Our habitat is a 10 km stretch of the Cardigan Bay shore, from Monk's Cave in the South to Constitution Hill in the North.

By world standards, UK wildlife isn't particularly spectacular or unique, but the fact that it isn't all there on a plate, so to speak, means that there's a particular satisfaction in observing quite ordinary creatures as a result of patience and persistence.

We specially enjoy the behaviour of even very familiar species - the corvids are always fascinating, for example - but we are also fortunate in being able to experience some quite uncommon and iconic birds and animals right on what you might call our doorstep.

We've divided up our beat into five zones and describe some of the characteristic wildlife in each area.

  < Cliffs, farmland and scrub from Penderi Cliffs to Alltwen

  < Tanybwlch beach and lower reaches of the River Ystwyth

  < Aberystwyth Harbour and tidal range of the River Rheidol

  < Castle Point, College Rocks and the beaches either side.

  < Constitution Hill and points north.