When is a lake not a lake? When its a SSSI reservoir.

 

Those 'not for profit' grey suits at Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water really did pull a rabbit out of the hat when they rebranded Llandegfedd Reservoir as a lake. There's possibly a trades description issue here because a lake is a waterbody formed by natural processes, but by contrast Llandegfedd is a reservoir created by the deliberate flooding of a valley with  water retained by a bloody big concrete dam. It reminds me of the legal fiascos around whether a Jaffa Cake is an actual cake and more recently that involving oat milk. 

Having not visited Llandegfedd Reservoir for a little while, I was struck by how much the site had changed and how very difficult it is now to do any decent birding. The biggest spanner in the works is the development of extensive willow scrub around the margins of the North Car Park and The Island. At one time the scrub was restricted to the upper reaches of the drawdown zone or shoreline, nowadays its taken hold within the drawdown zone and as such, and in my opinion, requires some urgent management attention from Welsh Water. 

We mustn't forget one of the reservoirs notifying features as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is that of wintering Wigeon. Historically these birds were present in their hundreds grazing in the meadows that border the reservoir with some even spilling over onto neighboring farmland. Its true that with the milder winters its become less necessary for them to move westwards in substantial numbers, but its also the case that Llandegfedd Reservoir has become less appealing for these birds. Access to grazing meadows is denied by a ring of aforementioned scrub and some of the adjacent farmland is now a golf course with year round disturbance including stray balls that pock mark the exposed mud of Green Pool. All of which has taken place under the sleepiness of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who's apparent keenness to embrace Welsh Water's new found 'not for profit' development of recreation facilities seem to have forgotten that this reservoir is a SSSI and with it comes legal obligations.

And then there's the dwindling birding community. Once this reservoir was the most significant inland waterbody for birders. Pick up any Gwent Bird Report from the 1970's onward and Llandegfedd will feature front and centre of the systematic list highlighted with tables of year round wildfowl counts. Nowadays this detail is patchy. Wildfowl counts are seemingly inconsistent and birding information from the small number of birders who do visit the site scattered across various social media platforms or hidden behind elitist invitation only groups. The availability of consistent time-series data of trends is critical to challenge any future push by Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water to convince NRW to de-notify the reservoir as a SSSI. However, and unfortunately, this drift towards the fragmentation of ornithological data could unwittingly aid Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water should a challenge ever arise. Evidence is the key and its only birders who can provide this. If they feel less inclined to follow the traditional route of  submitting records to the annual Gwent bird report then they should at least send records to the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC). Birding must be based on a conservation ethic so in my opinion there's a moral obligation to submit records and to make them count!

 

 

 

Fire mountain: Who's to blame.

 

 

 

The recent publication of a book called Whinchat Ridge by lifelong friend Steve Smith documents one mans passion for the birds of an upland area called Mynydd Garn Clochdy just south of Blaenavon. I also have fond memories of birdwatching and nest finding with Steve in this amazing ffridd habitat. So its heartbreaking to see an area that's given so much joy and is rich in biodiversity destroyed almost overnight by a devastating wildfire.

Its purely speculation but I lay the blame for this catastrophe at the feet of those who simply do not understand or care about the environment and have no concept of risk, especially in a changing climate. Earlier this week I witnessed people using disposable barbecues at the Keepers Pond that's located right on the edge of the Blorenge Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a habitat that's witnessed several extensive wildfire's in my lifetime. 

However, my guess is that this fire will have been started by the actions of the lawless off road community that use this environment for illegal activities without fear of prosecution. Their utter discontempt and selfishness destroys habitat, disturbs wildlife and livestock, and raises the blood pressure those like me who just want to use this landscape to escape for some peace and quiet. We also mustn't forget this is Common Land  used by local farmers to graze animals and the impact this will have on them and their livelihoods. This anti-social behavior has now risked the safety of Firefighters and will have cost the public purse millions of pounds to resolve. While the Police occasionally mount operations to catch these unlicensed and uninsured bikers its only ever scratching the surface. The sound of biker activity is ever present and echoing around the landscape when walking in the uplands at weekends and/or in the evenings. In my opinion the Police are not taking this issue seriously enough and are therefore culpable in this environmental and public health disaster.

