On 4th May 2024, I visited the following sites:
Cwm Rheidol, Ceredigion
RSPB Ynys-Hir, Powys
MWT Dyfi Osprey Project, Powys
Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ceredigion
Rhayader and Elan Village area
My first visit of the day was to Cwm Rheidol, a short distance from my overnight stay at the George Borrow Hotel in Ponterwyd.
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Wood Warbler (3 singing males), Willow Warbler (1 singing male plus 2 other singing males), Chiffchaff (4 singing males), Blackcap (1 singing male plus 2 other singing males), Goldcrest (several birds heard calling or singing), Grey Wagtail (1), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Mallard (3)
Addition to 2024 UK year list: Wood Warbler
My next visit was to RSPB Ynys-Hir, a site that I had visited many times before and one of my favourites in Wales.
RSPB Ynys-Hir is situated on the Dyfi estuary with the mountains of southern Snowdonia to the north and the Cambrian mountains to the south. There is an extensive range of habitats at RSPB Ynys-Hir including oak woodland, estuary saltmarsh, lowland wet grassland, freshwater pools, reedbeds and peat bog and this provides for a wide variety of species.
The undoubted highlight of my visit to RSPB Ynys-Hir this year was extended views of 2 Otters swimming and hunting, my first record of this mammal in Wales. Unfortunately, due to the continuing rain, I decided to leave my camera in the car so I have no photos of this amazing encounter!
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Pied Flycatcher (1 singing male and 4 other singing males heard), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Wood Warbler (1 singing male plus another singing male heard),Garden Warbler (2 singing males), Grasshopper Warbler (2 singing males), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Cetti’s Warbler (2 singing males), Willow Warbler (6 singing males), Chiffchaff (7 singing males), Blackcap (3 males, 2 females plus 4 other singing males heard), Sand Martin (c.20), Swallow (c.10), House Martin (1), Nuthatch (3), Mistle Thrush (1 singing male), Goldcrest (1 plus several other calling and singing birds), Siskin (c.5), Coal Tit (1), Common Buzzard (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Great White Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Common Sandpiper (1), Curlew (1), Lapwing (4), Oystercatcher (5), Common Redshank (1), Wigeon (1 male), Mallard (5), Shelduck (5), Cormorant (1), Mute Swan (4 including a pair with 8 juveniles), Canada Goose (c.100 including some pairs with juveniles), Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (1), Moorhen (2), Otter (2), Grey Squirrel (c.10)
Additions to 2024 UK year list: Spotted Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler
The MWT Dyfi Osprey Project lies just 3 miles to the north of RSPB Ynys-Hir. It is a conservation project at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve under the management of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and is primarily dedicated to the protection of a breeding pair of Ospreys which can be watched on site or via a live YouTube stream.
In 2011, for the first time in over 400 years, Ospreys bred in the Dyfi valley at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve following 3 years work to reintroduce them into the area.
On 18th April 2014, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust opened a brand new, 3 floor £1.4m observatory. From the upper viewing level, over 30 feet above the bog below, the building provides a full 360 degree view of the Cors Dyfi nature reserve and Dyfi valley with the Plynlimon mountains and Snowdonia National Park beyond …. plus the nesting Ospreys.
In addition to the headlining Ospreys, a Beaver enclosure has been set up in partnership with the Welsh Beaver Project …. see here and here.
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Osprey (male and female), Red Kite (2), Pied Flycatcher (1 singing male), Grasshopper Warbler (2 singing males), Reed Warbler (at least 2 singing males), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male plus several other singing males heard), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male), Willow Warbler (1 singing male plus 4 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (2 singing males), Swallow (2), Reed Bunting (2 singing males), Canada Goose (4)
Addition to 2024 UK year list: Osprey
Photo: MWT Dyfi Osprey Project visitor centre
Photo: screen grab from live camera stream in the MWT Dyfi Osprey Project visitor centre
Photo: screen grab from live camera stream in the MWT Dyfi Osprey Project visitor centre
Photo: artwork in the MWT Dyfi Osprey Project visitor centre
After my visits to RSPB Ynys-Hir and MWT Dyfi Osprey Project, I returned to Ponterwyd and nearby Bwlch Nant yr Arian
The Visitor Centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian is perched on a dramatic hilltop, straddling the boundary between the lowlands and uplands and has commanding views of Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains.
Bwlch Nant yr Arian is well-known for its long-established tradition of daily feeding of Red Kites. It initially became a Red Kite feeding station in 1999 as part of a programme to protect the small number of these birds in the area at that time but now up to 150 birds can be seen coming in to feed in the afternoons. Unlike other Red Kite feeding stations in Wales, there is no charge to watch and photograph these amazing birds.
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Red Kite (c.150), Grey Heron (1), Goosander (4 males), Tufted Duck (male and female), Mallard (2 males), Little Grebe (1), Tree Pipit (1 singing male), Willow Warbler (1 singing male), Lesser Redpoll (1 calling male)
Photo: Bwlch Nany yr Arian
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kites
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: male Goosanders
Photo: male Goosander
After the incredible spectacle of so many Red Kites at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, I drove the 23 mile minor road across the mountains to Rhayader.
From here, I drove the short distance to Elan Village and picked up the very narrow road at RSPB Carngafallt which passes through some lovely woodland and other landscapes before returning to a point on the Elan Village to Rhayader road. At one point, there is a view of the River Wye which I usually stop at to hopefully see Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper.
Driving this road provided the following highlights (heard only records in italics): Common Redstart (1 male), Willow Warbler (several singing males), Blackcap (several singing males), Chiffchaff (several singing males), Cuckoo (1), Bullfinch (1), Mistle Thrush (1), Red Kite (1)
My stop by the River Wye failed to provide any sightings of Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper but I did see 2 more Red Kites. Most notably, however, I had my first ever sighting of a Daubenton’s Bat foraging and hunting low over the surface of the river.
After having a meal in Rhayader, I drove the short distance out of the town to RWT Gilfach where I had planned to sleep in the car in readiness for a very early start the next morning on International Dawn Chorus Day.
Love nature .... act now
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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