Red Kites at Bwlch Nant yr Arian

One of my favourite places to visit when in Mid-Wales is the Visitor Centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, especially if I can time things to be there in the afternoon when the red kites are being fed.

They aren't visible on my photos but the skies were full of kites circling around, waiting.

At the same time every day someone appears on the bright green patch of grass by the lake,with food - and the kites flock in.

We weren't in the best place to watch this time as I didn't fancy walking down to the edge of the lake but stayed on the terrace by the cafe. There are still wonderful views to be had though, particularly of  the birds overhead which seem to come really close.

It's a beautiful place even without the added attraction of the kites. There are walks and cycle trails for the energetic, a play area for children, and a cafe for those who just want to take in the view towards the mountains.

 

Wetness and wildlife (but no pics of the wildlife)

After a fun time by the coast over Saturday and Sunday, Monday saw us heading home, and the weather looked suitably depressed with light rain from early morning just getting worse as the day wore on.

We didn't want to jump in the car and just drive back. First we returned to Abereiddi, for one last look at the (not so) Blue Lagoon. This is a huge hole scooped out of the cliffs and now flooded; one of many remnants of slate quarrying in the area.

It's normally a sheltered spot, with calm blue waters (hence its name) but not this particular day; it was wild and forbidding.





















There were a couple of folks out doing the coasteering thing, and looking like they were having fun despite the rough sea, and elsewhere in a more sheltered spot were seals - an adult and a couple of pups.










My husband claimed he saw another seal surfing on the waves on the main beach, but I'm not so sure.

Our route home took us north following the coast, with a brief stop at Newport Parrog, before heading to New Quay for lunch.

Fish and chips by the beach seemed like a good idea, but the rain started to fall again while we were eating. Somewhere out to sea was a fishing/crabbing boat and not particularly close to it but the same distance out were dolphins! Well, I assume they were dolphins as at that distance all we could see were dark shapes jumping out of the water.










I was determined to see at least a little of New Quay but by the time we'd walked to the end of the pier, the rain was heavier, so after a very brief look at the boats in the harbour (and an encounter with a seagull, the only wildlife I managed to photograph) we headed back to the car.

I've been in summer when New Quay's a busy bustling place, with the sheltered beach an excellent place to swim, but even the pretty painted houses looked drab in the rain.

 Heading up to Aberystwyth then inland towards home we pass the Forestry Commision's visitor centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian. We always stop. Sometimes to just see the sea from the viewpoint. Sometimes to catch the regular red kite feeding. Previously we've seen dozens of kites, but not this day. The food was spread out for them, and a dozen or so came and circled the lake, but they didn't seem interested in eating. We sat and watched a live-screen in the cafe for a while, and a couple of kites investigated the food, but in comparison to other visits it was a disappointment. Not the best end to our weekend, but the other days had been good.

Kites in Flight

If you've read this blog before you'll know how much I love the kite feeding sessions at Bwlch Nant yr Arian. So we had to finish our short break on the coast with a visit to these astounding birds.

Every day at 3 o'clock they're fed by the RSPB and dozens of birds come flocking in.

My little camera isn't the best in the world so I was really pleased to get these shots of the birds in flight.

Kite Watching in Wales

The Forestry Commission picnic area at Bwlch Nant yr Arian near Aberystwyth is one of our favourite stopping-off points on trips to Wales. From the back of the car park, you can look down Cwm Melindwr towards Aberystwyth and on a clear day catch a distant glimpse of the sea.


Go the other way and walk round the small lake....




...and maybe catch the red kites coming in for their daily feeding session

This was the first time we'd managed to time our stop-over just right to catch them at dinner.






















Fifty, maybe sixty, kites flew in, their numbers increasing as feeding time approached.
























Having at last seen this amazing sight, we'll make sure that in future we pass by at the right time of day!


A return visit in 2013