Birding in Wales
From the seabird islands of Pembrokeshire to the upland kites of mid-Wales, from Anglesey choughs to Snowdonia ravens: Wales offers some of Britain's most atmospheric birding.
Updated 26 September 2026
Top sites
1. Skomer Island (Pembrokeshire)
One of the world's most important seabird islands. 350,000+ Manx shearwaters (largest colony anywhere). Puffins on coastal slopes May-July. Day boats from Martin's Haven; book ahead. Stay overnight if possible. The shearwater fly-in at dusk is unforgettable.
2. RSPB South Stack (Anglesey)
Cliff-top with chough, raven, peregrine, plus seabird ledges. Lighthouse + Ellin's Tower viewpoint. Great spring sea-watching for Manx shearwater + skuas.
3. Mid-Wales kite country
Gigrin Farm (Powys) is the famous red-kite feeding station, 100+ kites every afternoon. Surrounding hills hold breeding kites, buzzards, peregrines. Carngafallt RSPB for oakwood specialties.
4. RSPB Conwy + Anglesey wetlands
Conwy estuary for wintering wildfowl, passage waders. Anglesey wetlands (RSPB Valley Wetlands, Cors Erddreiniog NNR) for marsh harrier, occasional bittern, breeding shovelers + pochard.
5. Newport Wetlands NNR (Gwent)
Severn estuary edge. Wintering wildfowl, large gull roosts, occasional rare visitors. Easy access from M4.
Welsh specialties
- Red Kite: recovered from extinction in mid-Wales; now widespread everywhere.
- Chough: coastal Anglesey + Pembrokeshire. The red-billed corvid acrobats.
- Manx Shearwater: pelagic, but Skomer is the only sensible way to see them well.
- Hen Harrier: sparse breeding pairs in mid-Wales; winter roosts elsewhere.
- Pied Flycatcher: RSPB Carngafallt, RSPB Ynys-hir and Gilfach (Radnorshire Wildlife Trust).
- Wood Warbler: same oak valleys May-July.
- Dipper + Grey Wagtail: every fast-flowing stream.