Wildlife

Discover wildlife at Garwnant

If you're looking for a day out with a difference, Garwnant Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) offers the perfect natural habitats for all kinds of birds and animals. Look for birds like Willow Warblers, Nightjars, Bullfinches, or search for wildlife like newts, frogs and lizards. From the Bee Chafer Beetle to the Red Admiral Butterfly and the Elephant Hawkmoth; Garwnant is thriving wherever you look.

Seasonal highlights

Take a look around the forest. Here’s just a small selection of what you can expect to see during your visit throughout the year.

Spring awakening

Garwnant springs to life as Black Caps, Willow Warblers and Swallows migrate to the woodland. Early flowering plants like Willow and Blackthorn emerge and with it come the moths and butterflies eager to explore and find food.
Summer in bloom

In the warmer months, pollinators feast on the summer plants. Butterfies and moths flutter around the forest and the call of migrating birds like the Nightjar can be heard amongst the trees.
Autumn wonders

Head deep into the coniferous woodland where you'll be able to spot fungi such as Fly Agaric and Yellow Staghorn growing amongst the roots and deadwood. The forest comes to life at night, as bats and other nocturnal visitors emerge.
Winter wildlife

Many creatures hibernate, so undisturbed woodpiles give a helping hand to wildlife looking for shelter. Walk through the woodland and look for muddy mammal tracks and Hair Ice, a phenomenon caused by a fungus in rotting wood during frosty weather.

Birdlife at Garwnant

Lesser Redpoll

The Lesser Redpoll is a tiny brown finch with a distinct red forehead, but what really makes it stand out is how it has its meals - hanging upside down! They love to feed on alder seeds, birch catkins and even some insects. See if you spot them hanging around!
Green Woodpecker

The largest of the three British-breeding woodpeckers is the Green Woodpecker. It’s olive green, with a bright yellow rump, pale green belly, red cheeks and 'hat'. As stark sounding as it is colourful, it has a recognisable 'laughing' call, known as a 'yaffle' and feasts on ants.
Red Kite

The 'mewing call', reddish-brown body and forked tail of the Red Kite makes it one of the most recognisable birds of prey in the UK. Living an average of ten years, they build their nests with dead twigs, grass and tufts of sheep's wool - sometimes on top of other nests!
Common Crossbill

Flying in large groups in the treetops, the Common Crossbill often heads down to drink from pools and puddles. Spot the males with their bright red feathers. Their unusually shaped crossed bill helps to extract seeds from conifer cones (their favourite).
Siskin

The Siskin often feeds upside down, searching for hard to reach seeds like its finch cousins. Look up high to spot them, with the males easily recognised by their bright yellow or green bodies. During winter, UK Siskins are often joined by migrating European Siskins.
Tawny Owl

More often heard than seen - in winter, the hooting of the nocturnal Tawny Owls fills the air, with their striking gingery-brown feathers standing out against a frosty forest backdrop. Watch as they hunt for mice and ‘talk’ to each other during the courting season.

Fungi at Garwnant

Yellow Staghorn

From mid summer, root around the forest floor amongst the stumps of pine and spruce trees. Spot the striking Yellow Staghorn growing from deadwood, like bright flames rising from the ground. With a long fruiting season, it's shaped like coral or forked antlers, just like a stag.
Fly Agaric

The unmistakable Fly Agaric is the mythical mushroom of folklore and fairytales. Its bright red cap and white spots peek out from woodland and heathland among birch, pine and spruce. Spot this enchanting toadstool and it's a sure sign that autumn is on its way.
Salmon Salad

If you spot a jelly-like fungi that leaves you wondering if someone dropped their food on the forest floor, you're probably looking at 'Salmon Salad'. Seen in summer and autumn, the fruiting body of this fungi grows on its own or in clumps, and looks remarkably like smoked salmon!