The Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve is an area of piece and quiet right in the middle of Cardiff Bay. It was formed from the salt marshes and mud flats on the edge of the Bay in front of Windsor Esplanade after the bay was permanently flooded.
There was some concern that when the Cardiff Bay barrage was built that the wildlife would all leave but the Wetlands Reserve has proved to be a popular area.
Although totally man-made it has become a haven for birds in the Bay.
It also provides a quiet place to walk or cycle just away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay.
Today I saw many ducks, some with ducklings, a swan, a heron and numerous fish in the pools.
You can get up close to the wildlife if you walk quietly along the board-walk that sticks out into the centre of the bay, as you can see from some of my photos.
To get to the reserve either walk from Mermaid Quay past Techniquest and the St David’s Hotel, or park in the car-park just in front of the St David’s Hotel. Make sure you pay or you will get a ticket!!
There is a path right through the Wetlands Reserve and you can then walk out into the Bay on the board-walk.
See this Google map for key locations – Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve map
Update (28th March 2010) : I’ve been asked what birds you can see in the reserve; you should be able to see Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Mallards, Shelducks, Mute Swans, Ringed Plovers, Coots, Tufted Ducks and even a Grey Heron!
2 responses so far ↓
1 Bob // Feb 15, 2010 at 2:35 pm
what other birds can be seen at Cardiff
love the swan
2 Paul // Mar 28, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Bob, thanks for the question. I’ve updated the article with some of the birds that you can see. Paul
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