SS15 wildlife watching: Trip away from SS15 – Wales, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire and Essex

I booked a rental car from 14th to 20th May 2026, primarily for my annual trip to Wales but also sites in Warwickshire and Cheshire on the way home plus Lowestoft in Suffolk and EWT Wrabness in Essex.

The main purpose of my trip was continuing to add species to my 2026 UK year list.

I was successful in seeing all of my target species, the highlight being a Hoopoe in Lowestoft in Suffolk (only my 3rd UK record after sightings in Sussex in 1993 and London in 2001).

I added 25 species to my 2026 UK year list: Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, Raven, Osprey, Chough, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Whinchat, Little Tern, Grasshopper Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Garganey, Turtle Dove. Hoopoe

However, the weather proved to very variable so photo opportunities were somewhat limited.

14th May 2026

After picking up my rental car, I drove up to the Travelodge Bromsgrove Marlbrook in the Midlands for an overnight stay before my early start the next morning.

15th May 2026

My first visit of the day was to RWT Gilfach and after a 2.5 hours drive, I arrived very early at 6:30 a.m. on a very cold and frosty but sunny morning.

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 one 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 (4 singing males, 3 seen), Pied Flycatcher (male and female), Wood Warbler (1 singing male), Garden Warbler (1 singing male), Willow Warbler (at least 5 singing males with 2 seen plus a pair), Chiffchaff (at least 10 singing males, 1 seen), Blackcap (at least 5 singing males, 1 seen), Tree Pipit (1 singing male), Cuckoo (1 calling male), Swallow (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Bullfinch (1 male), Nuthatch (4), Mistle Thrush (4), Stonechat (4), Linnet (1), Goldcrest (1), Coal Tit (1), Red Kite (5), Raven (4)

Additions to my 2025 UK year list: Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, Raven

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: male Wood Warbler

Photo: Grey Wagtail

Photo: Red Kite

Photo: Red Kites

Photo: Mistle Thrush

Photo: Mistle Thrushes

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.

This was a relatively disappointing visit compared with previous years with fewer of the target species seen and no Wood Warbler or Spotted Flycatcher at all.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Common Redstart (1 singing male heard, 1 female seen), Pied Flycatcher (2 singing males, 1 seen), Willow Warbler (1 singing male), Garden Warbler (1 singing male and another heard), Blackcap (2 singing males heard, 1 female seen), Chiffchaff (2 singing males), Cuckoo (1 calling male), Grey Wagtail (2 on the River Wye), Common Buzzard (1), Raven (1 plus another heard), Stock Dove (1 calling male), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard calling)

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: male Pied Flycatcher

I travelled to the MWT Dyfi Osprey Project near Machynlleth via the mountain road and the Osprey breeding site at Llyn Clywedog. The mountain road provided no notable sightings but I did have a very distant telescope view of my first Osprey of 2026 at Llyn Clywedog.

The MWT Dyfi Osprey Project lies just 3 miles to the north of RSPB Ynys-Hir near Machynlleth. 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 (breeding pair plus an intruding bird), Willow Warbler (3 singing males), Blackcap (1 singing male), Reed Warbler (1 singing male), Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Swallow, House Martin, Canada Goose (2), Common Lizard (3 along the boardwalk)

Additions to my 2025 UK year list: Osprey

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: distant cropped shot of Osprey breeding pair and intruding bird

Photo: Ospreys

Photo: screen grab from visitor centre Osprey live stream

16th May 2026

My day started with my almost annual trip to RSPB South Stack just outside Holyhead and at the north west point of Anglesey.

RSPB South Stack is a reserve where rolling heathland and farmland meet rugged and rocky sea cliffs. Facing South Stack island and the Irish Sea beyond, the cliffs are a vital breeding ground for beeding seabirds and Chough in spring. It is home to Ellin’s Tower, a bright white Victorian building that looks a little like a castle, which looks out across the cliffs and down to the lighthouse on South Stack island.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Puffin (2), Razorbill (++), Guillemot (+++++), Fulmar (2), Shag (1), Cormorant (2), Kittiwake (+), Great Black-backed Gull (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Herring Gull (+), Oystercatcher (2), Chough (13 including a group of 8 birds), Raven (2), Common Buzzard (1), Rock Pipit (1), Meadow Pipit (2), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Swallow (c.30), House Martin (1), Linnet (4), Rabbit (1)

Additions to my 2026 UK year list: Chough, Puffin, Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake

After my visit to RSPB South Stack, I drove the short distance to Holyhead Harbour. This is not the most scenic birding location but it is an almost guaranteed site for Black Guillemot and certainly much nearer to home than the west and north coast of Scotland. I eventually managed to locate 3 birds, a further addition to my 2026 UK year list.

