On 9th May 2025, I visited the following sites:
RWT Gilfach, Powys
RSPB Carngafallt, Powys
My first visit of the day was to RWT Gilfach. Being less than 10 miles from Glangwy Farm campsite, I was able to arrive very early at 6 a.m.
RWT Gilfach is located just 4 miles north of Rhayader. For centuries, it was a working hill farm but now it is a spectacular nature reserve tucked away in the Marteg valley in the heart of rural mid-Wales. The old farm buildings are used as visitor facilities and a series of way-marked trails provide access to the woodlands, rough grazing areas and heather moorland. A hide close to the reserve entrance overlooks the River Marteg.
RWT Gilfach is another of my favourite sites in Wales for its beautiful scenery and excellent wildlife and it is now always included on my trip itineraries.
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Dipper (1 seen briefly from the hide as it flew through along the river), Common Redstart (3 singing males, 2 seen), Pied Flycatcher (4 singing males, 3 seen), Wood Warbler (1 singing male), Garden Warbler (2 singing males, 1 seen), Willow Warbler (7 singing males, 1 seen), Chiffchaff (4 singing males, none seen), Blackcap (1 singing male unseen), Tree Pipit (2 singing males, 1 seen), Cuckoo (2 or 3 calling males), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Swallow (2), Nuthatch (1), Mistle Thrush (2 singing males plus another bird seen), Red Kite (4), Raven (1 heard calling unseen), Stock Dove (1 calling male unseen), Red Deer (1), Grey Squirrel (1)
Additions to my 2025 UK year list: Dipper, Tree Pipit
Here are some
photos from my visit ….
Photo: male Wood Warbler
Photo: male Wood Warbler
Photo: male Wood Warbler
Photo: Nuthatch
Photo: Nuthatch
Photo: Mistle Thrush
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Grey Squirrel
Photo: Grey Squirrel
After spending several hours at RWT Gilfach, I drove back to Rhayader and then 3.5 miles south to Elan village.
RSPB Carngafallt, another site regularly included on my trip itineraries, is accessed from Elan village and primarily comprises oak woodland with many ancient trees plus wood pasture and its special birds can easily be heard and seen by just walking along the road and then following the off-road trail back down in to Elan Village and along the River Wye.
The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Common Redstart (6 singing males, 3 seen), Pied Flycatcher (4 singing males, none seen), Spotted Flycatcher (1 plus another heard), Wood Warbler (2 singing males, none seen), Willow Warbler (3 singing males, none seen), Blackcap (3 singing males, 1 seen), Chiffchaff (1 singing male unseen), Cuckoo (1 calling male unseen), Swallow (1), House Martin (4), Dipper (1 on the River Wye), Grey Wagtail (2 on the River Wye), Treecreeper (1), Nuthatch (1), Red Kite (1), Raven (1 plus another heard), Stock Dove (1 calling male unseen), Mistle Thrush (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 calling birds unseen)
Addition to my 2025 UK year list: Spotted Flycatcher
Here are some
photos from my visit ….
Photo: male Common Redstart
Photo: male Common Redstart
After my visit to the Rhayader area sites, I drove 35 miles south to Llandovery and then up the Tywi valley to Rhandirmwyn, RSPB Dinas/Gwenffrwd and beyond. However, this proved disappointing for sightings of any upland birds.
Returning down to Llandovery, I then drove a further 11 miles south to my overnight stay at Cosmos campsite near Gwynfe. This small remote campsite with excellent facilities provided wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
I recorded the
following at or around the campsite which included an amazing “dawn chorus” (heard
only records in italics): Red Kite (1), Raven (1), Cuckoo
(1 calling male unseen), Garden Warbler (1 singing male unseen), Willow
Warbler (1 singing male unseen), Chiffchaff (1
singing male unseen), Blackcap (1 singing male unseen),
Swallow (2), Coal Tit (1 calling bird unseen), Goldcrest
(1 singing male unseen), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 plus
another calling bird heard), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Wren,
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Starling, Jay,
Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon
Love nature .... act now
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