Ynys-hir RSPB reserve facts for kids
Ynys-hir RSPB Reserve is a special place for nature, run by the RSPB. It's located right next to the Dyfi River in Ceredigion, mid Wales. You can find it between the towns of Aberystwyth and Machynlleth.
This amazing reserve covers 550 hectares, which is like 1,359 acres! It has many different natural areas, from muddy riverbanks and salty marshes to farmlands, ponds, oak forests, and even scrubby hillsides. There's a small visitor centre where you can learn more, and seven special hides where you can quietly watch birds.
The name Ynys-hir means "Long Island" in Welsh. This name comes from a wooded ridge that used to be surrounded by marshy land. The area was a private estate until the RSPB bought it in 1970 and turned it into the nature reserve we see today.
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Discover the Amazing Wildlife at Ynys-hir
Ynys-hir is home to a huge variety of animals, especially birds! Many different species come here to breed, feed, and rest.
Birds That Live and Breed Here
During the spring and summer, many birds choose Ynys-hir to build their nests and raise their young. You can spot wading birds like the lapwing and the redshank. Recently, little egrets have joined the grey herons in their nesting area.
In the woodlands, you might see colourful birds such as the redstart, the wood warbler, and the pied flycatcher. Keep an eye on the sky, because red kites often fly overhead!
Winter Visitors and Rare Birds
When winter arrives, many ducks come to Ynys-hir for shelter and food. These include the shelduck, wigeon, and teal. Wading birds like the oystercatcher and curlew also spend their winters here. You might even see smaller groups of Greenland white-fronted goose and barnacle goose.
Sometimes, very rare birds visit the reserve, making it an exciting place for birdwatchers. For example, a gull-billed tern was seen here in July 2015!
Other Animals and Plants
It's not just birds that call Ynys-hir home! You might also spot amazing mammals like the otter, polecat, and the tiny hazel dormouse.
The reserve is also buzzing with insects, including many different kinds of dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies. A rare type of weevil called Procas granulicollis also lives here.
When it comes to plants, the woodlands are filled with beautiful bluebells. In the peat bogs, you can find special plants like sundews (which eat insects!), bog asphodel, and bog-rosemary.
The History of Ynys-hir Reserve
The Ynys-hir RSPB reserve began on the land of Hugh Maplin. In 1959, he invited a famous naturalist named Bill Condry and his wife Penny to live in one of the estate cottages.
Bill Condry became the very first RSPB warden when the reserve officially opened in 1969. He was very important in helping to protect the red kite, a bird that was once very rare in Wales. Bill Condry passed away in 1998, but his work helped save many birds. He also wrote many books about nature.
Ynys-hir in the Media
Ynys-hir became quite famous when it hosted the BBC's popular nature show, Springwatch. The programme was filmed here for three years in a row, from 2011 to 2013. The BBC said that moving the show from its previous location took a whole year of planning!
