A long Friday to Sunday weekend with a two car group of South East Essex RSPB members consisting of Keith Crees (Group Leader), Stephen Anderson (Treasurer), Jim Hillier (Field Trip Organiser) and Graham Mee (Website author).?

Friday 2nd June 2000
Setting off from Southend at 5.00am and taking the M25, M1, M6 then A5 to Shrewsbury, we then took the A458 through to our first RSPB reserve, Lake Vyrnwy, arriving at 09.30. The rain had started just after crossing over the Welsh border but fortunately became intermittent right through until we left Wales on the Sunday! At Vrynwy we first decided to set off in search of that Welsh speciality the Pied Flycatcher and so took the Gwrn-oer Nature Trail, within 10 minutes we had our first sighting of this wonderful bird. After returning and watching the feeders from the hide beside the extremely friendly and helpful visitor centre we drove off to the north of the lake to take the path alongside Ffridd Wydd-Afon, part of the Rhiwargor Island nature trail. This wonderful walk follows the river through to the magnificent waterfall at its end. This is a good place to look for Goosanders, Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Near the island at this northern end there is a pool that is attractive to Herons, Teal and Kingfisher, Otters are also occasionally seen here.

Lake Vyrnwy is a very picturesque reserve consisting of heather moorland, woodland, meadows, rocky streams and a very large reservoir which attracts a wide variety of wildlife to this area set at the southern end of the Berwyn Mountains. Dippers and Kingfishers, nest by the lake and rocky streams, while Ravens and Buzzards can be found on the moorland. Lake Vyrnwy is very popular with birdwatchers for offering a full range of facilities.

Lake Vrynwy Location
10miles/16km west of Llanfyllin via the B4393 to Llanwddyn

Leaving Vrynwy late afternoon we set off for our bed & breakfast in Betws-y-coed, booked for the next two nights. This turned out to be an extremely lucky choice as the staff were very friendly, the rooms clean and food superb. Betws-y-coed is a very good location for visiting all the major wildlife areas in this part of Wales. Full thanks must go to Sue, Steve's wife, for making this choice.

Saturday 3rd June 2000
Your author was the first to wake at 6.00am on the Saturday morning and had listed 12 species before breakfast within 200 yards of the hotel. After a superb breakfast we departed on the A5 through to Anglesey and to that mecca of the seabird watcher, the RSPB reserve at South Stack. Arriving at 10.30 we were fortunate to pick up a pair of Chough within moments of parking our cars. We walked the cliffs until early afternoon marvelling at the spectacular before us. Over 4,000 pairs of seabirds breed on the cliffs at South Stack every year, between April and July you can watch a live TV relay of the breeding seabirds at the Ellin's Tower centre. The cliffs are its main attraction but behind them there is a maritime heath, a habitat very rare in England these days and of great botanical interest. There are a number of walks but perhaps the best is the area around Ellin's Tower and the lighthouse area. Anglesey and its environs is one of the most rewarding areas for bird watching in Britain. Only 25 miles across it has an incredible variety of habitat: sea cliffs, rocky shores, muddy and sandy estuaries, dunes, lagoons, large reservoirs, many small lakes, rivers, large reed beds, fens, mires, marshes, maritime and lowland heaths, coniferous and broad-leaf woods, scrub and mixed farm land! All this and just across the Menai Straits, only 10 miles from the island are the mountains, moorland and hanging oak of Snowdonia. The mild climate makes the island very attractive to wintering birds, especially wildfowl. Unfortunately we did not have the time to visit Cemlyn Bay just north of South Stack and just off of the A5025 but this area is known for its Terns and Tern colonies where Roseate and Bridled Tern have both been recorded.? We had visited the centre on Anglesey and, on consulting a brochure, decided to head for Amlwch in search of Black Guillemot.

South Stack Location
On the northern tip of Holy Island, attached to the coast of Anglesey by a causeway the reserve is well signposted from the A5.

Leaving South Stack on the A5 and then taking the A5025 off left we proceeded to Amlwch and Point Lynas on the north coast of Anglesey. Again our luck was with us and within five minutes of arriving we were looking at a pair of Black Guillemot in full breeding plumage. Equally beautiful was the sight of a Gannet just off the cliffs gliding over the waves. Point Lynas consists of an exposed headland with excellent sea views, maritime heath and paths around the headland. Amongst the rarities that have been recorded from this location are: Albatross, Sooty, Great and Cory's Shearwaters, Storm Petrel, Leach's Storm Petrel, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Skua, Mediterranean, Iceland, Little and Sabine's Gulls, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Lapland Bunting. Amlwch is usually at its best in the Autumn.

