Get up close to the only pair of breeding ospreys in Wales at the RSPB Glaslyn viewing site, open daily 10 am-6 pm

Glaslyn osprey project

30 March to 4 September 2009

Try spotting a fish from 20 metres up in the air, plunging into the water headfirst at 50 mph and then catching the slippery prey with your feet. It may look spectacular, but it's a tough way to make a living.

Come and see me in action, for free, against the awesome backdrop of Snowdonia's mountains. Watch me hunt through powerful telescopes, and get close-up, live footage of me rearing my chicks via the live nestcams. You can watch it all direct from the nest on three widescreen plasma monitors in the hide, getting you even closer to the family.

As you watch us doing our stuff, don't forget to look around and take in the amazing views of Snowdonia and surrounding mountain ranges. The Glaslyn Valley offers you some of the most scenic and wildlife-rich areas in Wales.

More than 180,000 people have visited us at Glaslyn since we ospreys first arrived in 2004.

When can you see us?

The viewpoint is open from 10 am until 6 pm, from 30 March to 4 September.

What's at the site?

The hide has four powerful telescopes and seven pairs of binoculars available for you to get great views of us, and you can also watch live nestcam images on the widescreen monitors. Our friends from RSPB Cymru will help you see all the action. Bring a picnic - there are four tables at the site.

How to find us

Come and watch us from the viewing site at Pont Croesor.

By public transport: there's a bus between Porthmadog and Beddgelert every 2 hours. It doesn't stop directly at the site, so a short walk is necessary. Call Traveline Cymru on 0871 200 2233 to find out more.

By car: take the A487 north from Porthmadog. Turn right onto the A498 at Tremadog and turn right again after about 2.5 miles onto the B4410. The entrance is on the right at a bend in the road. Turn into the site, and continue over the railway to the car park. Follow the RSPB arrows. A helper will greet you on arrival.

What should I bring?

You don't need anything - we've got all you need to get great views.

Still got some questions?

Telephone: RSPB Cymru on 029 2035 3008
E-mail: cymru@rspb.org.uk

Why not make a day of it?

Nearby attractions that you may also like to visit:

• Snowdonia National Park Authority
• Beaumaris Castle
• Caernarfon Castle
• Conwy Castle
• Harlech Castle
• The Welsh Highland Railway Project
• Welsh Highland Railway

This is a partnership project with North Wales Police, Countryside Council for Wales, Gwynedd County Council, Snowdonia National Park Authority, Tourism Partnership North Wales, Environment Wales, Criccieth TV, and the National Trust.

Glaslyn osprey diary

Follow the fortunes of a pair of ospreys breeding near Porthmadog in north Wales.

Thursday, 10 September 2009 14.27

End to a wonderful 6th season!

Posted by Geraint Williams

The Glaslyn Osprey Date with Nature event in north Wales has finally closed its doors for the 6th season on a very wet and windy weekend. It was another very successful year with three more osprey chicks fledging, and over 30,000 people visiting the site to see these wonderful balls of fluff grow and thrive into spectacular birds of prey.

Hundreds of people also followed the seasons’ story online via this blog, and got involved in two community events which raised over £800 for the RSPB and its conservation work.

The Glaslyn osprey pair have now successfully raised 12 chicks since first nesting in north Wales in 2004, the family of five have now started their migration south to Africa.  All three chicks were ringed this year so in two or three years time we hope to see them returning, a Glaslyn chick from 2006 has successfully bred in Scotland this year!

The Date with Nature project led by RSPB Cymru staff and volunteers is now closed for the winter but will open again in late March next year. Details of this project and others across the UK can be found on the RSPB website at www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature

More...