When visiting Lake Vyrnwy, it is easy to overlook one of the most delightful features, the Coed y Capel hide which translates to the Chapel Wood hide. Nestled in a small car park, with the hustle and bustle of the cars and cafe business outside, it is housed in a modest looking wooden hut. An RSPB notice board and picture of birds outside mark it as something different but on opening the door visitors are taken aback by the sheer volume of birds they see.
The Coed y Capel Hide
While the majority may be common garden and woodland birds; siskin, chaffinch, nuthatch, blue tits, great tits, coal tits and sparrows, if you look a little closer many others come into the mix. Recently, we have seen brambling mixed in with the chaffinch, goldcrest and bullfinch, redpoll, marsh tits and of course, our regular great spotted woodpeckers… as well as a few pheasant and a feral peahen. You may even be lucky enough to glimpse a willow tit, though distinguishing it from a marsh tit is tricky!
I should mention that many of these birds happily perch on the feeders just a few centimetres from the glass, giving an amazing close up view. It is always worth also taking the time to look down below the feeders and across the woodland which surrounds the hide on three sides.
Siskin and chaffinch enjoying the seed feeder in dreary conditions
For me, the Coed y Capel hide is a great example of how nature can still thrive close to human activity. We can sometimes overlook or under rate places if they do not look spectacular from the outside. The excited responses and joy we see on the faces of visitors after visiting the hide are testaments to how much we can all gain from a little time immersed in the delights of nature.
A variety of feeders to entice a variety of bird species
On stepping into the hide, you can easily imagine you are right in the centre of a remote woodland. It is easily accessed by all; with seasoned birders and photographers happily sitting alongside families and holiday makers. It may not be flashy but the simple charm and constantly changing, spectacular display, given by the multitude of birds, makes this a very special place.
So, next time you visit, make sure you pop in and take a look. Visitors are rarely disappointed.
Jampa King, Membership Development Officer
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