Powys birdwatching?

gavinm · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-11, 09:10 PM

My family have bought me a trip to see the Red Kites being fed at Gigrin Farm and I'm off there next week as a birthday/Christmas present. I'm very excited.

However, I wondered if anyone had any recommendations of must-see places? We're staying near Llandindod-wells.

What do you think?

Twitcheruth · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-11, 08:16 AM

I'm sure you'll enjoy the close up views that you'll get at Gigrin Gavin.....don't forget your camera!

While in that area I would recommend RSPB Ynis Hir....a super reserve which will soon be reverberating with the sounds of Wood Warblers,Garden Warblers and Flycatchers to name a few!

Just down the road is the Cors Dyfi Osprey Project...a small reserve but well worth a walk around for the chance of Osprey......and Water Buffalo (see pic)!!!

I hope you have a super trip Gavin........do let us know what you see won't you!

astafjevs · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-11, 09:10 AM

Gwenffrwd-Dinas is another good RSPB reserve not far from Gigrin. We went last year and saw pied and spotted flycatchers, redstarts, and heard cuckoos and wood warblers.

Gigrin is great! Make sure you do the nature trail as well as watch the feeding, we saw pied flycatchers there too!

gavinm · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-11, 10:00 PM

Thank you so much for your responses. I'm with the whole family so two kids under three may make this a bit tricky. I need to have a plan ready in case the words, "you take yourself off for a few hours" are uttered.

Here's hoping!

Twitcheruth · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-11, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavinm

Thank you so much for your responses. I'm with the whole family so two kids under three may make this a bit tricky. I need to have a plan ready in case the words, "you take yourself off for a few hours" are uttered.

Here's hoping!

lol,fingers crossed for you Gavin!!!

gavinm · #6 (**permalink**) 17-04-11, 07:26 PM

Well, just back home. I wrote a response on Thursday but a dodgy internet connection meant everything I'd written wasn't stored so here goes...

Anyway, a brilliant few days. As said before it wasn't a birdwatching holiday rather a holiday with some bird watching in (and a definite view of Red Kites at Gigrin).

The whole thing was great. We stayed at a farm B&B a few miles from Llandrindod Wells which seemed miles from anywhere and we were treated to a Red Kites just overheard as we unloaded the car. My first ever! walks from the B&B showed up Redstarts, a Raven and a Honey Buzzard(!) The last was a real shock.

Gigrin was just superb with around 100 Red Kites amongst the Crows, Rooks and Ravens.

Lastly we had a trip to the Elan Valley which was another treat. From the visitor centre I saw my first Pied Flycatcher and also a few meadow Pipits. I wish we could have spent more time exploring the area as one quick walk at a dam turned up a Wheatear and bird I couldn't recognise!

So in the end I saw 5 birds I've never seen before:
- Red Kites (loads)
- Redstart (2)
- Pied Flycatchers (4)
- Ravens (about 6 at Gigrin)
- Honey Buzzard (1)

and more for the 2011 list:
- Swallows
- Wheatear
- Meadow Pipits
- Chiffchaff
- Willow Tit (kypersley reservoir on our way home)
- Sand martin

Thanks for your help and I'll try uploading some photos