Dyfi Osprey Project
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Frequently Asked Questions
Join us
How far is it from the carpark to the 360 Observatory?
It is 520m from the Visitor Centre and the Car Park to the 360 Observatory. The route is along our 1.8m wide, non-slip board walk.
How far is it from the 360 Observatory to the Osprey nest?
It is 200m from the Observatory to the osprey Nest. There are uninterrupted views from the main windows to the nest and the Dyfi Estuary beyond.
Do I need to wear wellies?
Not unless you want to. The board walk is clean and free from standing water in all but rare flood conditions. Any regular flat shoes are fine.
Can we get closer to Ospreys than the 360 Observatory?
No. Ospreys are a schedule one bird of prey and it is an offence to disturb them, or their nest.
Can I take photographs of the Ospreys?
Yes. You are very welcome to take photographs of all of the wildlife on the reserve. If the weather allows we open the windows of the 360 Observatory to increase the viewing experience. Please remember that the 360 Observatory is open to all visitors and respect everyone's viewing space.
Do you have a Cafe?
Yes we have a small cafe on site. The cafe offers a range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and ice creams. The cafe is next to the Visitor Centre and Car Park.
The Cafe is open during the main osprey season.
Can we bring our dog?
Dogs, except assistance dogs are not allowed on to Cors Dyfi Reserve.
Please note however, dogs are still welcome in the car park where they can be taken for short walks. Water bowls are also provided. Dogs are also allowed in the visitor centre with their owners.
When do you feed the Ospreys?
We don't feed the ospreys. The Dyfi ospreys are wild birds that fish for themselves in the River Dyfi and the surrounding area.
We do however feed the small birds and you are welcome to watch them on the feeders from the small hide or the Visitor Centre
Do you have card payment facilites?
Yes we have card payment facilities (no American Express) onsite in the Visitor Centre. Our minimum card payment is £10.
Will we definitely see the Ospreys?
We cannot guarantee any sightings as they are wild birds that come and go from the nest as they please. However, there are times of the year when your chances of seeing the Dyfi ospreys are much higher.
The ospreys typically return to the Dyfi around the first week of April and remain here until the end of August. Any visits at the start or end of the season make the chances of seeing ospreys a little lower as they will not be in settled breeding behaviour.
In May and June we would expect to have eggs and then small chicks in the nest. There is ususally always a parent bird in attendance at this stage of the breeding year, so good viewing opportunities.
Towards the middle of July we would expect any chicks to fledge. Once they fledge and become mobile they become a little harder to keep track of and will explore the local area.They do however tend to return to the nest for food and to rest so viewing chances are still good through to the end of August.
What else can we see on the reserve?
Each year we record around 100 species of birds including: Reed Warblers, Yellow Hammers, Chaffinches, Bittern, Long Tailed Tits, Red Kites, Sparrow Hawks and Tawny Owls.
We have resident Otters, Dormice and Foxes alongside many Frogs, Toads and Common Lizards. At the smaller end of our wildlife we have recorded over 500 species of moth on site including the rare Rosy Marsh Moth and the common Drinker Moth. There is always something to see whatever the weather or time of year.
Can I get to you by train?
We ask that visitors travelling by train use Machynlleth Train Station and then continue their journey by bus or taxi as there is NO SAFE ACCESS FROM DYFI JUNCTION.
We continue to explore the options of making better transport links and will keep you posted of any developments. In the meantime please do not use Dyfi Junction to visit us.
Do you really have Water Buffalo?
Yes we do.
We have a pair of Water Buffalo that help us to manage the reserve in the summer months. They eat their way through an amazing amount of willow and birch growth each season. In the winter we take them off site to a local farm.
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