The Kingfisher Is Hovering Over The Otter Iolo Williams North Wales July 2025
Always great wildlife, lots of laughs, and cake with Iolo along!
From the 21 – 25 July 2025 we ran one of our very popular Best of North Wales Wildlife Tours with our great friend Iolo Williams, of Spring Watch fame.
All six guests met at our base for the tour, The Princes Arms Hotel, in the beautiful Conwy Valley. Where the wildlife is literally seen from the doorstep of the hotel. As everyone was getting to know each other Iolo spotted a Peregrine Falcon soaring above the valley, wonderful start, we also watched Red Kite, Common Buzzard, and Sparrowhawk all before lunch from the front of the hotel.
Northern Lapwings bred succesfully at RSPB Conwy.
After lunch we took the minibus to RSPB Conwy where we enjoyed lots of birds on the lagoons including Northern Lapwings which had bred on the reserve for the first time in many years, raising four young to flying – wonderful. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a viewpoint overlooking the Conwy Valley and had a wonderful, prolonged view of a Goshawk, we rarely have a Goshawk for as long as this sighting. At one point the Goshawk interacted with a Common Buzzard, and it was fantastic to see the two raptors alongside each other.
On the 22 July we took a pre-breakfast walk by the Conwy River and we were so glad we did. We hadn’t gone far when Iolo spotted an otter! This rare mammal was moving upstream close to the riverbank and everyone quickly got on to it. The otter made it was slowly along in and out of the riverside vegetation and then a flash of blue and Alan announced “the Kingfisher is hovering above the otter” what a thrilling and totally unexpected moment. Breakfast tasted so good back at the hotel.
We then headed to Llandfairfechan on the north coast where the tide was high and at first few birds seemed to be about. But we had a good scan and picked up Sandwich Terns, Gannet, Curlews, lots of Oystercatchers and two Kestrels. Next, we visited Aber Ogwen where we saw another Kingfisher but no otter this time! As always lots of birds here including 13 Greenshank that landed close to the hide, Goosander, a single Red-breasted Merganser, and Common Eider.
Everyone loves to see Atlantic Puffins.
After a lovely lunch in Beaumaris, we took a boat trip around Puffin Island, luckily the sea was calm so even Alan was fine. It was great fun and the views of the wildlife were fantastic. Of course, the Atlantic Puffins were the stars of the show with birds flying past, on the cliffs, and bobbing about on the sea close to the boat with beaks full of fish – just as they are supposed to look. A few Common Guillemots and Razorbills were still around the island along with good numbers of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Great Cormorants and European Shags. A gang of Atlantic grey seals were hauled out on the rocks, and we enjoyed lovely close views, a breeding plumaged Ruddy Turnstone was a beautiful sight amongst the seal. Hot chocolates went down well back on land.
On the 23 July we again had a pre-breakfast walk by the river no otter but a brief view of a Kingfisher and also super views of a Dipper feeding mid-stream for ages and two Mandarin ducks were a nice surprise.
After another delicious breakfast, interrupted by Jays, Nuthtach, and Siskins on the bird feeder outside the window we headed into the hills. It was fairly quite at first – Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Stonechat, and Linnets but the scenery was beautiful. A coffee and cake stop was welcome and always good to support rural businesses. Then up into the Clocaenog Forest where Common Crossbills were mobile in the tress above us, a family of Goldcrests showed well, and a Raven soared overhead. A lovely lunch was followed by a visit to the Llyn Brenig Ospreys where the North Wales Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers always provide a warm welcome. Two very well grown young Ospreys were on the nest with the adult male and female in a dead tree nearby. What a treat to see four Ospreys in North Wales. Then a change of scenery as we headed out to an area of moorland. We parked up and were about to set off for a walk when a Hobby was seen dashing over the heather! An uncommon bird in North Wales and luckily this super-fast falcon stayed around hawking for insects over the moor. As we watched this fantastic raptor Iolo spotted a male Hen Harrier low over a hillside and coming towards us! This was just amazing two very special birds of prey in view at the same time. We switched to watch the harrier, sorry Hobby, as it swept low over the ground what a glorious sight. The male Hen Harrier is Iolo’s favourite bird and easy to see why as this “grey ghost” of bird drifted effortlessly back and forth over the moor – superb.
Still a huge thrill to see an Osprey in the skies over North Wales.
