Kenfig Nature Reserve

10/04/2026

As April progresses, more and more spring migrant birds are arriving and recent south easterly winds has seen one of the earliest ever mass arrivals of Common Whitethroats to the reserve. These are probably the commonest breeding warbler on the site and you can often see them perched atop a Hawthorn or similar bush giving their scratchy little song before they do a dancing song flight which often ends back on the same perch. They can be seen all over the reserve and will be with us until mid September when the last ones depart for the long flight back to Africa.

01/02/2026

20/01/2026

If you have been out and about on the reserve recently, you may have noticed that there are already birds singing despite spring being a couple of months away yet. It's very likely that what you are hearing is either a Mistle Thrush or a Song Thrush as these are usually the two earliest resident species to get going. They often sit on high song perches, but even if you can't see the bird, the vocalisations are very different so it shouldn't be too difficult to identify which one you are hearing. The Mistle Thrush has a fluty and melodic song somewhat similar to a Blackbird that resonates over quite long distances, whereas the Song Thrush is a quite loud mixture of notes that are often repeated three or four times before moving on to the next note - these notes may include expert mimicry including mobile phones and car alarms as well as species that they may hear singing nearby. Mistle Thrushes are also known as Stormcocks as their song is said to be the harbringer of bad weather. The photo is of a Song Thrush in full voice near the reserve centre.

https://www.british-birdsongs.uk/song-thrush/

24/12/2025

Nadolig llawen 🎉
Merry Christmas 🎄✨

09/12/2025

Join me on Saturday the 3rd of January
Free guided walk to find as many plants in flower as we can for the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt!

08/11/2025

I found lovely group of earth tongues today, they look like Rusty Earthtongue (Microglossum rufescens)
Need to get one under the microscope to confirm 🔬

04/10/2025

See you soon 😁

03/10/2025

Fungi day is on tomorrow (4th October) starts at 10
We have lots of fungi samples in the centre, with some amazing fungi art work on the walls.