The Montgomery Canal is a haven for wildlife and the bridges, towpath and nature reserves along its length offer some great vantage points for birdwatching.
Combined with the Monty’s proximity to a number of RSPB reserves, the canal makes a great stop off point for birders visiting the area. The canal, it’s towpaths and the verges of the canal all host a wide range of animals and plants, which are home to and feed for a variety of bird species.
As a predominantly rural canal, the Monty boasts a wide range of species in its vicinity. Not only are ducks, swans, coots and moorhens common on the water, herons and other wading birds are seen, especially where the canal bank is shallow such as south of Gronwen.
Birdwatching on the Montgomery Canal is not just a pursuit for experts. Along the towpath there are numerous benches where anyone can sit and watch the birds nearby. If you are lucky a kingfisher – an icon of canals and rivers – might fly past and their presence is a great indication of the health of the canal and its fish stocks.
Here are five top locations for birdwatching on the Montgomery Canal:
- Queens Head
- Aston Nature Reserve
- Canal Central, Maesbury Marsh
- Llanymynech Wharf and Heritage Area
- Arddleen Park
- Brithdir Nature Reserve
If you are a keen birdwatcher and know of any interesting sightings or good spots for birdwatching on the Monty, why not let us know, either through the site or on social media? Our Twitter is @MontCanal as is our Facebook page.
