Welsh holiday (1 Viewer)

BirdBoyBen

Young birder

• Mar 18, 2012

• #1

Hi everyone.

I wondered if anyone here is familiar with the Powys/Ceredigon area. I will be staying at Rhayader for a week and then moving on to Penbryn. I'm planning to visit Cors Caron and a lot of the Elan Valley Estate (plus the Red kite feeding station). I don 't want to drive much further then twenty miles around either place as I'm driving up from London. Key species I would like to see are Goosander , Goshawk, Red-breasted merganser (I think only Ynys-hir RSPB which is a bit too far), Black grouse, Crossbill , Hawfinch, L-S woodpecker, Golden plover, Dunlin, Willow tit and anything else anyone can think of. I'm staying on a mountainside with Merlin, kites and Hen-harrier breeding nearby.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

ClarkWGriswold

Carpe Carpum

Supporter

• Mar 18, 2012

• #2

Hi Ben. Ynys Hir is fairly easy from Penbryn. Depending on when you're going you should be able to pick up Pied Flycatcher and Redstart there also. It's also very near to where the Ospreys breed. Skomer would also be worth a trip. There's a good current thread on BF at the moment which should give decent info (I think it's called "Skomer Advce"). I had a couple of Mashillow Tits at Cors Caron recently. Quite easy to pick up along the footpath there. Scan any of the rivers there for Goosander.

Black Grouse maybe a bit too far North. The RSPB run a trip not far from Wrexham www.wildlifeextra.com

Hopefully some others can chip in with the other species. I've never had Goshawk in Wales and LSW is also on my list to see.

Have a great trip,

Rich

 

BirdBoyBen

Young birder

• Mar 18, 2012

• #3

Thanks for the info. Goshawks apparently sometimes join in the feeding at the Red Kite station, so hopefully I'll get lucky.

I went to Skomer a couple of years ago in May for the Puffins, might try to visit again for a look around. I should be visiting the Osprey site.

Thanks again,

Ben

 

T

thornlv

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2012

• #4

Gigrin farm is amazing, also close by is Gilfach farm which is quite interesting, visited last year and saw a few kites round there - Dippers on the river etc.

 

BirdBoyBen

Young birder

• Apr 8, 2012

• #5

:t: Thanks for that, I'm staying very close by so will definately visit!

 

J

JonG74

Active member

• Apr 17, 2012

• #6

There is a nice little reserve between Welshpool and Newtown called Dolydd Hafren. I've have had some good birds there over the years as we have had many a holiday in the area.
Ive had Goosander, Kingfisher, Green sandpiper, Common sandpiper and Hobby to name but a few. And I've been told by the local birders I've met there that they do get Osprey quite often during the summer as well.
Also another place not far from where you are staying is Llyn Clywedog reservoir. You will find Redstart and Pied flycatcher in the area below the dam. And on the road around the reservoir I have had Red kite, Goshawk, Cuckoo, Crossbill and Siskin among other species. But bear in mind Goshawk can be really difficult to see and are hit and miss. Mostly miss.
Hope this helped and have a good trip.

 

BirdBoyBen

Young birder

• Apr 25, 2012

• #7

Thanks for your response Jon, it was really helpful. Glad I have an idea of where to possibly see Crossbill now. I have gone Goshawk watching before with about a 10% success rate, so know how difficult it is! Hopefully I'll get lucky.

Thanks again

 

Brian2

Well-known member

• Jun 8, 2012

• #8

Get to Dinas RSPB..it's quite a drive but you'll have a great day. PIED AND SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, RED KITE, PEREGRINE, RAVEN, REDSTART, WOOD WARBLER, TREE PIPIT. LS Woodpecker try Wanstead Park London?

hope it helps