Tregaron bog is a National Nature Reserve located in the heart of Wales. I contains large areas of peat bog covered with heather, moss and patches of willow carr and birch. The bog is surrounded by pasture and deciduous woodland rising up to rugged hills.

I went to Tregaron with my father, primarily to see raptors and especially to see Red Kites. On the way there we saw two Kestrels, two Buzzards and a couple of Grey Squirrels. About one mile south of Tregaron I spottted a Red Kite soaring over a field off to the left. I drove nearer to the bird, stopped the car and we got out to get a closer look. There were four Kites altogether and one of them gave some great views as it soared directly above us. We saw another Kite and three Buzzards just before Tregaron Bog and more Buzzards and a few Ravens afterwards.

I parked the car in the small layby at the bog and we walked along the old railway line towards the observation tower which lay further up the path. It was very quiet but we did see a pair of Pheasants, a pair of Long-tailed Tits and a handsome cock Bullfinch.

Scanning the bog with binoculars from the observation tower, we spotted Mallards and a single Moorhen as well as more Ravens and Red Kites. A female Hen Harrier flew off the bog and slowly circled the tower giving good views.