Amlwch Point Lynas Location
Just to the east of the town of Amlwch off of the A5025, follow signs for Llaneillian until reaching a small roundabout at the foot of the bay. Take the small road up the hill from this roundabout marked with a yellow arrow and a caf sign. proceed along this road until reaching a small parking area in front of the lighthouse buildings.

We returned on the A5025 across the Menai Bridge and then took the A55 through to Conwy to visit the relatively new RSPB reserve here. Due to lack of time only a quick visit was possible but the location looked extremely promising for wintering Geese and wildfowl. The Conwy reserve was created by the RSPB following the construction of the Conwy tunnel. Shallow pools next to the estuary provide ideal feeding and roosting places for ducks, geese and some wading birds. From the visitor centre there is an excellent view of one of the pools, letting you get really close to the birds. There is a nature trail from the visitor centre leading you to hides with views over the estuary and the magnificent Conwy Castle.

Sunday 4th June 2000
Leaving Betws-y-coed we decided to head for mid Wales taking the A470 through Blaenau Ffestiniog. We followed this road through Dolgellau coming off on to the B4518 at Llanbrynmair. We had a short break on this road to admire the breathtaking views of Lake Clywedog and the Common Buzzards flying above it. This road carried us right down to just north of Rhayader. Here we took an unmarked road signposted to Gilfach Farm Wildlife Reserve. This is an absolutely wonderful location and would deserve the support and admiration of any of our members. Red Kites can be seen here but its main attraction is the nest box cameras that give an insight into the secret lives of different species. While we were here the cameras were set up into boxes used by Pied Flycatchers, Redstart and Jackdaw as well as badgers and a Wood Mouse.

Situated in a beautiful setting at the confluence of the Marteg River with the River Wye in the Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales, Gilfach is locally unique because of its wide variety of habitats: high moorland to enclosed meadow; oak woodland to rocky upland river. Because of this variety the farm supports a tremendous abundance of birds and animals within a comparatively small area. This richness of wildlife has adapted to living in the various habitats created over the centuries through the practice of traditional farming.

The farmyard, with its Welsh longhouse, is central to the reserve. The house is a traditional building in Wales, developed over many centuries from a wooden cruck-framed medieval hall. The Gilfach Longh House forms the perfect complement to the Education and Visitor Centre which has been created through the conversion of the 18th century stone barn opposite. The Centre utilises a 'high-tech' approach to the interpretation of the wildlife of the Reserve. Nest-boxes fitted with cameras link to a monitor system in the Centre, as does pre-recorded footage of Gilfach's badger and other mammal activity. A gift shop and restaurant area, in addition to other picnic sites, complete the facilities which are accessible to wheelchairs.

Gilfach Farm Location
Gilfach is just off the A470, seven miles from Llangurig and two miles from Rhayader. Follow the brown nature reserve signs. The Visitor Centre is one mile across the Reserve. For more information visit its website at: http://westwales.co.uk/gilfach.htm

After leaving Gilfach our intention had been to visit the RSPB reserve of Dyffryn Woods just south of Rhayader. Fortuitously, as it turned out, the weather turned particularly nasty at this point so instead we drove back to the Gigrin Farm Red Kite Centre arriving 15 minutes before the Kite feeding.

The Gigrin is a family run upland sheep farm of approximately 200 acres, owned and farmed by Eithel, Lena, and Chris Powell. The land is 700 feet rising to 1200 above sea level giving us wonderful views of the Wye and Elan valleys.

The owners already had a Farm and Nature Trail and a keen interest in both conservation and tourism when in 1994 the Kite Country Project and the RSPB, invited them to be the Official Kite Country Red Kite feeding station. The success of this has encouraged the farm to further increase its commitments to the wildlife on the farm, their latest project being a wetland. Wild ducks, Herons, and a solitary Gadwall have already found it to be to their liking.

