Wildlife in the Brecon Beacons

Whether you’re setting off specifically to search for newts or just hoping to spot birds of prey while out hiking or cycling, you’re very likely to encounter wildlife in the Brecon Beacons at some point during your visit. These green hills and mountains are home to all sorts of plants and animals, from common species like swans and bluebells through to rarer sights such as ospreys and marsh fritillary butterflies.

Now officially known by its Welsh name, Bannau Brycheiniog, the Brecon Beacons National Park is a great place to find wildlife – whether you’re a casual spotter or a keen wildlife photographer. In this guide we’ve picked out a few of the key habitats, the main species to look out for and some of the best places in the Brecon Beacons for wildlife photography and viewing. Read on to find out what you might be able to see, and where and when to find it.

Brecon Beacons habitats

One of the things that makes the Brecon Beacons a great place for wildlife spotting is its variety of habitats. It’s probably mountainous scenery that first springs to mind when mentioning the park to most people, but there's much more to explore beyond the slopes. We’ve highlighted a few of the key Brecon Beacons wildlife habitats here to give you a quick introduction to what to seek out.

Upland moorlands

Elevated moorland areas are characterised by low-growing plants such as heather, gorse and scrub-like grasses rather than lots of trees. In the Brecon Beacons, these areas are often punctuated with cliffs and limestone outcrops, but the remainder of the terrain is often damp and, being rich in peat, very fertile. Peatlands like these are vital to the environment, as they are key carbon stores that mitigate the effects of climate change. The Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is currently running a programme to protect and restore these areas, with funding from the Welsh Government and other bodies.

This terrain also sustains a lot of animals, so look out for things like grouse, skylarks and deer in the moorlands. It's important not to disturb the ground in these areas – especially rare blanket bogs – so you’ll need to be careful of your movements if walking and/or photographing around here.

Woodlands and forests

Sadly, past centuries saw a large amount of the native woodland of the Brecon Beacons felled for timber or to create grazing land. However, small pockets of woodland and forest have survived – and there are enough of them to create important ‘stepping stones' for wildlife to move around the park and provide habitats for rare birds such as lesser spotted woodpeckers and horseshoe bats.

The woodlands that exist in the Brecon Beacons today are a mix of deciduous and coniferous woodlands, including tree species such as oak, ash, lime and hazel. Coppicing (cutting trees to a stump so they will regrow) is still widespread, to create usable timber products, but the woodland is carefully managed these days to help preserve and expand it for the future. As you explore the park you may also spot some huge ancient trees – some are thought to date all the way back to the times of Owain Glyndwr in the 15th century.

Rivers, lakes and wetlands

There are numerous water-based wildlife environments around the Brecon Beacons, and many visitors head to the banks of the rivers and lakes to see things like otters, wading birds and waterfowl. Major rivers like the Usk and Wye are home to lots of different species as well as being popular with anglers and watersports fans, so management plans are in place to balance the needs of the two. Smaller rivers and the park’s many lakes also sustain lots of plants and animals and they're often quieter on the human front, so they're often better bets for wildlife spottings.

Some of the water wildlife highlights to look out for are the salmon leaping upstream around Brecon in early autumn, the starling murmurations over Llangorse Lake at dusk and kingfishers dipping into the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

Grasslands and meadows

At lower elevations around the park, grassland and natural meadow areas are filled with wildflowers that bloom into colourful carpets through the warmer months, and provide an important habitat for smaller creatures like butterflies, bees and dragonflies. Some of these areas are grazed by livestock as they have been for centuries – a win-win situation that benefits both local farmers (who get a good supply of feed for their animals) and the ecosystem (which is kept fresh and fertilised this way). Other areas are left wild, and these are often inhabited by smaller mammals like hares and voles.

Recent projects originally set out to stop the destruction of meadow environments, but have since become more ambitious – instead aiming to help farmers and other landowners restore and actually expand wildflower and grassland areas for the benefit of all aspects of the ecosystem from the tiny insects to the bigger mammals and reptiles.

Animals of the Brecon Beacons

So, if you’re going out to look for wildlife in the Brecon Beacons, what animals might you expect to see? We’ve listed a few of the main species to look out for here, with some tips about where you might spot them.

