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Wildlife Watching in Autumn in Mid Wales

Autumn is a busy season for wildlife in Mid Wales. Grey seals have their pups on the Ceredigion coast, red kites gather in the hundreds over Rhayader, winter birds start arriving on the estuaries and deer rut in the woods. Across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia), the quieter paths make it easier to see them.

Red kites at Gigrin Farm, Powys

Red kites were almost lost from Britain in the last century, and Mid Wales is where they held on. Now you can see them almost anywhere here. At Gigrin Farm, half a mile from Rhayader, the kites are fed every day of the year, at 2pm from the end of October, and around 500 come in during the colder months. You watch from hides as they twist down to feed, with buzzards and ravens trying their luck too. Rare white (leucistic) kites visit the farm now and then.

Grey seal pups on the Ceredigion coast

Where can I see seal pups in Wales? The Ceredigion coast is one of the best places, from September to November. Grey seals have their pups on quiet beaches and in coves below the cliffs, and the white-coated pups stay on the shore for their first few weeks. Look down from the Wales Coast Path between New Quay and Cardigan, including around Mwnt and Cardigan Island.

Please watch from the clifftop. Don't go down to the beach or try to get closer, as a frightened mother may leave her pup. Keep dogs on a lead and keep noise down.

Red squirrels in the Tywi Forest

A small population of red squirrels lives in the forests where Ceredigion, Powys and Carmarthenshire meet, around the Tywi Forest and Llyn Brianne. You'll need patience and some luck to see one, but autumn, when they're busy storing food, is your best chance. Walk quietly, stop often and watch the tops of the conifers.

Birds on the bogs and estuaries

From October, winter birds arrive from further north. Cors Caron near Tregaron in Ceredigion is a huge raised bog with a boardwalk and hide, where you can see wildfowl and birds of prey over the reeds. The Dyfi estuary near Machynlleth, with the RSPB reserve at Ynys-hir on its southern shore, fills with ducks, geese and waders. In Southern Eryri, the Mawddach estuary between Dolgellau and Barmouth is good for waders and herons, and you can watch from the Mawddach Trail. See RSPB sites and reserves for more.

Deer in autumn

October is rutting season, when stags and bucks bellow and clash to win their groups of hinds and does. Fallow deer live in parkland and woods across Mid Wales, and early mornings and dusk are the times to listen for them. Keep your distance, as males in the rut can be unpredictable.

Good to know

Bring binoculars and warm layers, and plan to be out early or late when animals are most active. Check tide times before coastal walks. For more places to see wildlife, see wildlife and nature in Mid Wales, and for ideas on where to stay, see autumn in Mid Wales.

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More to see this autumn

Inspiration

Ceredigion Coast | Beaches and Coastal Towns
October Half Term in Mid Wales

Steam trains through autumn woods, Halloween ghost trains and caverns for wet days. October half term in Mid Wales keeps the whole family busy.
Accommodation with Open Fires and Log Burners

A log burner, thick blankets and a walk from the door. These cottages, inns and B&Bs are made for autumn and winter evenings in Mid Wales.
Autumn in Mid Wales

Copper woods in the Elan Valley, waterfalls running full after the rain and red kites over Rhayader. Autumn in Mid Wales is for walking in the morning and settling in by the fire at night.
Dark Skies and Stargazing in Mid Wales

Some of the darkest skies in Britain, with the Milky Way overhead on a clear night. Here is where to go, what to look for and when.
Autumn Walks in Mid Wales

Oak woods turning copper above the reservoirs, larch going gold in Hafren Forest and the Mawddach at low tide. These are our favourite walks for autumn colour.

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Forest Holidays | Garwnant

Address

Garwnant Forest Visitor Centre, Cwmtaf, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2HU

Merthyr Tydfil

Garwnant Visitor Centre and holiday cabins are managed by Forest Holidays. The centre lies on the southern end of the Brecon Beacons National Park
Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve

Address

Underhill Lane, Pant, SY22 6HD

Telephone
01938 555654

info@montwt.co.uk

Pant

Straddling the border between England and Wales, the reserve lies at the southern end of the carboniferous limestone outcrop that stretches from Anglesey and the Great Orme at Llandudno.
Bannau Brycheiniog | Brecon Beacons National Park

Address

National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, Powys, LD3 8NL

Libanus

Bannau Brycheiniog | Brecon Beacons National Park lies on the border between Mid Wales and South Wales and includes Fforest Fawr UNESCO Global Geopark and International Dark Sky Reserve
Cors Caron National Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6JF

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ceredigion

Cors Caron is a vast wetland near Tregaron. The huge raised peat bogs and surrounding habitats support a wealth of wildlife. Accessible boardwalk over bog to hide, and Sustrans National Cycle route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Offa's Dyke Centre

