We are open!! Along with many other RSPB reserves Ynys-hir has been able to re-open with the lifting of some Government restrictions, however not all staff are back in work and so as with many of our sites, we are on reduced hours. Open Wednesday through to Sunday 10am-4pm. The car park and reserve will be shut outside of these hours.
Also our Welcome area is for the time being outside near the picnic benches, the Visitor centre and all hides remain closed. That said, the trails are open and the wildlife and views are still wonderful in their abundance. As I write this a red kite is gently gliding above me whilst over the Einion pools sand martins are acrobatically flying catching insects. During two hours a list of birds seen from the Car Park reached 50, including a pair of wrens that are busy feeding young very near the picnic benches.
There are plenty of our summer visitors out on the reserve still, including willow warblers, redstarts sedge warbler, grass hopper warbler etc. Lapwings bred again this year of the pools at Marian mawr along with redshank and oystercatchers. Tom has been able to go back out to the lowland wet grassland this week and enjoyed having his lunch with a kingfisher for company.
The meadows are still delighting with selfheal, yarrow, silverweed, and even yellow rattle, all of which are helping to attract butterflies such as the meadow brown.
As we begin to gently move out of lockdown restrictions the reserve is a pefect place for a walk to lift your spirits.