Red Kites in Wales

[snake]

I am going to visit my daughter in Cardiff for a few days over Easter and if the weather is kind I would like to try and get some shots of the Red Kites.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a feeding station a bit closer than Gigrin?

[Naturenutz]

dont know about red kites snake,but if you get time,the forest of dean is good to explore,and so is the river severn between the too severn bridges on the english side for coastal birds and migrants,not too far away,accessed via across the old bridge,turn right at roundabout then right again.old aust road.

[DaiTheDragon]

Check this out.
Red Kite Feeding Station, Wales

Dai

[Ladywell]

Drive up the Elan Valley and over to Devil's Bridge - you can see them in the wild and not being fed. Tregarron is another place which springs to mind. I would rather find them than having being contrived to being there (but before people shoot me down - I know Gigrin have done a good job)

[Harold Smith]

Hallo Snake,

Not knowing from which direction your are travellingfrom it is difficult to answer your question. However, most of the main feeding stations tend to be central Wales and quite a long way from from Cardiff.

I used to do a lot of travelling between Bristol and Swansea, mainly along the M4, and I never once saw a Red Kite, whereas when I travelled down the M40 towards High Wycombe and back nine times out of ten I would see a Kite.

Anyway here is a link that may be of some use to you.

Red kites, the UKs most beautiful bird of prey, their lifestyle, history, photographs, and the very latest numbers from all around the UK

Regards,

Harold.

[snake]

Thank you all for the information. The feeding station at llanddeasant looks to be only about an hours drive from Cardiff so given good weather it could be a nice day out.

[Harold Smith]

Hallo Snake,

Llanddeusant is a great area of the Brecon’s (magnificent it is) and with luck you should see a lot of Red Kites.

Just a note of caution, I would add at least another hour to your journey time as the route is not exactly a direct one to Cardiff. Lots of twists and turns and ups and downs. Let us know how you get on, especially with the Red Kites.

Regards,

Harold.

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by Ladywell

Drive up the Elan Valley and over to Devil's Bridge - you can see them in the wild and not being fed. Tregarron is another place which springs to mind. I would rather find them than having being contrived to being there (but before people shoot me down - I know Gigrin have done a good job)

I agree .... I have enjoyed the Gigrin Farm experience but nothing beats finding your own Red Kites in the Welsh mountains and valleys.

I still have a recollection of the Red Kite being a very rare breeding bird and having to work very hard to get a single sighting in Wales.

I am not sure about south Wales but the Towy valley and the Elan valley have seen most of my self-found Red Kites.

Richard

[Ladywell]

Originally Posted by rlchew

I agree .... I have enjoyed the Gigrin Farm experience but nothing beats finding your own Red Kites in the Welsh mountains and valleys.

I still have a recollection of the Red Kite being a very rare breeding bird and having to work very hard to get a single sighting in Wales.

I am not sure about south Wales but the Towy valley and the Elan valley have seen most of my self-found Red Kites.

Richard

I too remember when you really had to try hard to find them! We stayed on the Royal Welsh Showground last year and had Red Kites, Buzzards and Goshawks overhead every day. Talking to a 'died in the wool' old welsh guy he told me that when someone did a survey of goshawk nests a few years ago the main remains of prey items in and around the nests were grey squirrel tails!

Sorry - this has gone off the thread but thought it was interesting!

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Ladywell

I too remember when you really had to try hard to find them! We stayed on the Royal Welsh Showground last year and had Red Kites, Buzzards and Goshawks overhead every day. Talking to a 'died in the wool' old welsh guy he told me that when someone did a survey of goshawk nests a few years ago the main remains of prey items in and around the nests were grey squirrel tails!

Sorry - this has gone off the thread but thought it was interesting!

A few years ago I was putting CCTV cameras on Gos nests in mid-Wales and logging prey items. One nest in particular ended up "carpeted" in grey squirrels. The adults were bringing them in quicker than the four chicks could eat them.

(On the less positive side, we also logged kestrel, sparrowhawk, tawny owl, red grouse etc, as well as somebody's pet moggie. )