View the birds
Avoiding disturbance
The important thing to know about ospreys is that they are very easily disturbed and are particularly sensitive to seeing people. Even the sighting of people hundreds of metres away can cause disturbance and impact their breeding success. Disturbing osprey or their nests is a criminal offence.
The nest is located at the north-western end of Gilestone Farm. The farm is owned by Welsh Government and the adjacent farms are privately owned. There are no public rights of way or other public access on any of these farms so please do not attempt to access the farmland to view the birds. Welsh Government has established an ‘exclusion zone’ on the farm of up to 750m around the nest, with only certain controlled and carefully monitored farming activities taking place within that zone. A video security system is operational.
Anyone witnessing disturbance to the birds is asked to contact the Dyfed-Powys Police Wildlife Crime Team via 999 if the disturbance is ongoing, or otherwise on 101 or online.
Viewing point
Fortunately, there is a publicly accessible viewing point on the canal towpath (see map below). Please note that the viewing point is informal and there are no facilities. Good binoculars, or a spotting scope are essential as the nest is 0.5km (0.3 mile) distant.
We know the view point is a long way from the nest but it is currently the nearest point with public access. Also, these are young birds on a new nest and they will be more prone to disturbance than older and more established pairs and we ask that for 2024 you do not try to get any closer. We hope that in 2025 there will be arrangements for closer viewing and photography. Please be patient and put the interests of the birds first.
A Leica Televid scope will be available to ‘osprey watchers’ for use at the tow path viewing point. Many thanks to the ‘Usk Valley Conservation Group’ for funding this purchase and to Ace Optics in Bath www.aceoptics.co.uk for donating a tripod.
Parking and access
To avoid disruption to residents and traffic, please do not park at Cross Oak or at other access points close to the viewing point. Much better is to park in the village and take the pleasant, traffic free walk along the canal towpath. The towpath is surfaced (although not tarmacked), level and accessible for walking, cycling and some wheelchairs. The walk is approximately 1.25km (0.75 miles).
Alternatively, the viewing point can be accessed from Pencelli, although the distance is slightly greater.
A taste of just some of the enjoyable sights to be found along the walk from Talybont-on-Usk to the Viewing Point.
Thank you to local naturalist/photographer, Peter Seaman, for generously sharing these images.
…Plus a few views of our local valley to enjoy. (Please note the osprey sequence is from library. Hopefully we will have shots of our own osprey very soon to replace it).
Fran Groves