Five wonderful bird sounds of the Wales Coast Path

The opening of the Wales Coast Path is capturing imaginations across the UK and beyond. Lots of the attention has been, of course, focused on what can be seen along the way.

But the magic moments we experience as we walk the coast are made as much in sound as in sight. And so in the run-up to the opening of the coastal path (and our record-setting ‘bird race’ along the entire route) we’ve selected five of the most evocative bird sounds that you might hear on your journey.

Curlew

Curlew by wcpbirds

[Welsh: Gylfinir] One of the most distinctive of wading birds, the Curlew prefers to breed on higher ground but can be seen and heard along the coast for much of the year. In spring, watch out for the similar Whimbrel, which stops off on its way North and gives a plainer, whinnying call as it flies.

Chough

Chough by wcpbirds

[Welsh: Bran Goesgoch] An undisputed favourite of many cliff-top walkers, the Chough is a crow with a difference or two – namely its curved red beak and legs. The West Wales coastline remains a stronghold for this scarce bird. Only around 500 pairs nest in the whole of the UK. And its characterful yelps are usually delivered as it tumbles along the cliff edge, appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as quickly.

Kittiwake

Kittiwakes in Mumbles, South Wales by wcpbirds

[Welsh: Gwylan Goesddu] Named after its call, which is usually heard in chorus at a cliff-face colony numbering hundreds or thousands, the Kittiwake is truly a ‘sea gull’. Unlike many of its cousins, it hardly ever strays inland, and spends the winter far out to sea. It returns to its precarious nesting places in the spring, particularly the cliffs around Anglesey and Pembrokeshire.

Raven

Raven by wcpbirds

[Welsh: Cigfran] It’s the sound of a Raven that often gives it away, as it sails high above your head. No other crow croaks as deeply, and when you clap eyes on it you can see why – it’s the size of a Buzzard!

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher by wcpbirds

[Welsh: Pioden y Mor] A familiar sound along rocky coastlines, where Oystercatchers like to hang out. They often call, in their rather panicky way, as they fly parallel with the shore – a stop-motion picture in black-and-white, with a long red beak.

 

Find out more about where to watch wildlife in Wales.

And if you’re out and about along the Wales Coast Path on 5 May, help us set a new record by telling us what birds you’ve seen. It’s as easy as posting to our Facebook profile or tweeting your records on Twitter with the hashtag #WCPbirds.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 10:38 am and is filed under Wales. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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