Society Field Meeting Advertisement Anglesey & the Lleyn Peninsula Wednesday, 26 to Saturday, 29 April, 2006

Leader: Tom Clifton [Tom has prepared a more detailed pack including maps. Members hoping to attend should contact him on Clifton@seaspray.fsnet.co.uk or 01248 853359]

Introduction

Since the post 1991 survey of the Anglesey Sea Area S23 was started, 47 new records have been confirmed, some of which are new records for the Irish Sea. Some of the most notable examples being, Graphis albida, Alvania beanii, Alvania carinata, Sepia elegans, Sepia orbigniana, and Rissoa lilacina. The surveys have highlighted a number of species-rich shores on the south west coast of Anglesey, and the north coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, and I am confident that there are many more new records waiting to be found.

The purpose of this field meeting is to survey some of the best of these hot spot areas, (we can by no means cover all of them in one meeting). to see if a wider range of live records and possibly some new ones can be found.

The group will be looking at two of the best sites on south west Anglesey and two on the north Lleyn Peninsula including a unique area at Porth Dinllaen where this sheltered bay hosts a vast area of eel grass. It will also provide a unique opportunity to see New Zealand oysters, living wild and abundantly in the Menai Straits.

There will also be a fresh water lake to visit on Anglesey and a National Nature Reserve.

Programme

Wednesday, 26 April

1. Non-marine - Newborough Warren. Anglesey (SH425635). Meet at the car park adjacent to Llyn Rhos-ddu (SF1426647) at 10.00. Newborough Warren is a vast area of dunes and ancient scrubland and hosts a large number of wild ponies. The northwest boundary adjoins Newborough Forrest, a vast area of conifers managed by the Forestry Commission. The southeast boundary adjoins Traeth Abermenai, an extensive area of tidal sand flats at the southern entrance to the Menai Straits. On the southwest boundary are the more recent sand dunes and three miles of sandy beaches. The area is managed by the Countryside Council for Wales as a National Nature Reserve.

2. Marine (0.6m tide at 15.46) - Traeth Mawr (Aberffraw) (SF Good shell sand can be collected from the high tide line at this point. Meet at the parking area at Aberffraw Dunes (SH357690) at 13.00.

There will be a 0.75 mile walk along the Afon Ffraw and over a shelly bank at the river mouth, which is an excellent shell collecting area; some of my best samples of Scaphander lignarius have come from here. There is a short sandy beach on the left, which is in one grid, which the group can look at. The best area by far however is the rocky area on the west side of the river mouth, which is in the next grid. Just above this is a major gathering area of shells at the upper tide line where numerous species can be found along with excellent shell sand. Some new records have come from here, one small fragile shell which disintegrated on inspection and could not be sent for verification looked like a Cuspidaria sp., one I would particularly like to find again in the shell sand.

Thursday, 27 April

3. Non-marine - Llyn Maelog (Sf1323730), near Rhosneigr. Meet at lay-by opposite the path on the A4080 at (SH322 728) at 10.00. Sec map 2. This is a public access lake with various land owners and a section of shore on the east side which is controlled by the Ynys Mon Anglers Association who have given the group permission to survey their area. Apart from one area on the west side at Ty Hen where there are CCTV cameras, we should be able to survey most of the lakeshore.

4. Marine (0.5m tide at 16.46) - Rhosneigr (SH313727). Good shell sand can be collected at (SH316732). Meet in Rhosneigr car park at (SH318730) at 14.00.

This is possibly one of the best lower shore rock areas on Anglesey. At low tide, it is basically a shallow lake surrounded by high rocks on all sides, all of which are submerged at high tide and is probably the main source of shell sand that occurs at Rhosneigr. It should be an excellent site for live records and possible new ones too.

Friday, 28 April

5. Marine (0.5m tide at 16.46) - Nefyn (SH302408), Lleyn Peninsula. Meet at the beach car park in Nefyn (SH302407) at 11.30.

Exceptional shell sand can sometimes be collected at this point. (note: - the tide times at this part of the Lleyn Peninsula are 35 mins. earlier than in the previous two areas on Anglesey). The tide should be low enough to collect a sample of shell sand from here. The beach itself however is not particularly interesting at this point, flat sand with scattered stones down to the sub littoral. There is a rock headland to the west, which separates it from the next bay at Porth Dinllaen, which is by far the more interesting site.

6. Marine (0.5m tide at 16.46) - Porth Dinllaen (SH276415). Meet at the National Trust car park in Morfa Nefyn (SH282407) at 13.30, there is a £2 parking fee at this point.

Although Porth Dinllaen is on the north coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, there is a rock/clay headland which projects northwards and hooks round to the east such that at one point, the shore is almost facing south. The 60ft high cliffs protects the inner part of this bay from all winds except those from the east and these have only a short distance to travel across the bay. This results in a uniquely sheltered bay which hosts an extensive area of eel grass Zostera marina, which can be seen just below the water line in the picture on page 1. Potentially, this may possibly be the best site in the Anglesey sea area and has yielded up many species, some of which are new records for this area. This is also a perfect location for diving and snorkelling, and if anyone is interested, it could be a way of assessing the extent of the eel grass beds. There are also excellent catering facilities right on the shoreline.

6 7 Saturday, 29 April

7. Marine - It is suggested that the main part of today is spent conducting a review at my home in Benllech, of the shell sand found on the previous days surveys. I have one microscope and holding tank facilities for live specimens but if as many people as possible could also bring one with them, it will help this event greatly. My address is Seaspray, Rhianfa, Benliech, Anglesey, LL74 8RA, 01248 853359, email Clifion@seaspray.fsnet.co.uk (SH5 19820). All members of the group will be welcome. See map 4.

A non-marine event can be arranged for those who prefer it.

8. Marine( tide at 18.18) - Barras (Menai Strait) (SH480655). Park at the roadside at this point at 1 7.00.

A walk northwards along the shoreline will give the group a chance to see New Zealand oysters Tiostrea lutaria, living wild and abundantly in this area. Tiostrea lutaria was introduced some years ago into near-by oyster farms by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and are now abundant in many areas of the Straits south of here and also along parts of the south west coast of Anglesey. This will be a unique opportunity to collect good shell specimens. Please note however:- This is adjacent to a major oyster and mussel farming area and there will be oyster baskets at low tide to the south of where the group will be and should be avoided.

Fig 1 Llyn Maelog (Tom Clifton)

Fig 2 Porth Dinllaen (Tom Clifton)

Fig 3 Traeth Mawr (Tom Clifton)

Fig 4 Nefyn (Tom Clifton)

Fig 5 Rhosneigr (Tom Clifton)

Fig 6 Barras (Tom Clifton)

Fig 7 Porth Dinllaen (Tom Clifton)