Wildlife near Pale Wood isn’t too hard to find. As well as our 43-acre private woodland, which is in an area of outstanding natural beauty with beautiful varying trees and wildflowers. Nearby in Bala, you will even have the chance to see wildlife such as otters, foxes, squirrels, and many different types of birds including Red Kites and Buzzards.
Birds
Are you an avid twitcher? Head on over to the RSPB Nature Reserve, where you may even be lucky to experience the Ospreys in full flight! Take a short drive from Pale Wood to the RSPB Glaslyn Osprey viewpoint at Pont Croesor and use one of the high-power telescopes and remote TV monitors to view the Osprey’s closeup. Or, why not pop over to the visitor centre at Lake Vyrnwy or the Llechwedd Slate Caverns to see if you can spot a Kestrel, Red Kite or Buzzard.
The Berwyn National Nature Reserve, which lies just to the east and north-east of Bala, is also the perfect spot for bird watching, as it is in fact, an important breeding ground for many upland birds such as Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Red Kite. Various songbirds are also found throughout Wales, including species like robins, blackbirds, thrushes, tits, and finches. These birds often inhabit woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens.
Breeding Bird Populations
Moorland and grassland habitats in the mountains are home to a wide range of upland birds including; Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Red Kite, Dunlin, Snipe, Wheatear, and Raven. Wales is famous for its population of red kites, and these majestic birds of prey can often be seen soaring in the skies above wooded areas.
To obtain specific information about current breeding bird populations in the Bala area, including population trends and conservation efforts, it is recommended you contact local bird watching groups, wildlife organisations, or governmental agencies involved in wildlife monitoring and conservation in Wales. These organisations may have access to recent surveys or studies conducted in the region.
Fish
The largest natural lake in Wales, Bala Lake is a prominent feature of the area. It offers opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, and boating. The lake is home to various waterfowl and is surrounded by picturesque scenery. The beautiful Bala Lake is home to around 14 species of fish including the Gwyniad – a popular local species of white fish which is unique to Bala Lake.
Explore the lake further and you may even be lucky to spot an otter or two as well as a Myxas Glutinosa – the glutinous snail – which finds a home on the lake. Although these areas are protected from fishing – remember we have our very own fishing lake at Pale Wood which is suitable for tackling and species including, Roach, Rudd, Bream, Tench, Mirror, Crucian Carp as well as Common Carp.
Additionally, there are several waterfalls in the region, including Pistyll Rhaeadr, one of the tallest waterfalls in Wales, which is a short drive away from Bala.
Blanket Bog
Deep peat, also known as blanket bog, can be found at the ridge top of the Berwyn. Bogs are full of plants that are heavily dependent on soil and moist conditions including mosses, heather and cotton grass.