Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. maritima also known as South Stack fleewort, an endemic to these cliffs. It was in full flower but unfortunately I'd forgotten my bridge camera so couldn't get a photograph of the plant because it was out of reach of my phone camera.

On Friday afternoon we visited Newburgh Warren and walked onto the beautiful Ynys Llanddwyn. 

There were a couple of choughs flying around this building allowing quite close views.

Pilots houses, Ynys Llanddwyn.

From the old lighthouse I could see gannets and Manx shearwaters out at sea.

Godrer coed from Conwy RSPB.

Sunset over the Great Orme.

Conwy harbour.

Elaine rescuing a juvenile herring gull which had become entangled in fishing line.