Bird Watching at Plas Farm
HOME OF SWANSEA VALLEY HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Plas Farm is a birdwatcher's paradise. The diversity of habitats at the farm mean that it is home to a large number of different bird species. Since 2003, when we began recording, 54 different species have been spotted at the farm and around the holiday cottages. Many of the species hold territory at Plas Farm during the breeding season. Here is the latest list - please inform us if there is something to add!

Image 1 by Richard Bowen

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1. Blackbird Turdus merula
2. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
3. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
4. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
5. Buzzard Buteo buteo
6. Carrion Crow Corvus corone
7. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
8. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus regulus
9. Coal Tit Parus ater
10. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
11. Dipper Cinclus cinclus
12. Dunnock Prunella modulais
13. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
14. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
15. Goldcrest Regulus regulus
16. Goldfinch Caerduelis carduelis
17. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
18. Great Tit Parus major
19. Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
20. Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
21. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
22. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
23. House Martin Delichon urbica
24. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
25. Jackdaw Corvus monedula
26. Jay Garrulus glandarius
27. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
28. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
29. Linnet Carduelis cannabina
30. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
31. Magpie Pica pica
32. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
33. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
34. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
35. Nuthatch Sitta europaea
36. Pheasant Phasianus colchius
37. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
38. Raven Corvus corax
39. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
40. Red Kite Milvus milvus
41. Redwing Turdis iliacus
42. Robin Erithacus rubecula
43. Skylark Aluda arvensis
44. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
45. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
46. Starling Sturnus vulgaris
47. Stonechat Saxicola torquata
48. Swallow Hirundo rustica
49. Swift Apus apus
50. Tawny Owl Strix aluco
51. Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
52. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
53. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
54. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

During 2004, Neath Port Talbot Council carried out a bird survey at the farm to contribute to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Around 40 species were observed during four site visits. 2 of these are Red listed - starling and bullfinch and 6 are Amber listed - skylark, swallow, song thrush, house sparrow, linnet and reed bunting. During the breeding season, both the skylark and reed bunting were reported to be holding territory in improved grassland and rush pasture respectively. Red and Amber designation indicate that the bird species are of conservation concern as described by the RSPB paper, The population status of birds in Wales: an analysis of conservation concern 2002-2007. The full report is available in your holiday cottage.