So what role does the local authority have in all this landscape mayhem? Well, having worked for the local authority for many years I know there are good, committed, hardworking individuals who care deeply about the local environment not just for its wildlife but as an accessible green space resource for local people and visitors to enjoy - there many other ecosystems services this habitat provides. Torfaen Council is very much as urban centric local authority where dwindling resources are focused on the main urban settlements at the expense I feel of the rural or suburban landscape. As an example there is a whole team built around the traditional management of urban green space through regular grass cutting etc., but by contrast little is available for partnership working to manage the largest area of accessible green space in the county borough and to protect and enhance its multifunctional benefits.  I believe it needs a dedicated team of staff akin to those deployed for urban grass cutting to ensure the issue of landscape management is given the profile it requires.  So those who control the budgetary purse strings, allocate resources and devise operational structures must wake up to the fact that in the wake of the councils celebrated promotion of Blaenavon as a Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site that suitable resources must be found for its proactive management. The local authority must also understand that the climate is changing and so its structures and resource allocation must prioritize and reflect the challenges this will bring. Whether its smoke from a wildfire that causes a public health concern or water run off from the uplands in times of heavy rain it cannot be denied that the uplands has a important influence and potential major impact on communities along the valley bottom. In my opinion public bodies are simply not climate ready so must urgently wake up and smell the burning vegetation before more public money is wasted and biodiversity is lost. 

Crisp and dry

 

I try to avoid weekend daytime visits to the Blaenavon landscape on the basis that most, not all, of the people I encounter display little respect for the environment. This includes inconsiderate dog walkers with no control of their animals, off road vehicles and those who still use barbecues despite the risk of sparking a damaging wild fire. Nevertheless, with the current heatwave continuing and invertebrate activity peaking I risked raising my blood pressure with a Sunday afternoon visit to that finger of semi natural habitat that sits on the margins of Waunafon Bog and the edge of the main road to Brynmawr and that supports an accessible sustainably designed cycleway.

Arriving at the Whistle Road car park of Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve I was heartened to find only one other car present. This prompted me to have a quick look at how the ponds were coping amid this exceptional spell of dry weather, in the comfortably knowledge that the chance of a dog bothering me was low. At this point I need to be clear that I have no objection to dogs, its their owners that's the problem. Over my years of naturalising I've been bitten twice, approached by off lead barking dogs including a threatening Rottweiler and lost count of those who just want to jump all over you with muddy paws. And the amount of dogs mess, well that's another story.

Rather predictably the ponds were stressed, some were completely dry, others with varying degrees of standing water, but none were full. Around one pond that had water a non- stop Emperor Dragonfly patrolled  in contrast to a Four-spot Chaser that was keen to repeatedly perch on emergent vegetation. A few Emerald Damselfly kept low.  At another pond the muddy margin revealed an unidentified Stonewort and my first record of Small Pondweed, albeit that it seems to be widely recorded in the vice county 35.

Following the cycleway north but with frequent detours into adjacent herbage, the grassland here was bone dry with many of the wildflowers crying out for a drink. Walking through this habitat was accompanied by the sound of crispness and at no point did my similarly dry Scarpa Ranger walking boots receive a much needed drenching from a hidden waterhole. Despite this lepidoptera appear to be doing well, including second generation Common Blue, several Marbled White, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Small Skippers a stand of Meadow Thistle supported a good number of Peacocks, the odd Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. It was also pleasing to see a healthy population of Grayling butterfly on the wing, readily alighting on the dusty pathways as I walked. 

 

Ferreting through the developing Willow scrub I relocated the stand of Round-leaved Wintergreen I found last year. Most of the 50+ spikes were in flower but with one or two already showing signs of die-back. Back in the baking sunshine I wandered around an area of poorly vegetated coal spoil only to find some Hare's Tail Clover enjoying the conditions this feature provides. Where there were plants in flower I found the large diptera Tachina grossa and several Five and Six Spot Burnets. 

Other notable records on this outing included Harebells and at least three pair of Stonechat.

 

Around the tips in 80 minutes.

 

For the last couple of months I've been immersed in a Grasshopper Warbler survey of the wider Blaenavon landscape, so my usual springtime examination of the mineral extraction spoil tips that are such a dominating feature of this landscape have been neglected. Nonetheless I was determined to make time to squeeze in a visit to Canada Tips mainly to check out if the infamous Alpine Clubmoss was continuing to thrive. 

