Birdlife at Reddings Retreat | Birdwatching in Tintern Wye Valley / 🐿️ Wildlife & Nature at Reddings Retreat

Birdlife at Reddings Retreat | Birdwatching in Tintern Wye Valley

From garden favourites to seasonal visitors

Birdwatching at Reddings Retreat offers a unique experience compared to other spots in the Wye Valley. Our peaceful setting, surrounded by a mosaic of habitats, attracts a remarkable variety of species — from the familiar garden robin to seasonal visitors and occasional rarities. Whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee outside the shepherds hut, sitting at the picnic tables, or watching from the guest suite window, there’s always something to see and hear. From the cheerful chatter of robins in the hedgerows to the soaring silhouette of buzzards above the paddock, Reddings Retreat is a year‑round haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

🎧 Listen: Morning dawn chorus at Reddings Retreat as the mist rises from the River Wye — View on Instagram

Set in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) — a protected landscape celebrated for its rich wildlife and breath-taking views — our mix of meadow, woodland, and riverside habitats attracts over 100 bird species across the year, with more than 40 species regularly seen in a single visit.

Common Residents
(seen year‑round)

Our feeders, surrounding hedgerows and ancient woods are alive with activity throughout the year. You might see: Robin, wren, blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, dunnock, nuthatch, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, long‑tailed tit, treecreeper, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, meadow pipit, greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, siskin, house sparrow, bullfinch, starling, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, buzzard, kestrel, peregrine falcon, red kite, sparrowhawk, grey heron, mute swan, mallard, Canada goose, moorhen, rook, carrion crow, jackdaw, magpie, jay, wood pigeon, stock dove, rock dove, pheasant, guinea fowl, red‑legged partridge, Eurasian skylark.

Seasonal Visitors

(spring/summer or autumn/winter)

As the seasons change, so do our visitors. In spring and summer, swallows and house martins swoop overhead, while autumn and winter bring flocks of fieldfares and redwings. Other seasonal visitors include: Sand martin, chiffchaff, willow warbler, redstart, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, pochard, common shelduck, mandarin duck, ruddy duck, little egret, northern lapwing, water rail, Eurasian teal (green‑winged teal).

Special or Occasional Sightings

(rare or migratory)

Every so often, a rarer guest makes an appearance — a treat for any keen birder. Past sightings have included: Hawfinch, crossbill, goshawk, firecrest, lesser spotted woodpecker, osprey (migration), nightjar, tawny owl, barn owl, little owl, woodcock, common snipe, common raven, Eurasian hobby, northern wheatear, garden warbler, common sandpiper, white‑throated dipper, glossy ibis, kittiwake, lesser black‑backed gull, common gull, great cormorant.

Prime Birdwatching Spot

From your accommodation, you can watch the feeders from the guest suite window or relax at the picnic tables in front of the shepherds huts and guest suite garden for close‑up views of garden favourites. If you feel like stretching your legs, follow the riverside paths for a chance to spot dippers, or look up to the open skies above the paddock where buzzards and red kites often soar.

Seasonal Spotting Tips

Spring: Listen for chiffchaffs and willow warblers returning from Africa.
Summer: Early mornings are best for kingfishers and dippers along the Wye.
Autumn: Scan treetops for mixed flocks of tits and finches.
Winter: Peregrines often hunt along the cliffs.

See More Bird Moments

Over the years we’ve shared some of our favourite bird encounters in a weekly feature we call Tuesday Tweet — from redwings in winter to barn owls at dusk. You can browse the full gallery here.

plan your visit

Beyond the Retreat — Notable Nearby Birds

Within 10 minutes of Reddings Retreat, the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean offer even more birding opportunities:

Waterfowl: Bar‑headed goose, greylag goose, pink‑footed goose, barnacle goose, northern shoveler, gadwall, tufted duck.
Grebes: Little grebe.
Gulls, Terns & Skimmers: Great black‑backed gull, black‑headed gull, Mediterranean gull, herring gull (unconfirmed), sandwich tern, great‑tailed godwit (2023).
Shorebirds: Black‑winged stilt (2022), Eurasian oystercatcher (unconfirmed), little ringed plover, black‑tailed godwit (2023).
Occasional river sightings: Kingfisher and dipper along the River Wye and tributaries like the Angidy.

Join the Spotter’s Log

See the full list of species spotted here over the years in our Spotter’s Log. Every entry began with someone pausing to notice — perhaps your stay will add the next one. If you capture a special moment during your visit, share your photos with Charlotte and you could be featured on our website or Instagram.

This page is just a taste of the birdlife here. Explore our Spotter’s Log for the complete record of birds, mammals, insects, wildflowers, trees, and seasonal forage spotted at Reddings Retreat.

At Reddings Retreat Tintern, we want every guest to enjoy a truly relaxing and tranquil experience while birdwatching — whether that’s from the comfort of your accommodation or out exploring the Wye Valley AONB.

Enquire & Book Your Stay and start your own birdwatching adventure in the Wye Valley AONB — from the first notes of the dawn chorus to the sweep of red kites over the paddock.