Birds of prey

There is some great birdwatching in the Brecon Beacons, with all sorts of species to look out for, including kingfishers, grebes, woodpeckers and grouse. For many visitors, however, it's the birds of prey that are the star attraction – buzzards, peregrine falcons and red kites can often be seen gliding overhead or diving from on high to catch their prey. In the last couple of years there has been much excitement locally as a pair of breeding ospreys have returned to the Brecon Beacons for the first time in many years.

Birds of prey can frequently be seen all over the Brecon Beacons – even close to main roads – so do look overhead occasionally while you're out walking or cycling anywhere here, and have binoculars to hand for when you've spotted one. For a real close-up sighting, visit the Red Kite Feeding Station near Llanddeusant in the north of the park, where visitors gather in bird hides to see the birds competing naturally for food.

Mammals

There’s a small population of red deer in the park, but these aren’t actually native to the area – it's likely that they escaped from a deer park during the 1980s. Meanwhile, the Welsh mountain ponies that you may spot grazing on open moorland areas are semi-wild – they’re traditionally from this area and they've been roaming free for many centuries, but they are managed by the park authorities to keep them healthy and guard against over-breeding.

In fact, most of the native animals of the Brecon Beacons are on the smaller side, so you’ll want to look around at a lower level to see what you can see.  Hedgehogs, badgers and otters can often be seen around dawn or dusk – for the latter, look out for the distinctive five-toed pawprints leading to their fishing grounds along the banks of the river Usk. Pine martens were locally extinct at one point, but recent efforts have seen the small mammals return to the park – although you'll still be very lucky to spot one of these rare animals.

If you're out and about around dusk, look out for bats as well. Several bat species live in the Brecon Beacons, including one of the UK’s largest populations of the tiny lesser horseshoe bat, which lives around the Usk valley.

Reptiles and amphibians

Several species of reptiles can be seen in the Brecon Beacons – they mostly hibernate through the winter, but in warmer months you may be able to spot common lizards darting in and out of the gaps in stone walls and slow worms basking on exposed areas of limestone. Adders and grass snakes can also be seen around the park at times, particularly in moorland and grassland areas (although grass snakes can also sometimes be seen in ponds, as they're very good swimmers). Both of these snake species are quite shy, and although adders are venomous, they’ll usually only bite if they feel threatened.

The wetlands of the Brecon Beacons are home to various amphibians too, including frogs and toads – look out for frog spawn in ponds and rivers in early spring and adults throughout the summer. The most coveted species to spot, however, is the great crested newt – this is the largest of the UK’s three native newt species, growing up to around 17/18 cm in length. With a jagged crest running along the back of the male newt, they resemble small dragons – so perhaps it's not a surprise to find them in Wales. The ponds of the Brecon Beacons are ideal habitats for them, as they are surrounded by suitable shelter and hibernation spots.

Insects and invertebrates

The wildflower meadows and wetlands of the Brecon Beacons are home to a huge range of insects and invertebrates, including butterflies, moths and dragonflies. Painted lady, peacock and green hairstreak butterflies are among the species that can often be spotted here, but the one to look out for is the marsh fritillary. Their numbers have been declining in recent years, but there's still a good population of marsh fritillary butterflies in the Brecon Beacons, especially in the area around Penderyn. Look out for their beautiful orange and brown patterns among damp grassy areas.

There are numerous species of dragonfly and damselfly to see here too – keep your eyes open for flashes of bright blue or red among reed beds, or look out for the intricate patterns of things like the hawker dragonfly.

Brecon Beacons nature reserves

Fascinating plants and animals can be found all over the Brecon Beacons – it’s a wild and natural area, so you may well simply encounter some of the things we’ve mentioned here while out walking or cycling, especially if you’re quiet. You can, however, maximise your chances of seeing something interesting by heading to one of the designated nature reserves within the park. We've picked out four of the best Brecon Beacons nature reserves to visit for wildlife encounters; these are also likely to be the best places for wildlife photography in the Brecon Beacons.

Craig Cerrig Gleisiad a Fan Frynych National Nature Reserve

Just across the road from the hotspot that is Pen y Fan and easily accessed from the A470, Craig Cerrig Gleisiad a Fan Frynych National Nature Reserve is one of the Brecon Beacons’ richest wildlife areas. Several walking trails run through the glacial valley, whose cliffs are covered in rare arctic-alpine plants and flowers, with often spectacular displays of heather in midsummer. Look out for grouse, kestrels and peregrine falcons while you're here.