Address

West Street, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1EN

Telephone
01547 528753

oda@offasdyke.org.uk

Knighton

The Offa's Dyke Centre is positioned at about the halfway point of the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail and at the start of the Glyndwr's Way National Trail.
Cors Y Llyn Nature Reserve

Address

Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3RU

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Builth Wells

The Cors y Llyn Reserve is one of several mires in the old county of Radnorshire and is located to the south of Newbridge-on-Wye.
Burfa Bog Nature Reserve

Address

Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2SH

Telephone
01597 823298

info@rwtwales.org

Powys

A low-lying reserve with Knobley brook running through the wet grassland. Butterflies and flowers are abundant in the spring and summer months.
Cadair Idris (NRW)

Address

Southern Snowdonia, Gwynedd, LL39 1AX

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Southern Snowdonia

Cadair Idris is a spectacular mountain reserve in southern Snowdonia with a variety of landscapes and terrain that cover over 450 hectares of breathtaking landscape.
Lake Vyrnwy | Llyn Efyrnwy

Address

Llanwddyn, Owestry, Powys, SY10 0LZ

Telephone
01691 870 571

VisitorSites@hdcymru.co.uk

Powys

Experience the awe-inspiring natural beauty and rich history of Lake Vyrnwy, Wales. The stunning destination boasts a vast reservoir surrounded by remote mountains and thick forests, offering a unique and dramatic landscape for outdoor enthusiasts…
Morfa Dyffryn Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Dyffryn Ardudwy, near Barmouth, LL43 2AR

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

near Barmouth

The spectacular Morfa Dyffryn Reserve stretches for about 4.5 miles along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Afon Ysgethin in the south to Afon Artro in the north.
Llyn Coed y Dinas Nature Reserve

Address

Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP

Telephone
01938 555654

info@montwt.co.uk

Welshpool

Created from a gravel pit, quarried to provide material for the creation of the Welshpool bypass, Llyn Coed y Dinas is a fantastic home for all sorts of wildlife.
RSPB Mawddach Valley - Arthog Bog

Address

5 St Marys Terrace, Arthog, Gwynedd, LL39 1BQ

Telephone
01654 700222

mawddach@rspb.org.uk

Arthog

Arthog Bog is located in southern Snowdonia between Dolgellau and Fairbourne. It is a small wetland and a wonderful place to see weird and wonderful plants, flowers, butterflies and birds.
Glaslyn Nature Reserve

Address

Aberhosan, Powys, SY20 8RE

Telephone
01938 555654

Powys

Glaslyn is Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s biggest nature reserve, an integral part of the Cambrian Mountains.
Coed Crafnant Reserve

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL46 2YA

Telephone
01248 351541

info@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Gwynedd

This 120 acre reserve is a fine example of Ancient Woodland, with a rich flora of mosses, liverworts and ferns. The Coed Crafnant Reserve is comprised of two distinct woodlands; Coed Crafnant and Coed Dolbebin.
Dyfi Valley & Coast

Address

Mid Wales, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8SR

Machynlleth

The Dyfi Valley opens wide as it approaches Cardigan Bay Coast and ends in sandy beaches and dunes. It cradles the westerly spur of Powys, Ceredigion north of Aberystwyth, and the southern rim of Snowdonia National Park.
Coed Rheidol Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Coed Rheidol Nature Reserve (NRW), Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, SY23 3JW

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Devil's Bridge

Coed Rheidol is situated about 12 miles east of Aberystwyth. It occupies parts of both banks of the Afon Rheidol, upstream, and the south bank downstream of Devil's Bridge.
Dolydd Hafren Nature Reserve

Address

Forden, Powys, SY21 8NN

Telephone
01938 555654

info@montwt.co.uk

Powys

The River Severn loops lazily across its valley floor, its loops and bends creating oxbow lakes which are now good wetland habitat for waterfowl.
Cefn Cenarth Nature Reserve

Address

Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5LR

Telephone
01597 823298

info@rwtwales.org

Powys

Two areas of upland sessile oak woodland connected by a recently felled conifer plantation now replanted with native broadleaved species. An important place for mosses and lichens.
Mawddach Estuary

Address

Dolgellau - Barmouth, Southern Snowdonia, LL40 2TA

Telephone
01766 770274

Dolgellau - Barmouth

The vast and sandy Mawddach estuary is one of Snowdonia National Park’s most remarkable areas. The area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation due to its salt marsh and lowland peat habitats.
RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas Nature Reserve

Address

Ystradffin, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0PG

Telephone
02920 353000

gwenffrwd.dinas@rspb.org.uk

Llandovery

This delightful reserve is set in the heart of Mid Wales near Ystradffin, Rhandirmwyn. Dinas is a pleasant circular walk, part of the circuit is steep with difficult terrain. Strong footwear is advised.
Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve

Address

Talgarth, Powys, LD3 7LH

Telephone
01874 625708

info@welshwildlife.org

Powys

This 21 acre hillside site embodies the essence of all that is best about the woodland dingles of Mid Wales. Easy access trail through the wood.