Songs of the Spinnies - Part 3: The Kingfisher Hide

The Spinnies Aberogwen's Kingfisher Hide is the best place to see and listen to the kingfisher. But what other birds can you see and listen to here? In Part 3 of our series 'Song of the Spinnies' the songs we explore the songs and calls of birds of the Kingfisher Hide. This blog is one of series enabled by funding from Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, administered by WCVA

In Part 1 and Part 2 of our series, we visited the Main Hide and the birds you may see and hear during your visit to the Spinnies Aberogwen Nature Reserve. Exiting out the main gate and back onto the road, if you continue to walk along up towards the carpark you will stumble across the next two hides: The Kingfisher Hide and the Viley Hide. This part will be about our popular Kingfisher Hide.

The Kingfisher Hide

The Kingfisher Hide (Cuddfan Glas Y Dorlan) is the first hide you will come across as you walk up towards the carpark, with the gate and path to your left leading you through a small woodland area to said hide. This hide is higher up above the ground, so it is accessible by a small wooden staircase. This hide overlooks the same lagoon as the main hide, so you can often spot similar birds you can see at that hide, such as the little egret, grey heron, and spotted woodpecker, and many of the other different waders. The feeders also attracts the small songbirds, like the finches.

Photo of the door to the Spinnies Aberogwen Kingfisher Hide. The white sign read Cuddfan "Glas Y Dorlan" Hide — The Kingfisher Hide's Door/Drws Cuddfan Glas y Dorlan @ NWWT Michelle Payne

Obviously, the hide gets its name from the fact that you can see the kingfisher here, often as a blue flash as it darts across the water. One of the perches at this hide is designed to attract the kingfisher here so you can take a closer look and perhaps take some great photos. The kingfisher makes a sharp loud “kit-cheese” and a “cheee” whistle sound.

Photo of a kingfisher perched on a branch — Kingfisher/Glas y Dorlan @ Amy Lewis

You can also see the moorhen and the little grebe at this hide. Moorhens make loud throaty or metallic notes like a “kurruk”, a “kittik”, a “kik” or a stuttering “kik-kikikikikik-ik”. The little grebe has a distinctive high-pitched whinnying “bibibibibibibi” trill during it breeding season, typically during summer.

Photo of a moorhen. The moorhen is facing towards the camera, its red beak in full view — Moorhen/Iâr ddŵr @ NWWT Daniel Vickers

Photo of a little grebe out on water — Little grebe/Gwyach fach @ Tom Marshall

Many of the songbirds we’ve mentioned over at the Main Hide can also be seen at this hide, as well as some of birds we will mentioned at the Viley Hide. Along with these birds, you might also spot the long-tailed tit at the Kingfisher Hide. The long-tailed tit song is rarely heard, a soft twittering. Normally it will be their calls that you will hear, loud and sharp “srih-srih-srih” and sometimes a more explosive and rippling “zerrr”, along with calls that are more like a “pt” or “zepp” clicking sounds.

Photo of a long-tailed tit on a tree branch — Long-tailed tit/Titw cynffon hir @ Neil Aldridge

Often mallards can see from this hide as well, either out on the water, or nesting on the little islands of land. The males often make quiet whistles, while the females make the loud “quark, quark, quark” sound, that most people associate with mallards.

Photo of two mallard out on water. Both are facing left. The mallard on the left is a male and the mallard on the right is a female — Photo of a male and female mallard/Llun o wryw a benyw hwyaden wyllt @ NWWT Daniel Vickers

Mallards are very common and can be found all across the UK, but if you need to take some time out from trying to spot the quick flash of blue of the kingfisher or the rustle of movement in the reeds, as the moorhen hides from view, there is something quite nostalgic and peaceful about watching the ducks floating along the water.