MUST HAVE LOTS OF RODENTS
Cerys Gardner
Sun, 21 April 2024
Red Kites flying over Gigrin Farm
Cerys Gardner
Sun, 21 April 2024
Red Kites flying over Gigrin Farm
Tucked away between the Wye and Elan valleys is the best place in Wales to see majestic red kites. Gigrin Farm, just outside Rhayader, Powys, sees 300 to 600 of the birds descend every afternoon for feeding - and you can watch the kites swooping down for their lunch from just metres away.
Red kites are a stunning bird of prey with their distinctive red-brown feathers that unfurl to a wingspan of almost two metres. Their beady eyes give them an extraordinary sense of sight, used to scan the countryside for prey. Gigrin Farm has been feeding the birds for 31 years, since the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds approached them about becoming an official feeding centre.
At that time there were just two breeding pairs in Wales, but there are now 4,400 pairs across the UK. Once the food is put out crows usually arrive first whilst the kites and buzzards circle overhead. Then the kites dive down, either to snatch the meat or flush crows into the air and mug them. The display is a noisy mixture of jackdaw calls and buzzards mewing. Once they have clear airspace the kites will eat their food, still watching out for other birds. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here
Read more: Walk through a deer park to a huge imposing castle in this Welsh town with its own steam railway
Read more: The Welsh village that's so gorgeous they charge an entry fee
If you want to see this striking display, Gigrin Farm opens at 12.30pm and the kites are fed at 2pm or 3pm depending on the time of year. Feeding can be viewed from five hides, camouflaged shelters, or the viewing field which offers a wider perspective. The kites are the focus but there’s lots more to enjoy including a cafe, a picnic area, and donkeys.
As well as being a great family day out Gigrin Farm is the perfect place for keen photographers. They have specialist hides for photographers that get you even closer to the action. This year they are offering photography workshops for the very first time. “People want to ask lots of questions about how to photograph red kites. We are just expanding what we offer,” said Dominique Powell, owner of the farm.
Kites snatch their meal from the ground and eat it in the air whilst flying -Credit:Paul_Cooper/Getty
It's an awe-inspiring sight -Credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus
One visitor on TripAdvisor said: “There were hundreds of red kites swooping in for food, it was amazing to see. Probably a once in a lifetime experience. Even kept the kids quiet!”, while another said: “An amazing experience, that I’ll never forget. Nature at its magnificent best. The staff are so friendly and helpful. I’m an amateur wildlife photographer, and it’s another tick on my list.”
After you leave the farm you’re only half a mile from the market town of Rhayader, the perfect place for dinner before driving home or to stay in a B&B to explore the Elan valley the next day. Read more about the little town dubbed the 'outdoors capital of Wales' where you can stay in a 'Hobbit House' here. Ms Powell said: “There is plenty for people to do.”
The farm is offering photography classes too, so you can catch shots like this -Credit:Paul_Cooper/Getty
Or this one -Credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus
Ms Powell said she recommends booking in advance through their website because they limit numbers each day and have varied opening times throughout the year. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 for kids and three and under are free.
Red kites are a stunning bird of prey with their distinctive red-brown feathers that unfurl to a wingspan of almost two metres. Their beady eyes give them an extraordinary sense of sight, used to scan the countryside for prey. Gigrin Farm has been feeding the birds for 31 years, since the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds approached them about becoming an official feeding centre.
At that time there were just two breeding pairs in Wales, but there are now 4,400 pairs across the UK. Once the food is put out crows usually arrive first whilst the kites and buzzards circle overhead. Then the kites dive down, either to snatch the meat or flush crows into the air and mug them. The display is a noisy mixture of jackdaw calls and buzzards mewing. Once they have clear airspace the kites will eat their food, still watching out for other birds. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here
Read more: Walk through a deer park to a huge imposing castle in this Welsh town with its own steam railway
Read more: The Welsh village that's so gorgeous they charge an entry fee
If you want to see this striking display, Gigrin Farm opens at 12.30pm and the kites are fed at 2pm or 3pm depending on the time of year. Feeding can be viewed from five hides, camouflaged shelters, or the viewing field which offers a wider perspective. The kites are the focus but there’s lots more to enjoy including a cafe, a picnic area, and donkeys.
As well as being a great family day out Gigrin Farm is the perfect place for keen photographers. They have specialist hides for photographers that get you even closer to the action. This year they are offering photography workshops for the very first time. “People want to ask lots of questions about how to photograph red kites. We are just expanding what we offer,” said Dominique Powell, owner of the farm.
Kites snatch their meal from the ground and eat it in the air whilst flying -Credit:Paul_Cooper/Getty
It's an awe-inspiring sight -Credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus
One visitor on TripAdvisor said: “There were hundreds of red kites swooping in for food, it was amazing to see. Probably a once in a lifetime experience. Even kept the kids quiet!”, while another said: “An amazing experience, that I’ll never forget. Nature at its magnificent best. The staff are so friendly and helpful. I’m an amateur wildlife photographer, and it’s another tick on my list.”
After you leave the farm you’re only half a mile from the market town of Rhayader, the perfect place for dinner before driving home or to stay in a B&B to explore the Elan valley the next day. Read more about the little town dubbed the 'outdoors capital of Wales' where you can stay in a 'Hobbit House' here. Ms Powell said: “There is plenty for people to do.”
The farm is offering photography classes too, so you can catch shots like this -Credit:Paul_Cooper/Getty
Or this one -Credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus
Ms Powell said she recommends booking in advance through their website because they limit numbers each day and have varied opening times throughout the year. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 for kids and three and under are free.
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