It was around 4pm when I entered the parched environment of Canada Tips, with its bare ground, exposed rock along with a growing sense that rewilding is progressing with purpose in its stride. Its a landscape of twists and turns, ups and downs and wet and dry features that has variation in abundance, more than enough to keep an aging naturalist occupied for hours. The terrain in heart of this landscape is rugged and sometimes unpredictable sudden changes in ground conditions can trap those less sure footed, so I tend not to encounter too many other walkers when I'm going about my business. That said the off road motorbiking community continue to be an ever present annoyance around this area, and so it was today. Three bikers could be seen intermittently dipping in and out of view as they rode the tips like bobbling plastic ducks through the river rapids of a charity duck race. Thankfully it wasn't long before they disappeared from view and could be heard accelerating down the highway toward Blaenavon. Perhaps they had to be home in time for tea, or risk the threat of a clip around the ear hole from mam.

Bird song is declining but those species that are multi-brooded are still keen to knock out a tune or two. Skylark and Meadow Pipit remain vocal and Stonechat continue to give those pebbles a bashing if you get too close to their patch. And Linnet still call as they move between Gorse patches. A male Wheatear didn't need to sing as its white rump stood out like a right wing flagshagger's English flag hoisted on a urban lamp post, as it flew towards its now maturing offspring that begged for its attention.

On my way to destination clubmoss I noted several new patches of Bog Pimpernel and a marshy hollow between two tips that was somewhat wetter than a firefighters boot as I weaved my way around several Southern Marsh Orchid and a couple of alighting Marbled White butterfly. Looking upwards I caught sight of a few nodding heads of Common Cotton Grass, a sure sign of a wetland feature on the horizon. 

At tip summit a stand of candy floss like cotton grass clothed one side of a small pond, as a Snipe took flight in earnest zig zaging over the tips and down. A dragonfly glided from the emergent vegetation only to crash land in a nearby patch of Juncus. I moved stealthily to secure an identification and a confirmation photograph. It was located and confirmed as a recently emerged Black Darter dragonfly hence its laboured flight.

 

 

I was now in sight of the clubmoss tip so I made haste making best use of the tip top sheep tracks to arrive at my destination without too much stumbling or swearing. Having located the Alpine Clubmoss and a nearby finger like patch of Fir Clubmoss, it struck me that the heather surrounding these primitive plants was maturing quickly and that the Apline Clubmoss may therefore be suffering by slow strangulation. Should I revisit with a pair of secateurs to clip the offending Heather or let the process of rewilding proceed unabated albeit complete with its winners and losers? I returned home to drift back into retirements inertia and the World Cup. 

Pheromones at Blaenserchan Local Nature Reserve (LNR)

It was great to meet up with Liam and Christian from Glo i Natur CIC and Rose from Torfaen County Borough Council at Blaenserchan Local Nature Reserve (LNR) for a morning of Six-belted Clearwing pheromone deployment. I attended with confidence we would be successful in attracting this moth as I had found them at this site previously and their food-plant of Birds-foot Trefoil is now so widespread success was almost a certainty. And so it proved as moths were attracted to the lure when placed throughout the valley.

Other species recorded were Bee, Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids, Tree Pipit, Broad-bodied and Four Spotted Chasers, Emperor Dragonfly, Common Ground-hopper, Bloody-nosed Beetle, Heather Weevil and some unusual invertebrates that only Christian could identify. 

 

 

 

 

The Adder and the Bee.

 

Rather than a post about the witnessing of an interaction between an Adder and a Bee this is simply an update about a population of two notable species that occur in the wider Blaenavon industrial landscape.

 

 

Adders Tongue Fern can be found throughout this landscape, some growing in profusion from within bare coal spoil others from their more traditional semi- improved grassland habitat. This is a population that occurs on the lower slopes of re-profiled coal spoil at Cefn garn yr erw, with over 100 plants growing in a tight cluster.

Bee Orchid is a another species that occurs frequently and can been found on path and roadsides as well as in grassland habitats. More recently I've noted a number or colour variants. These of the green/yellow variant chlorantha were found from within grassland at Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

A visit to Skomer Island

We were fortunate, the weather on our chosen day to visit Skomer Island was fine and warm. By contrast the following days were forecast to be poor so much so that the crossing from Martin's Haven to the island via the Dale Queen was due to be cancelled.  

