Coastal Wildlife
Go wild along the Ceredigion coast. A range of habitats await you - cliffs,
sandy bays, storm beaches, dunes and estuaries.
Sea birds commonly seen along these areas include herring gulls, lesser black backed gulls, oyster-catchers and cormorants. At Birds Rock near New Quay, large numbers of guillemot, razorbill, kittewakes, fulmars and shags nest each summer. Coastal cliffs are also the haunt of the Peregrine Falcon. You may also see the Chough - the red-billed and red-legged member of the crow family.
In summer, the flowers of the cliff faces and coastal slopes are at their most colourful. Plantlife includes thrift, sea campion, common scurvy-grass, sea mayweed, vetch and the sea plantain. The sand dunes at Ynyslas bordering the Dyfi Estuary are also rich in flowers.
A large area of saltmarsh lies along the southern shore of the Dyfi estuary. The saltmarsh and adjoining mud flats are sources of food for birds, especially over-wintering migrants such as teal and wigeon.
The coastal waters of Cardigan Bay are a haven for wildlife. Grey seals use secluded coves to haul out on rocks and bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise are frequently seen close inshore. Cardigan Bay’s population of bottlenose dolphins and their Cardigan Bay habitat are of international importance. This area is a marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Other protected features of the SAC include sea caves, the Atlantic grey seal and sea and river lamprey.
There is another marine protected area further north in Cardigan Bay - Penllyn and Sarnau SAC. Its habitats, including ‘sarns’ and estuaries, as well as the Bottlenose Dolphin and Atlantic grey seal give the area its special interest.