On the 24 July another pre-breakfast walk and this time two Dippers were enjoyed along with a lovely juvenile Common Redstart – best way possible to work up an appetite.
After breakfast we headed for Anglesey and first stop Holyhaed Harbour where we enjoyed amazingly close views of Black Guillemots and very unexpectedly for July a Common Guillemot too. Next RSPB South Stack and as we stepped out of the minibus and immediately saw a Red-billed Chough! One of the birds we hoped to see here what a perfect start. We more views of these wonderful crows as we walked to the viewpoint. Most of the seabirds had finished breeding but still Kittiwakes here and a lone Razorbill. Offshore we watched Manx Shearwaters, Gannets and a single Mediterranean Gull.
After a delicious lunch at the Sea Shanty Café, we spent the afternoon with our great friend, Hugh, AKA “the squirrel whisperer” as Iolo christened him a few years ago. As always it was a magical experience to have close up views of wild red squirrels just feet away from us. Hugh knows everything there is to know about red squirrels and their history on Anglesey – where they are doing very well. Plenty of woodland birds to enjoy here too including a Robin feeding from the hand what a lovely afternoon.
The 25 July and day five already, the time had flown by as always on these lovely tours. The pre-breakfast walk was rather quite but we did see the only Willow Warbler of the tour, how sad that these once abundant birds are so less common now,
After another wonderful breakfast we headed to the Great Orme at Llandudno. At the first stop, even before getting out, we saw a Common Whitethroat again the only one of the trip. We made our way around the headland seeing Red-billed Chough, Peregrine, Black Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Shags. Two harbour porpoises offshore were a thrill to see along with Atlantic grey seals.
Next, we called in at RSPB Conwy to coincide with the high tide and there were plenty of birds to enjoy. A flock of Eurasian Curlew held three Whimbrel amongst them – great to see these migrant birds on the way south. Lots of Eurasian Oystercatchers flew in to roost here, joining a single Common Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, a small flock of Northern Lapwings.
Sadly, it was time to return to the hotel for lunch and bid goodbye to our lovely guests. Huge thanks to Jana, Gail and Eric, Bill, James, and Michael for their wonderful company – we had a lot of laughs on this trip! Also, many thanks to everyone at the Princes Arms for looking after us all so very well.
Come and join us for wonderful birds and wildlife, delicious food, lovely hotels, and lots of laughter.
Come And Join Us For Wonderful Birds And Wildlife In 2026 and 2027 – the following tours have availability.
We are pleased to say we have had a lot of bookings for our tours recently but don’t worry we are working on new tours all the time! See below…
New idea – Panama Harpy Eagles And Much More November 2026 please ask for details.
New idea – Tigers and Indian Rhino And So Many Birds – February 2027 please ask for details.
Iolo Williams Best of North Wales Tours Come And Join Us For Great Wildlife And Cake!
All our 2025 tours with Iolo are fully booked. Book now for 2026.
20 – 24 July 2026 – 4 places
3 – 8 August 2026 – 6 places
7 – 11 September 2026 – just one place available.
7 – 11 November 2026 – 6 places
9 – 13 December 2026 – 4 places
The price for the Iolo Williams Tours is £1975.00 per person. Please email us for details
All tours with Iolo Williams are 5 day/four night tours based at the lovely Princes Arms Hotel in the Conwy Valley. Each day we headed out to explore the varied habitats of North Wales. All meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day five are included, all rooms are ensuite.
Extremadura Spain – with Iolo Williams from Spring Watch 27 April 2026 – 7 days.
One of our favourite destinations – Extremadura – come and join Iolo Williams and discover the amazing birds and wildlife in this beautiful region of Spain. Great Bustards strut the plains, Griffon, Cinereous, and Egyptian Vultures soar in the blue skies along with Spanish Imperial Eagles, European Rollers and Bee-eaters add a splash of colour, Lesser Kestrels nest near our hotel, carpets of wildflowers and big skies add to this wonderful tour. We stay in a beautiful hotel, enjoy delicious food, small group just six guests with two guides. Just Two places available.
Come and join Ruth and Alan for a Best of North Wales Birdwatching Trips Tour
2 – 6 September 2026
A 5 day/four night tours based at the lovely Princes Arms Hotel in the Conwy Valley. Each day we headed out to explore the varied habitats of North Wales. All meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day five are included, all rooms are ensuite. The price for this Birdwatching Trips Tour is £1,395.00. Please email us for details.