Having been designated with a number of conservational designation including Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, and Special Area of Conservation, the flats and surrounding lands are important areas for a number of species, especially birds. During the autumn and winter months, the sands are home to the largest known population of moulting great crested grebes in Britain, as well as large flocks of oyster catchers, red breasted mergansers and golden eye.

Managed as part of the Local Nature Reserve, and bordering in the reserve, Gwynedd Council manages two smaller terrestrial reserves;

Morfa Madryn

Straddling the border between Gwynedd and Conwy Counties, Morfa Madryn Nature Reserve is a mixture of primarily wetland habitats that are farmed by a family from Talybont. With approximately 25 hectares of woodland, coastal pasture, fresh water pools and reed beds, the reserve is very popular with bird watchers who come to use the three bird watching hides that are open for public use.

Of course, one of the star attractions at Morfa Madryn are the lapwings which nest annually on the reserve. Once a very common bird on agricultural land throughout Wales, this charming and acrobatic ground nesting bird is now very rare in this part of the country.

Access to Morfa Madryn is on foot eastwards for approximately a mile, via the coastal path from the promenade at Llanfairfechan (junction 15 on the A55).

Morfa Aber

Morfa Aber is located down on the shore at Abergwyngregyn. There is a public bird hide which is open all year round, where you can sit and relax whilst watching flocks of curlew, widgeon, and a number of other duck species as they shelter on the shore during high tide. If you're lucky, you can also catch a glimpse of the kingfisher or otters as the feed in the fresh water pools.

You can access Morfa Aber by following the brown and white nature reserve signs from junction 13 on the A55.

For further information, contact the Countryside and Access Unit on (01286) 679827.