We booked in at the Wildlife Trust's Lockley Cottage, named after naturalist and writer Ronald Lockley who spent much of his life studying the wildlife of Skomer and nearby Skokholm Islands. Lockley was a prolific writer publishing no less than 58 books as well as founding the first British Bird Observatory on Skokholm. Interestingly Lockley also lived closer to home for a while farming land on the county boundary between Newport and Cardiff and managing much of it for nature. For those interested in the social and natural history of Skomer Mike Alexander's 445 page tome about the island is a must read. 

At Martin's Haven we waited along with a queue of others who I could confidentially say fitted the demographic of largely retired people. As soon as the Dale Queen arrived were all made our way in a orderly fashion to the boat showing our ticket before boarding. The short trip to the island was a little choppy but not too alarming and was enlightened by a commentary from a guide who talked, in broad terms, about the birdlife that could be seen from the boat. Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills could all be seen in increasing number amidst a cacophony of  seabird calling as the boat arrived at the Island. 

Having all disembarked and negotiated the 70 or so steep steps we paused to catch our breath at a greeting point where a Warden welcomed us to the island with brief talk that set out some clear and unambiguous visitor ground rules. Due the large number of burrows that housed nesting Puffin and Manx Shearwater we were instructed to keep to the narrow paths and to walk the island in a clockwise fashion. Here too a view of the Wardens accommodation and research station provided a reminder that this is a National Nature Reserve and active research facility. 

Having visited the island previously my son and I made straight for The Wick. This is the part of the island that is one of the best locations to photograph Puffins. Here too are commanding views of the seabird cliffs with hundreds of breeding birds including Razorbills Guillemots and Kittiwakes along with distant views of the RSPBs Grassholm Island Reserve part clothed in the white of breeding Gannet, erupting from the sea like a bout of teenage ache. On the way we passed many breeding gulls, calling Pheasant, Wheatear and several pairs of Oystercatcher, But this wasn't a general birding trip were we on a mission to photograph Puffin and if possible to get those characteristic shots of birds complete with a bill full of Sand Eels.

At The Wick Puffins were plentiful some standing motionless others busily flying out to sea and returning complete with the aforementioned Sand Eels. This was a popular spot for photographers many sporting camera equipment that as a freshly retired person on a pension could never justify spending thousands of pounds on, but clearly we were in the company of those who we happy to invest heavily in their hobby.   

Our visit was scheduled to last five hours and it was surprising how quickly time went. After four hours we decided to make our way back following the well trodden path, to wait for the Dale Queen to back to Martin's Haven. En route a pair of Wheatear were seen feeding young along with several grazing melanistic Rabbits, as we passed a women photographer sporting a large camera lens that my son confidently proclaimed cost £18,000 to buy new! 

Back at the landing point we joined a small number of other visitors who had also decided to arrive early. As we waited we watched a steady stream of people descend the path towards us including two individuals who loudly engaged in objectionable right wing 'white lives matter' rhetoric. Here there were excellent views of  nesting Razorbills along with another noisy backdrop of seabird cliffs. We boarded the Dale Queen and home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scorchio!

 

Having just returned from a weeks holiday in the Canary Islands to arrive home to similar temperatures in the UK I took the first opportunity to get out into the Blaenavon landscape for a spot of biological recording. So I made my way to Coity Tip in the mid afternoon sunshine with a sense complacency that if I can cope with foreign holiday conditions then anything domestic weather can throw at me should be child's play.

On my way I met two American tourists one of which was trying to track down bird song with a phone app. After being asked if I was 'bird chasing' I explained I was a naturalist looking for all manner of wildlife. Here I offer no criticism as it was good to witness visitors with a healthy interest in wildlife and to confirm my long held belief that those who visit Blaenavon primarily for its industrial heritage will often have a supplementary appreciation for its natural heritage.  

On the tip it soon became apparent that my alleged tolerance for hot conditions was foolhardy. The grassland was awash with Birds-foot Trefoil with patches of Blue-eyed Grass, and there were many Common Blue, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Painted Lady butterflies along with much bee activity. However my efforts to get down on my knees to photograph some of these invertebrates was met with exposure to the burning sun. It was frankly, unbearable, so I reluctantly turned for home before heat stroke began to bite.

