Wildlife in Wales

One of Wales’ greatest conservation success stories has seen the return of the red kite – a magnificent bird of prey distinguished by its reddish-brown plumage, angled wings and distinctive forked tail. The red kite is considered the national bird of Wales and a symbol of wildlife in Wales.

Historically misunderstood, red kites were once thought to pose a threat to livestock and pets. In reality, they are scavengers, playing a vital ecological role by feeding on dead animals and helping to keep the countryside clean. Despite their importance, by the late 1980s red kites had vanished from England and Scotland, with only a tiny, fragile population surviving in the remote valleys of mid Wales. By 1992, only a single breeding pair was known to remain in the wild.

After immense effort from conservation groups and the government there are now thousands of breeding pairs across the country and they are recognised as a protected species. One of the most influential efforts in this recovery was led by Gigrin Farm near Rhayader in mid Wales.

Rather than captive breeding or importing, the farm supported wild red kites through regular feeding sessions, helping to stabilise and grow the local population. Today, Gigrin Farm is a red kite feeding centre and viewing site, offering visitors the chance to watch hundreds of these spectacular birds gather and soar overhead.

Mid Wales remains the best place to spot red kites in the wild, which are often seen by walkers around the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), the Cambrian Mountains, and the Elan Valley. While sightings are now common, they are not guaranteed, and conservation efforts remain important to the continued growth of red kite populations.

Witness the magnificent red kites for yourself on our Highlights of Wales tour.

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The Welsh coastline stretches for over 1,600 miles and is home to an abundant selection of marine life – ranging from deep water dwelling mammals like seals, dolphins and whales, to huge congregations of seabirds and small molluscs and crustaceans living in the intertidal zone. Many of these marine species are internationally important, like the breeding colonies of seabirds and Atlantic grey seals along the Pembrokeshire coast.

Grey seals can be seen year round, but autumn and winter are prime pupping season – where new mothers haul out with their white-furred babes along the quieter coves that line the Pembrokeshire and Llŷn Peninsula cliffs.

Further north, Cardigan Bay has the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in Europe, which can be seen breaching from the ocean while they play and hunt. New Quay is a well-known hotspot. You can also watch porpoise, grey seals, Risso’s dolphins and bottlenose dolphins off the Anglesey coast. Spring and summer are the best seasons for seeing them, when calmer seas and warmer waters make sightings more common.

While whales are less predictable, lucky observers may spot humpbacks or even orcas from cliff-top trails during the winter months, especially between December and February.

The Menai Strait, which separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland, is another ecologically rich area, important for mollusc farming and one of the few locations in the UK where seagrass meadows thrive. This underwater flowering plant isn’t just a haven for small fish and marine invertebrates – it also plays a crucial role in carbon storage and coastal ecosystem health.