Red Kite Safaris - is a small bird tour business operating from the mid-Wales
market town of Machynlleth. The venture was established by a retired Police
Officer Elfyn Pugh who has been a keen birdwatcher since his youth.

Using Machynlleth or the surrounding area as a base the visiting birdwatcher
can see an interesting array of bird species and other forms of wildlife.
Listed below are a selection of birds and mammals which may be seen dependent
on the time of year and location visited.

We will endeavour to cater for the personal requirements of our discerning clients. Our aim is to provide a friendly, relaxed and informal service so whether you are an experienced birder or a complete beginner why not join us on one of our tours or a Red Kite Safari through the spectacular countryside of mid-Wales.

Birds of prey - red kite, buzzard, peregrine, sparrowhawk, goshawk, kestrel, osprey, hen harrier, marsh harrier, merlin, hobby, short eared owl.

Woodland birds - pied flycatchers, wood warbler, redstart, tree pipit, redpoll, great spotted, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers, spotted flycatcher, whitethroat, linnet, siskin and crossbills in evergreen Forests.

Rivers lakes and streams - dipper, grey wagtail, kingfisher, common sandpiper, sand martin, goosander, red breasted merganser, mute & whooper swans, great crested grebe, little grebe, coot, moorhen, tufted duck, goldeneye and pochard.

Dyfi/Dysynni estuaries - dunlin, knot, common redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, ruff, black & bar tailed godwits, curlew, oystercatcher, snipe, lapwing, golden plover, grey plover, little egret, heron, shelduck, wigeon, pintail, teal, shoveler, greenland white fronted geese, barnacle geese, Canada geese.

Bogs and reedbeds - reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers, water rail, nightjar, reed bunting.

Coastal and seabirds - ringed plover, sanderling, purple sandpiper, turnstone, whimbrel, eider duck, common scoter, gannet, manx shearwater, razorbill, guillemot, shag, cormorant, red throated diver, fulmar, kittiwake, herring gull, greater/lesser black- backed gulls, arctic/common, sandwich and little terns, great/arctic skuas, chough.

Uplands - yellowhammer, stonechat, whinchat, wheatear, skylark, meadow pipit, ring ouzel, red grouse, raven.

Mammals - bottlenose dolphin, common or harbour porpoise, atlantic grey seal, badger, fox, stoat, polecat, weasel, brown hare. This area of Wales has a good population of Otters but these are secretive and elusive animals and generally nocturnal in their habits so they are rarely seen except by the lucky few.

Testimonials by some of our guests

"I just wanted to say a big “thankyou” for a fantastic time with the kites this afternoon and one that will be the beginning of many future paintings. I’m really looking forward to returning with the offspring too- there were great cries of “COOOOWULL” when I told my son Robin (aged 11) just how many kites there were (150) and some of the things they were doing."
Renowned wildlife artist Elaine Franks and author of the highly acclaimed book “The Undercliff: A Naturalist’s Sketchbook of the Devon to Dorset Coast” following a visit to the Penlan licensed feeding station in Talsarn, Ceredigion in November 2007

"I just wanted to thank you once again for the wonderful day you gave my wife Elaine and me. You really gave us a day we shall remember for a long time. Many thanks."
Reverend Richard Major, August 2007

"Dear Elfyn - Well, what a great hit you were with all of us. Thank you so much for a wonderful day out yesterday. You managed to pack in at least seven wonders (Happy Valley, the train, the Falls, Bird Rock, the castle, lunch and Corris) and then rounded it off with several more:- ‘Granny Sarah and the Last Red Kite’ - with the wonderful touch of Malachy Doyle’s signature; the bug box (pity the insect population of London); and most of all, Poppy's “telescopes” as she calls them, and which she put on as soon as she woke up this morning. Thank you for opening our eyes, for your generosity, and for such a brilliant day out."
Simon Calder & Family (Charlotte, Daisy & Poppy) Senior Travel Editor of ‘The Independent’. Contributes to BBC-1 holiday programme and regularly comments on travel issues on national & local BBC radio and television, August 2007

‘Just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for such a lovely day out, we both really enjoyed it’
Ray & Linda Smith, May 2007

"Just wanted to say thanks for the weekend of birding. We saw 86 birds in total of which 4 were new year birds and 2 were 'lifers'! Thanks also for being really flexible and creating a relaxed atmosphere it definately added to my experience."
Mr Kevin McCoy May 2007

" Just a line to say how much we enjoyed going on one of your Red Kite Safaris. You came to our hotel to collect us and returned us safe and sound to the hotel at the end of the trip. The vehicle was comfortable and well-equipped. You, the guide and driver, were polite, helpful and extremely knowledgable. We enjoyed travelling on the drovers' road in the mountains where you stopped at all the best beauty spots and we were able to take some great photographs of the scenery as well as view the birds (and the dragon!) which you pointed out to us.

We enjoyed the tour of the reservoirs of the Elan valley and the refreshment stop at the visitor centre there. We saw loads of Red Kites, Buzzards and Crows, especially viewed through your birdwatching telescope from the hide at Gigrin Farm Red Kite Feeding Centre. You were obviously well-known at the farm and the entire atmosphere was very pleasant and friendly. (We enjoyed our second cup of tea there at the farm!) It was a fabulous trip - thank you very much. We look forward to returning next year for another tour and wish you lots of success. You obviously love the scenery, birds and natural wild life of your native Wales and convey this with enthusiasm to your clients. All best wishes"
Professor and Mrs Joe Franks, July 2006

"Thanking you for what was a fantastic day birding in mid-Wales. Both myself and my father had an enjoyable time on your Red Kite safari and we were pleased, as you were, with how the weather turned out; we were extremely lucky!
Particular highlights were seeing the Merlin and also the unbelievable scenes at the Red Kite Feeding Centre at Gigrin Farm, it was truly amazing to see that many birds coming down to feed in such close proximity. We did not expect to see such a large number of Kites! It was a fantastic sight, even if we did have to wait a little longer than expected for them to come down, it was well worth the wait. We definitely intend to go on one of your tours again and really have the bug now for bird-watching."
Messrs; David Shaw 9th March 2006