This week, work commences to ready a North Wales beach for the yearly return of its renowned residents. Volunteers will join forces with experts and council staff to construct a 3.5km perimeter compound on the Denbighshire coast.
For added security, 3km of electric fencing will be utilised to form 11 pens on a shingle ridge amidst the sand dunes near Gronant. Everything must be set up prior to the arrival of their feathered summer guests to avoid any disturbances. The effort is part of a twenty-year initiative to protect the area’s Little Terns, which are expected to fly in from west Africa towards the end of April into May.
Given that these birds raise their young in shallow scrapes in the shingle, they are highly susceptible to any form of disruption. Factors such as weather, tides and human interference all influence whether the birds have a successful breeding season. Predation often poses the greatest threat – despite security measures, crows managed to snatch 60 eggs back in 2005.
Disaster struck again twelve years later when a fox infiltrated the pens and wreaked havoc, accounting for a significant portion of the 160 eggs lost that year. A storm had swept sand from beneath the fences, providing an entry point for the bushy-tailed intruder, reports North Wales Live.
At the close of the season, the fencing will be dismantled to adhere to a no-trace policy in an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Once more, a visitor centre and a hide will be constructed on the dunes, allowing the public to observe the colony without causing disturbance.
North Denbighshire coastal ranger Claudia Smith shared: “We maintain this set up at the location as the birds are very vulnerable to human disturbance and they are also at risk from predators both in the air and on the ground. We’ll have a team of wardens at the visitors centre from early May to protect the birds, talk to visitors and collect information about this year’s colony.”
Gronant boasts the largest breeding colony of Little Terns in Wales – with the only other site being at Point of Ayr in Flintshire. Last year, 166 breeding pairs were recorded, resulting in 158 fledglings taking flight, a slight increase from the 155 noted in the 2023 season.
Notably, in 2024 the site celebrated its first successful breeding of avocets, with two chicks fledging – a species that was once extinct in the UK.
The setup and maintenance of the site are managed by Denbighshire Countryside Services along with members of the North Wales Little Tern Group and Merseyside Ringing Group. Volunteers are invited to assist with the construction of the fencing on these dates: Tuesday, April 15; Thursday, April 24; and from Tuesday to Friday, April 29–May 2.
Volunteer assistance is also appreciated throughout the season (May-August). Claudia expressed her gratitude, stating: “None of this would be possible without the fantastic support of all the volunteers who have helped us over the last two decades.”
If you’re keen on volunteering at the colony, or fancy a visit to the site, drop an email to claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk or give her a ring on 07785 517398.
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