Field Trip Report: Joint SOS/RSPB Trip to RSPB Ynys-hir, 31st May 2026 (Mim & Jock Elliot-Smith)
10am saw 13 members of either SOS or RSPB (or both) arrive at RSPB Ynys-hir. The weather was cool and overcast, but thankfully dry.
We were introduced to the reserve by RSPB volunteers, and they advised us to follow the Blue Trail first, as the tide had been high at 9am so there may be birds on the shore as the tide retreated. This took us to the Marian Mawr and Domen Las hides.
The walk through the wooded area was full of birdsong. Goldcrest, Blackcap and Long Tailed Tit were particularly noticeable. The well-leafed trees made spotting these birds difficult if not impossible, but they certainly made their presence felt by their song. We were delighted to spot a Brown Hare, who gave us a long stare before bounding off into the cover of the woods.
From the Marian Mawr hide we had a lovely view of a Great White Egret, its plumes showing well in the breeze.
Lunchtime (at the Visitor Centre picnic area) brought us a fantastic view of a female Marsh Harrier passing to and fro above the reeds below.
After lunch we followed the Red Trail along the boardwalk and through the woodland – adding Pied Flycatcher to the list among others. Towards the end of the walk, the group split into two, taking different routes back to the Visitor Centre: one group lucky enough to spot an Osprey, and the other getting a close up view of a Spotted Flycatcher on the nest (thanks to an RSPB staff member with a well-trained ‘scope). She also informed us that Wood Warblers – an Ynys-hir speciality but notably absent from the woods during our visit – had been heard just outside the reserve but had not ventured any closer. We left the reserve at around 5pm after a wonderful day’s birding .
Species List (total 58)
- Blackbird
- Blackcap
- Blue Tit
- Bullfinch
- Buzzard
- Canada Goose
- Carrion Crow
- Cetti’s Warbler
- Chaffinch
- Chiffchaff
- Coal Tit
- Common Sandpiper
- Curlew
- Dunnock
- Garden Warbler
- Goldcrest
- Goldfinch
- Goosander
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Great Tit
- Great White Egret
- Greylag Goose
- Heron
- House Martin
- Jay
- Lapwing
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Little Egret
- Little Grebe
- Long Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Mallard
- Marsh Harrier
- Mistle Thrush
- Nuthatch
- Osprey
- Oystercatcher
- Pheasant
- Pied Flycatcher
- Pied Wagtail
- Raven
- Red Kite
- Redstart
- Reed Bunting
- Robin
- Shelduck
- Skylark
- Song Thrush
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Stock Dove
- Stonechat
- Swallow
- Teal
- Treecreeper
- Whitethroat
- Willow Warbler
- Wood Pigeon
- Wren
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