Cambrian Ornithological Society site guide

Traeth Lafan (Lavan Sands)

An extensive area of sand and mud extending along the Menai Straits from Bangor to Llanfairfechan, part in Conwy and part in Gwynedd. Most of the area is now a series of nature reserves. SH6273.

Access

Access is possible at several points. The following run from east to west:

Llanfairfechan: There is a car park by the promenade, from which you can follow the path westwards to Llanfairfechan Sewage Works and the Morfa Madryn reserve, where there are two hides overlooking shallow pools. There is also a minor road, accessible only from the eastbound A55, leading to a small car park (SH668740) near the Morfa Madryn reserve - take the first left after passing the slip road for Llanfairfechan.

Aber: turn off the A55 at Aber and follow the minor road towards the shore, turning left at the bird reserve sign to reach a car park on the shore. There is a hide here, and you can follow the path in either direction along the shore. This area is the Morfa Aber reserve (SH649735).

Aber Ogwen (SH612723): At Llandegai, near Bangor, turn off past Penrhyn Castle then take a minor road going left towards the shore. Park at the car park at the shore. For the Spinnies reserve (North Wales Wildlife Trust) walk back along the road to reach the gate on your right.

Note that you can walk all alng the shore from Llanfairfechan to Aber Ogwen, though parts may be impassable at high water on the highest tides, and you may cause disturbance to roosting waders.

Birds

Traeth Lafan holds up to 7,000 Oystercatchers in winter, with the main roost on the spit opposite the Morfa Madryn Reserve. Curlew peak in early autumn, with up to 4,000 birds present; the main roost is at Morfa Aber. There are notable numbers of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe in this area in late summer and autumn, with over 300 of both species recorded. The pool at The Spinnies gives good views of wintering Kingfisher, Greenshank and Water Rail, with Little Egret usually also present at this time.
The promenade at Llanfairfechan is an excellent spot in winter, with a variety of grebes and divers present offshore and a flock of Twite usually in the area.

Recent rarities have included Black Scoter (the American race of Common Scoter), Green-winged Teal and Wilson's Phalarope, while Ring-billed Gull is regularly recorded in the area.

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