Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

[AndyL]

I know that many people, like me, enjoy taking photos at the Red Kite Feeding Centres in Wales. Just a reminder that, with the clocks changing, feeding times at all the Welsh sites are now 3pm BST as Kites don't have clocks. Feeding times in the winter are at 2pm GMT.

The feeding centres I know of in South Wales are:

Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire SA19 9YG

Gigrin Farm, South St, Rhayader, Powys LD6 5BL

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ponterwyd, SY23 3AB

Red Kite by Picws Du by Andy Leslie, on Flickr

[tesarver]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Very nice Andy

Tom

[DaveG001]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Thanks for the intel on locations Alan
Great shot also - shame you didn't have a blue sky on the day but that's British weather I guess
Cheers
Dave

[SamFisher]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Nice shot with plenty of detail Andy

Dogs don't have a clock either - unless they are watch dogs BOOM BOOM!!
Our dog was going frantic at his food bowl last night

Mike

[AndyL]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Thanks for the intel on locations Alan
Great shot also - shame you didn't have a blue sky on the day but that's British weather I guess
Cheers
Dave

Thanks Chris.

I have many shots of Red Kites on Flickr, take a butcher's hook if you like. This wasn't a photo for approbation, just illustration.

[the black fox]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

good info andy thanks

[Bill53]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Nice shot Andy.

Bill.

[AndyL]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

An update

Red Kite Feeding Stations in South and Mid-Wales

All feeding stations in Wales feed at 2pm GMT, which is 3pm BST of course. Kites do not have clocks, so to them this is the same time all year round. So when our clocks change, their feeding time changes for us, not them.

Numbers of birds vary throughout the year at all three sites, from 100+ to just a very few. The least you will see is just after Farmers have ploughed their fields (July/August), exposing mice etc to the mercies of the kites.

Red Kites usually eat carrion - IE dead meat - or very small animals like field mice, so do not expect them to attack, they won't!

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Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire SA19 9YG

My local Red Kite Feeding Station, which I frequent monthly or more. Pete and Roz have been feeding the Kites here since 2002 and are very friendly. No smoking in the hide, please. Dogs are allowed, but must be on a lead at all times (even the best behaved of dogs)

There's one hide which is accessible by the disabled. There's also a portaloo, but no catering facilities - bring your thermos if you want a hot drink.

£4 adults, £3 OAP & Concessions, £2 Children under 16

Free Parking.

Taking a camera? You'll not need more than a 300mm lens at most, I've used a 70-200mm and 100-400mm and gotten extremely decent pictures - the birds are not more than 60 meteres away and sometimes much nearer.
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Gigrin Farm, South Street, Rhayader LD6 5BL

This is a commercial operation and I find it very expensive. To be fair a lot of people say positive things about Gigrin, which I have not visited since 2012.

Standard entry fee (permits entry to the regular hides only, not Disabled-accessible)
£6 Adults
£5 Concession
£4 Children 5 – 15 years,
Free children 4 years & under

Specialist photographic hides (the prices include the standard entry fee):
Disabled Access Hide £15
Gateway Hide £15
The Tower Hide £20
The Big Tower £25
Kite field hide £45

Free parking

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Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth SY23 3AD

This is a Natural Resources, Wales, site with walking and cycling trails information, plus daily red kite feeding and a cafe.

Onsite parking costs £1.50 for up to two hours and £3.00 for over two hours

Free Entry

The hide was in poor repair when last I visited. Best view is from the other side of the lake.

When I last visited there, dogs were not required to be on leads and I witnessed dogs chasing Kites, eating their meat, etc. I complained to a Warden who said that he could do nothing.

Cheap but frustrating.

[haydnj]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

I know that many people, like me, enjoy taking photos at the Red Kite Feeding Centres in Wales. Just a reminder that, with the clocks going back, feeding times at all the Welsh sites are now 3pm BST as Kites don't have clocks. Feeding times in the winter are at 2pm GMT.

The feeding centres I know of in South Wales are:

Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire SA19 9YG

Gigrin Farm, South St, Rhayader, Powys LD6 5BL

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ponterwyd, SY23 3AB

Red Kite by Picws Du by Andy Leslie, on Flickr

Good info entry Andy, not to be picky your times are correct, but the clocks go forward in spring.

[AndyL]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

True. Which is one reason I posted the update.

I have updated the original to save confusion - 6 years later

[the black fox]

Re: Red Kite Feeding Centres in South Wales

Good info on the pricing scales there Andy .gigrin is getting to the point of pricing itself out of range