Llangorse Lake

The largest natural lake in Wales, Llangorse Lake is a popular spot with visitors because of its range of watersports. It's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so it’s got a lot to offer for wildlife enthusiasts as well. The reed beds around the lake’s edge are particularly great for wildlife, as they offer feeding and shelter opportunities for animals. Follow the lakeside trail or take a seat in the bird hide to see if you can catch glimpses of otters or water voles, and look out for birds like coots, geese and warblers. As evening comes, look upwards for clouds of bats or head to nearby Llangorse Common to see murmurations of starlings.

Coed-y-Cerrig National Nature Reserve

In the Black Mountains just north of Abergavenny, Coed-y-Cerrig National Nature Reserve is a small reserve in a deep glacial valley. There are oak, birch and ash trees on the drier upper slopes, and things like willows and alders in the wetter valley floor. An accessible boardwalk and a more challenging steeper trail mean that all guests can enjoy a walk here to see the variety of trees, plants and birds. Coed-y-Cerrig is particularly lovely in spring, when purple orchids and swathes of bluebells bring fantastic colour.

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Not strictly speaking a nature reserve, but still a great place to spot wildlife, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs for 35 miles through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Despite being a manmade structure, it’s become a thriving wildlife habitat over the years – otters, water voles and frogs can sometimes be spotted along the canal edges, along with birds such as swans, mallards and bright blue kingfishers. There are several good towpath walks and bike rides you can use as a basis for your wildlife-spotting.

Wildlife photography in the Brecon Beacons

Capturing great wildlife shots requires a mix of luck and preparation – and we've pulled together a few tips to help with the second of these. Here are a few tips to bear in mind if you're heading out to photograph wildlife in the Brecon Beacons.

• Be in the right place at the right time – nothing is guaranteed with wildlife, but you can improve your chances by doing your research on locations, seasons and timings. Dawn and dusk in spring and summer are usually the best times to spot most animals, but you’ll need to check if you’re hoping to see something specific.

• There’s no one best place for wildlife photography in the Brecon Beacons, but the bird hides at Talybont Reservoir and Llangorse Lake are well-placed and relatively comfortable places to set up to see birds or otters. For salmon leaps, try Llangenny in autumn, and for starling murmurations head out onto Llangorse Common in September.

• Get to know your equipment and all the different settings so you won't have to fiddle too much once you’ve spotted something interesting. Add extras like a tripod or monopod to help with camera shake in awkward positions.

• Always be prepared for changeable weather, wearing good walking shoes and packing both waterproofs and suncream.

• Wild animals tend to favour sheltered areas, and are more likely to be active in the evening than the heat of the day, so be prepared to shoot in low light by familiarising yourself with ISO settings.

• Pay attention to backgrounds – interesting framing, light and settings can be just as important as the subject itself. A shot of a dragonfly on a plant will always be more interesting than one on a path, and a sunset shot of a lake with silhouettes of birds can be a great outcome if you can't get close-ups.

• Be quiet and patient – animals are more likely to feel at ease and exhibit natural behaviours if they don't notice you. Sitting quietly for a while watching your subject also gives you a chance to understand their actions and when they might be about to do something you'd like to snap.

• Take lots of photos – the more you take, the better your chance of a perfect shot, especially if you try different angles, zooms and light settings. You may only have a few seconds with your subject, so snap away as much as you can in that time.

• Don’t be tempted to get too close to your subject – wild animals can be easily spooked, or even attack in some cases, so make sure you stay at a respectful distance.

• Don’t get too hung up on the perfect setup – chance encounters will come along, and you may need to make very quick decisions. Phone pictures can be surprisingly good if you don’t have time to get all your kit ready – and at the very least, they’ll give you an idea of what to look out for with your future photography.

Explore more Brecon Beacons wildlife

The best way to get to know the wildlife of the Brecon Beacons is to get out there – whether you’re hoping to spot something while out walking or dedicating your day out to wildlife photography, the main thing is to get up and go. You can maximise your chances of seeing interesting flora and fauna with an outdoor stay – Pitchup has a great collection of Brecon Beacons campsites and glampsites where you may find the wildlife comes right to your doorstep.

If you’d like to learn more about the area’s wildlife, look out for special events and talks run by the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales or read about dedicated biodiversity projects in the Brecon Beacons. If you like locally, or plan to make regular visits, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities in the park too.