I then left Holyhead and drove to NWWT Cemlyn. NWWT Cemlyn comprises a unique, elliptical shingle ridge known as Esgair Cemlyn. Beyond the ridge, there is a shallow lagoon surrounded by gorse and grassland. All year round, waders and wildfowl can be seen around the lagoon at the adjacent shorelines but the site is best visited from May through to July when the islands within the lagoon host the large and very noisy nesting colonies of Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns.

The weather was appalling with rain and strong winds so this year's visit was far less enjoyable than usual with no photos at all of the nesting terns.

The highlights from my visit included the following: Sandwich Tern/Arctic Tern/Common Tern (combined total of c.500), Black-headed Gull (+++), Oystercatcher (2), Ringed Plover (5), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Shelduck (9), Mallard (4), Mute Swan (2), Swallow (c.5), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Stonechat (1 male)

Addition to my 2025 UK year list: Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern

Before leaving Anglesey, I visited RSPB Cors Ddyga which lies within one of the largest lowland wetlands in Wales. The lakes, ponds and ditches that make up of the site are some of the most important in the UK and host more than 30 scarce wetland plants. The site is also important for breeding waders, winter wildfowl, Otters and Water Voles.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Lapwing (c.10 plus juveniles), Curlew (1), Oystercatcher (2), Shoveler (at least 10), Gadwall (at least 10), Mallard (at least 10), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Greylag Goose (c.20 plus juveniles), Canada Goose (2), Cormorant (1), Mute Swan (2), Red Kite (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Wheatear (1 female), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Sedge Warbler (2 singing males), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male), Swift (at least 5), House Martin (1), Sand Martin (2), Swallow (2), Reed Bunting (1 singing male), Stonechat (1 female), Skylark (1 singing male), Meadow Pipit (2)

17th May 2026

My first of the day was to World's End, a narrow valley located between Wrexham and Llangollen. It lies at the head of the Eglwyseg Valley enclosed by the cliffs of Craig y Forwyn, Craig y Cythraul and Craig yr Adar. A remote 11 mile single track road with panoramic views between the small village of Minera and Llangollen crosses Esclusham Mountain and the Ruabon Moors to a public car park at the top of the Eglwyseg valley.

I have visited World's End many times and it is an exceptionally good site for upland birds including a well-known Black Grouse lek.

As always, I arrived at the Black Grouse lek early at around 5:45 a.m. and noisy displaying male birds were already evident.

Highlights from the road between Minera and Llangollen included the following (heard only records in italics): Black Grouse (5 males at the lek, a lower number than on previous visits), Red Grouse (4 plus 2 calling males heard), Cuckoo (3 calling males), Whinchat (3 males), Wheatear (2), Common Whitethroat (3 singing males), Willow Warbler (3 singing males), Stonechat (3), Skylark (6 singing males, 2 seen), Mistle Thrush (1), Reed Bunting (1 singing male), Linnet (1), Meadow Pipit (at least 10), Raven (3), Canada Goose (3)

Additions to my 2026 UK year list: Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Whinchat

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: male Black Grouse

Photo: female Red Grouse

Photo: male Whinchat

Photo: male Stonechat

Photo: male Reed Bunting

Following yet another enjoyable and productive visit to World's End, I then drove up to the coast for my first ever visit to Gronant Dunes and specifically the large colony of breeding Little Terns.

Gronant Dunes lie between Prestatyn and Talacre along the coast of north Wales. This area has a wild and open aspect which contains a multitude of rare species and this is recognised by many of the conservation designations the area has including SSSI, Ramsar, SPA and SAC status. Little Terns are not the only protected species that can be seen here and others occurring in the dunes including Sand Lizards and Natterjack Toads.

After failing to photograph the Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns at NWWT Cemlyn, Gronant Dunes provided amazing opportunities to photograph the Little Terns.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Little Tern (at least 150), Oystercatcher (at least 100), Cormorant (at least 50), Shelduck (3), Mallard (3), Canada Goose (1), Coot (2), Grasshopper Warbler (1 "reeling" male), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male plus 2 others heard), Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Reed Bunting (3 singing males), Skylark (4), Meadow Pipit (5)

Addition to my 2026 UK year list: Little Tern, Grasshopper Warbler

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: Little Terns

Photo: Little Tern

Photo: Little Terns

Photo: Little Tern

Photo: Little Terns

Photo: Little Tern

Photo: Little Terns

Photo: Oystercatchers

Photo: Little Egret

Photo: male Reed Bunting

Photo: male Blackbird

My final visit of the day was to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands on the Dee estuary in Cheshire.

RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands straddles the border between England and Wales with a mosaic of freshwater wetland habitats, mixed farmland and woodland.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Black-tailed Godwit (at least 200), Avocet (at least 100 plus juveniles), Knot (at least 50), Lapwing (at least 10), Oystercatcher (2), Tufted Duck (at least 20), Shoveler (at least 10), Mallard (at least 10), Gadwall (at least 10), Teal (1), Moorhen (2), Coot (5), Canada Goose (at least 5 plus juveniles), Greylag Goose (at least 5 plus juveniles), Mediterranean Gull (4), Black-headed Gull (+), Great White Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Raven (2), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Blackcap (male feeding 2 juveniles), Cetti’s Warbler (2 singing males), Reed Warbler (3 singing males), Swallow (1), Sand Martin (2), Reed Bunting (1 singing male)

18th May 2026

I visited 3 sites on my way home which I had not visited before. The first 2 sites, Abraham's Valley and Brindley Heath, were located within Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, an area of of natural deciduous woodland, coniferous plantations, open heathland and small lakes designated as the Cannock Chase National Landscape. Much of it is managed by Forestry England for its important ecology and for recreational use. My main target species was Tree Pipit where I had only heard a single singing male at RWT Gilfach in Wales earlier in my trip. I easily managed to locate this species at Brindley Heath.

The highlights from my visit to Abraham's Valley included the following (heard only records in italics): Cuckoo (1 calling male), Willow Warbler (1 seen plus 3 other singing males heard), Garden Warbler (1 singing male), Chiffchaff (at least 5 singing males), Blackcap (2 males and 2 females seen plus 3 other singing males heard), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Bullfinch (1 male), Linnet (1), Goldcrest (2 singing males), Coal Tit (1 singing male), Wren (c.20 singing males), Common Buzzard (1), Bank Vole (1)

The highlights from my visit to Brindley Heath included the following (heard only records in italics): Cuckoo (1 singing male), Tree Pipit (1 singing male), Willow Warbler (2 singing males), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Blackcap (1 singing male), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Stonechat (3 males and 1 female)

My last visit on my way home was to WWT Brandon Marsh just outside Coventry in Warwickshire. WWT Brandon Marsh is managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and is well known for the variety and quality of its pools, reedbeds, grassland and woodland. The large pools were created by gravel extraction and attract a huge variety of birds and other wildlife which can be observed from 9 hides throughout the reserve.

My main target species was a reported Garganey which I had failed to see elsewhere during the spring. After much searching and whilst returning to the visitor centre to leave, I eventually found a sleeping male showing just enough of the white head stripe to confirm the identification. I also managed to record Little Ringed Plover, another species that I had failed to see elsewhere during the spring.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Garganey (1 male), Tufted Duck (at least 10), Gadwall (at least 10), Mallard (at least 10), Shoveler (3), Little Ringed Plover (2), Lapwing (6), Oystercatcher (4 plus juveniles), Ringed Plover (1), Little Grebe (2), Coot (at least 10), Moorhen (at least 5), Greylag Goose (at least 15), Canada Goose (at least 15), Mute Swan (12), Cormorant (4), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (2), Common Tern (2), Black-headed Gull (at least 10), Herring Gull (1), Cuckoo (2 plus 2 other calling males), Sand Martin (at least 10), House Martin (at least 10), Swallow (1), Chiffchaff (3 singing males), Blackcap (1 singing male), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Reed Warbler (1 singing male), Cetti's Warbler (3 singing males), Reed Bunting (2 singing males), Common Buzzard (1), Raven (2)

Additions to my 2026 UK year list: Garganey, Little Ringed Plover

19th May 2026

I had an early morning visit to EWT Wrabness in north east Essex since I needed to attend the monthly work party at Noak Bridge Nature Reserve at 12:30 p.m.

EWT Wrabness comprises hedgerows, scrub and grassland plus views overlooking the River Stour estuary. It is primarily known as a breeding location for Turtle Dove, a rapidly declining species which can be very difficult to locate now in the UK although this site remains a stronghold in Essex.

Turtle Dove was my target species but during my visit I failed to hear, let alone see, this species.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Nightingale (2 singing males), Common Whitethroat (3 singing males and another heard), Chiffchaff (at least 5 singing males), Blackcap (1 male seen plus at least 5 singing males heard), Linnet (3), Mallard (3)

20th May 2026

On my final day, I had return visit to EWT Wrabness in north east Essex to try and see Turtle Dove. Again I failed but at least this time I did hear a single "purring" male.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Turtle Dove (1 "purring" male), Cuckoo (1 calling male), Nightingale (2 singing males), Common Whitethroat (4 singing males and another heard), Chiffchaff (1 seen plus 2 singing males and 2 calling birds heard), Blackcap (3 singing males), Cetti's Warbler (2 singing males), Swift (3), Swallow (4), Yellowhammer (1 singing male), Linnet (3), Greenfinch (1), Brent Goose (c.60), Little Egret (1),

Addition to my 2026 UK year list: Turtle Dove

My final visit of my trip was to a residential area in Lowestoft in Suffolk to see a Hoopoe that had been present for several days. This bird was relatively easy to find and constituted only my 3rd record of Hoopoe in the UK after birds seen in Sussex in 1993 and in London in 2001.

Addition to my 2026 UK year list: Hoopoe

Photo: Hoopoe

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SS15 wildlife watching

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Trip away from SS15 – Wales, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire and Essex – 14th to 20th May 2026

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