Feeding at Gigrin takes place at 2pm GMT and the crows are the first to turn up in the trees around the feeding area and make it quite a noisy affair with the calls of Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and the deep 'cronking' of Ravens, Buzzards and Red Kites circling overhead; Buzzards are far more vocal than Kites, their powerful 'mewing' carrying a long way. As soon as the meat has been put out the crow family start emerging from the surrounding trees. As the first Crows land amongst the meat the Kites go on the offensive. Kites watch and wait their chance to furl their wings and dive in, skimming the ground to snatch a scrap before rising suddenly to escape the beaks of the angry Crows. Many Kites appear to miss their target by a wide margin but are actually intent on flushing meat laden Crows into the air from where they can be mugged by the very best in the business! With the meat clutched in its talons the Kite will make for clear airspace where it can feel secure enough to feed. With its 1.8 metre wings spread out for stability the head turns down to meet with its forward lifted legs. Now the Kite can feed, but must still keep an eye out for other marauding Kites.

The farm has four large hides for the viewing of the wonderful Kite feeding spectacle with two suitable for disabled access. The hides are facing east and, being just 30 metres from where the Kites sweep down, give excellent opportunities for photography. During the feeding we counted upwards of 24 Kites and three Common Buzzards. The number of Kites using the feeding station can vary anything from a dozen to 100 or more depending on weather and time of year. Weather plays a big part in this... With the onset of bad weather numbers can increase dramatically, but on blue sky days in spring they may well take their time in coming for their lunch!

While seeing large numbers of Kites is an amazing sight some of the better photographic opportunities present themselves when fewer Kites visit as they are far more leisurely in their approach to feeding and frequently float around the area in front of the hides for some time before taking their morsel of choice. The meat being fed: 60 - 80lbs of beef, all fit for human consumption. Great care has been taken to secure a consistent supply of fresh meat!

More information on Gigrin and its amazing Kites can be found on its website at: www.gigrin.co.uk.

Gigrin Location
Just south of Rhayader on the A470 well signposted.

Our breath taken way by the Kites we headed for home at 4.00pm. The easiest route from this location being the A44 to Hereford, then down to Ross-on-Wye on the A49, taking the A40 signposted to Gloucester and finally the A419 down to the M4. We arrived back at Southend just before 9.00pm the whole wonderful trip being 720 miles.?

Species Observed at each Location:?

Lake Vrynwy Cormorant Grey Heron Goosander Common Buzzard Kestrel Redshank Black-headed Gull Wood Pigeon Cuckoo Swift Skylark Swallow House Martin Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail Wren Robin Redstart Wheatear Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Blackbird Blackcap Willow Warbler Wood Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Pied Flycatcher Great Tit Coal Tit Blue Tit Magpie Jackdaw Carrion Crow Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Greenfinch Siskin Betws-y-coed Grey Heron Mallard Common Buzzard Black-headed Gull Wood Pigeon Swift Swallow House Martin Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail Wren Dipper Robin Song Thrush Blackbird Whitethroat Willow Warbler Wood Warbler Great Tit Blue Tit Magpie Rook Carrion Crow Starling House Sparrow Siskin South Stack Fulmar Shag Cormorant Oystercatcher Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Kittiwake Puffin Guillemot (3,500+) Razorbill Skylark Swift Swallow House Martin Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Stonechat Whitethroat Jackdaw Chough Raven Linnet Amlwch - Point Lynas Fulmar Gannet Shag Mallard Cormorant Oystercatcher Redshank Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Sandwich Tern Black Guillemot Swallow House Martin meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Jackdaw Chough Raven Conwy RSPB Reserve Grey Heron Shelduck Gilfach Farm Red Kite Common Buzzard Redstart Pied Flycatcher Wood Warbler Pied Wagtail Long-tailed Tit Jackdaw Gigrin Farm Red Kite (24+) Common Buzzard Pied Wagtail Rook Carrion Crow Raven Chaffinch Additional Species Hobby beside A40 north of Oxford four Red Kite at Junction 6 on the M40

The dam at the south end of Lake Vyrnwy View from the top of the dam looking south Looking to the north from the Grwn-oer nature trail It's not only birds that are attracted to the feeders at Vyrnwy! The river Conwy from our hotel in Betws-y-coed in a moment of rare sunshine A short walk from the car park, the South Stack cliffs Take care walking the cliff paths! The Guillemot cliffs at South Stack ?

The Red Kites arrive at Gigrin Farm Superb digital Red Kite shot from Stephen Anderson In a rare moment of sunshine, from left to right: Graham Mee, Webmaster, Jim Hillier, Field Trip Organiser and Keith Crees Group Leader. Taken at Llyn Clywedog on the B4518