Wildlife Spotter’s Log | Reddings Retreat Tintern

Our record of the wildlife spotted at Reddings Retreat in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — built over many seasons by guests, locals, and us.

Welcome to the Log

From the flash of a dipper along the river to deer grazing in the morning mist, every stay at Reddings Retreat offers a chance to see something special.

Set in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) — a protected landscape celebrated for its rich wildlife and breath-taking views — our peaceful farm is home to an extraordinary variety of species. This log is our way of celebrating them: a curated record of what has been spotted here over the years, and an invitation for you to come and see what you can add to the story.

Birds

(over 100 species recorded annually)

Common Residents:

(seen year‑round)

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)

Sand martin, swallow, house martin, chiffchaff, willow warbler, redstart, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, fieldfare, redwing, pochard, common shelduck, mandarin duck, ruddy duck, little egret, northern lapwing, water rail, Eurasian teal (green‑winged teal).

🎵 Hear the dawn chorus recorded right here at Reddings Retreat — a video of robins, blackbirds, and song thrushes.

Special or Occasional Sightings 

(rare or migratory)

Kingfisher, 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.

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.

Other Birds & Wildlife Spotted Within 10 Minutes of Reddings Retreat

While our Spotter’s Log focuses on species recorded right here on the farm, the surrounding Wye Valley and Forest of Dean offer even more opportunities for keen wildlife watchers. All of these species have been spotted within a 10‑minute walk or drive from Reddings Retreat.

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).

For up‑to‑date sightings in the area, check the Wyndcliff Wood eBird hotspot and BirdGuides Tintern sightings.

Wildlife & Nature

Mammals

(more than a dozen species)

Fallow deer, roe deer, red deer, muntjac deer, fox, badger, rabbit, hare, grey squirrel, hedgehog, otter, wild boar, bats (summer evenings), occasional seal travelling upriver from Chepstow.

Insects & Butterflies

(25+ butterfly species plus many pollinators)

Peacock, red admiral, comma, meadow brown, speckled wood, small tortoiseshell, painted lady, brimstone, dragonflies, damselflies, bees, ladybirds, moths, grasshoppers.

Wildflowers

Bluebells, wild garlic, foxgloves, daisies, buttercups, meadowsweet, knapweed, cow parsley, primroses, snowdrops.

Trees & Woodland Plants (part of the habitats that make Reddings Retreat so rich in wildlife)

Oak (English & sessile), ash, beech, silver birch, rowan (mountain ash), hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, willow (various species), alder, sycamore, horse chestnut, holly, elder, field maple.

Seasonal notes:

Spring:

hawthorn blossom, hazel catkins, fresh beech leaves.

Summer:

shady oak canopies, rowan berries forming.

Autumn:

golden beech leaves, acorns, bright red rowan berries.

Winter:

bare silhouettes, holly berries adding colour.

Fruit Trees, Bushes & Wild Forage 

(seasonal treats for both guests and wildlife)

Pears, apples, plums, blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, hazelnuts, acorns, conkers (horse chestnut seeds) and wild garlic.

Seasonal notes:

  • Springtime: Wild garlic

  • Late Summer: ripe plums, apples, and pears in the orchard; blackberries along hedgerows.

  • Autumn: hazelnuts, acorns, and conkers falling — a feast for squirrels, jays, and deer.

  • Winter: rosehips and elderberries providing vital food for birds.

Also Seen in the Local Area (notable species & habitats)

Mammals: Greater horseshoe bat, lesser horseshoe bat, dormouse, polecat, stoat, weasel, grey seal (Chepstow’s riverside quay — watch Sammy the Seal here).

Reptiles & Amphibians: Common lizard, slow worm, grass snake, common frog, common toad, palmate newt, smooth newt.

Notable Insects: White admiral butterfly, silver‑washed fritillary, wood white butterfly, golden‑ringed dragonfly, common clubtail dragonfly (rare, best seen May–July along the River Wye), banded demoiselle, beautiful demoiselle. 

Wildflowers: Common spotted orchid, early purple orchid, bee orchid, wood anemone, wood sorrel, wild strawberry.

Habitats: Ancient woodland, limestone cliffs, River Wye, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, deadwood habitats.

Seasonal Highlights

Spring: Bluebells in the woodland, chiffchaffs calling, deer with new fawns.

Summer: Dragonflies over the pond, swallows nesting, butterflies in the meadow.

Autumn: Fallow deer rutting, flocks of redwings and fieldfares, golden leaves — and some of the UK’s most spectacular autumn colour. 

Winter: Peregrines hunting along the cliffs, robins singing, frosty mornings.

🐾 Other Regular Visitors

Alongside the seasonal highlights, guests often notice signs of badgers, foxes, and hedgehogs around the retreat. Otters sometimes leave spraints along the riverbank, while bats swoop over the meadow most summer evenings. Just across the Wireworks Bridge into the Forest of Dean, wild boar leave clear rooting signs — a reminder of the wilder neighbours living nearby.

👨‍🌾 Robert Recommends

Autumn tip: If you’re visiting between late September and early November, explore the Leaf Peeping Drive in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley for a self‑guided route through the region’s best viewpoints, ancient woodland, and riverside scenes.

Image of tree trunk with ivy looking up to canopy shared by our guest Lucie B.

See It for Yourself

Every entry in our Spotter’s Log began with someone pausing to notice — from the flash of a kingfisher over the Wye to the quiet tread of deer along the drive at night. Perhaps your stay will add the next one.

This page is the complete record of wildlife spotted at Reddings Retreat and nearby — birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, wildflowers, trees, and seasonal forage. It’s updated regularly with sightings from guests, locals, and our own observations.

If you capture a special moment during your visit, share your photos with Charlotte and you could be featured on our website or Instagram.

And for something a little unexpected, you might even spot a grey seal at the riverside — Sammy the Seal, a much‑loved local character often seen fishing in the tidal Wye. 🦭 Watch the video here

Enquire & Book Your Stay and start your own wildlife adventure in the Wye Valley AONB.