Bird Watching in Berwyn...
A view on the local birdlife from ornithologist Alan Young:-
“The Berwyn NNR, SAC, SPA, and SSSI (National Nature Reserve, Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest) mountain range is one of the largest remaining areas of unspoilt heather dominated moorland in Wales and as such carries an important assemblage of bird species. 
As you might expect from the full title it is indeed special! In the Llangynog area hen harriers and merlins can be found nesting amongst the heather and also the occasional short-eared owl, whilst peregrines nest on the crags and are regularly seen over the village. Red kites are also visiting more regularly but have yet to successfully nest in the immediate area. Declining numbers of curlew, golden plover and dunlin also still breed and moorland improvement work on the nearby RSPB reserve at Lake Vyrnwy is attempting to reverse the fortunes of these iconic upland birds. Red grouse can be found in increasing numbers, as can black grouse (if one knows exactly where to look!).
My favourite bird, the beautiful ring ouzel, is suffering a long-term nationwide decline but this area of the Berwyns is one of the last few Welsh strongholds of this enigmatic species. All the more familiar upland birds are also well represented with some, such as stonechats and reed buntings, increasing apace! I was even surprised last spring to locate two male grasshopper warblers singing their reeling songs in quite open moorland!
Away from the tops in that wild area between moorland and farmland known in Wales as the "ffridd" (pronounced freethe) yellowhammers, linnets, whinchats and whitethroats abound, having been banished from the heavily-cultivated farmland futher east. The sessile oak woodlands on the hillsides support large numbers of pied flycatchers and redstarts, but this year wood warblers were scarce. Spotted flycatchers also do well in the area, and look out for all three woodpeckers (if you see one of the lesser-spotted variety please let me know!)
In the young conifer plantations tree pipits are common as are lesser redpolls and siskins when the trees grow taller (in fact siskins aren't fussy, they're common everywhere!) When the conifers are fully mature watch out for crossbills and goshawks.
Then there are the Rivers Tanat and Eirth - kingfisher, dipper, grey wagtail, goosander, heron, sand martin, common sandpiper, they are all here.
To sum up, there is a wide range of habitats within a very short distance of Llangynog and a correspondingly diverse range of bird species. There is also the chance of an oddity turning up such as the drake mandarin last spring on the Tanat, the twite that was singing just outside the village last August, the hobby I saw the other day, or the osprey that flew over last autumn.
If you do decide on a birdwatching break in this gorgeous area do keep your eyes peeled - and please let me know what you see!”
So if you are looking for a relaxing break in the countryside with bird watching right on the doorstep, then River’s Nest is the place for you. Please contact us if you’d like to make a booking, discuss prices or availability, or just want to request more details. We’ll be more than happy to help, and look forward to welcoming you to this special part of Wales.