On the return journey I passed the small pond the base of Coity Tip. Here Broad-leaved Water Plantain is showing well and what appears to be Greater Spearwort. If confirmed this will be my first record of this plant from Blaenavon. Here too the adjacent interpretation board remains in a appalling condition - almost totally unreadable. Not a good image to convey to foreign visitors!

 

Violet Oil Beetle

 

Out for a short afternoon walk with my son along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Llanellen near Abergavenny to take advantage of the warm spring weather. There was plenty of bird song and invertebrate activity including Holly Blue butterflies and Green Longhorn moths swarming around an Elder tree. However the most notable was two separate records of Violet Oil beetles both from the bare surface of the towpath. I know these beetles occur locally but this was only my second record of adult beetles - see 3rd May 2019 blog post for first.

                            

Testimony to (the lack of) human endeavour.

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately there is no human endeavor involved with the maintenance of these interpretation boards at the Coity Tip trail, Blaenavon. They are now hardly readable and clearly doesn't portray a welcoming image of a World Heritage Site. The fact that someone has tried to clean parts of the boards to read the text shows an interest in the information contained thereon, but those responsible for their maintenance evidently don't show the same interest.

 

The purpose of my visit to the Coity Tip area, was to check if the Great White Egret reported by a birder the previous day was still present on Coity Pond. And there it was moving around the northern tip of the pond feeding actively. This is a species that's become more frequent in the UK over recent years and is now appearing occasionally around the Heads of the Valleys area of Gwent. This is the second known record of this bird from Blaenavon. 

 

 

 

Monmouthshire Botany Group visit Lasgarn Wood.

At the request of Dr. Steph Tyler MBE and pending president of the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) I had the privilege of leading a group of botanists around the Lasgarn Wood near Abersychan recently on what was very sunny April day. 

The Lasgarn Wood is very close to my heart as it was the playground of my youth and where I cut my teeth as a budding naturalist. Siting on the limestone band that encircles the south Wales coalfield it is still possible to see evidence of mine workings that helped sustain historic industrial activity in these parts. Here shallow surface quarrying can still be viewed amongst the closed canopy Beech woodland with its sprawling ancient woodland indicator plants, another reminder of the close links between our industrial and natural heritage.

The footpath climb from our meeting point at Waterworks Lane was steep, but provided the group with good views of the fresh green leaves of beech woodland regeneration. Here path-side plants included Soft and Hard Shield Ferns, Early Dog Violet as well as providing a early opportunity for the group to discuss the difference between northern and southern Wych Elm - a debate that clearly emphasized the collective knowledge present on this walk. 

Beyond the Beech the woodland grades into patches of Sessile Oak and Birch with its understorey of Billberry and Heather before we broke into the squinting mornings sunlight that was provided by a recent conifer plantation clear-fell and its convenient haul road track. A few Red Wood Ant were noted stirred by the warming spring sunshine along with Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies. The group embarked on the examination of several conifer trees where a further discussion about species and hybridization ensured.

Progressing southward along the forestry track toward our lunchtime resting spot was punctuated by stops to check Lady's Mantle, Yellow Rattle and to view several Dark Edged Bee Fly. Following our re-fuelling break we returned to the forestry track but headed northwards towards a poorly recorded area. Once again there was plenty to occupy the botanists including possibly a 100+ rosettes of Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchid, a species of Aster, Fox and Cubs and the dreaded Himalayan Balsam. Willow Warbler were in fine song.

Where the track terminated we descended into another area of mature beech woodland close to the top of Waterworks Lane. This woodland is notable for its carpet of woodland plants none more so than Ramsons that in places cascades in abundance to smother the woodland floor. Toothwort used to occur in this woodland but was not visible on this occasion. Crosswort was found as were left the woodland to drop down past the decommissioned Welsh Water reservoir. A large patch of this plant was known from the grassy bank of the reservoir but recent, and wholly unnecessary management, had reduced this hitherto species rich bank to a botanical desert. So much for Welsh Water's public bodies biodiversity duty!

After over four hours in the field we arrived back at our meeting point and I took the opportunity to photograph a large Morel fungi possibly Morchella esculenta nestled at the base of a hedgerow. We said our farewells but not before I encouraged the group to consider revisiting this part of the vice county of Monmouthshire in the future.

Well done to all invovled!

 

The weather was set fair for another 'just past' sunrise visit to the Blaenavon Landscape. The track that led me past horse grazed fields at Garn yr erw with their eclectic mix of animal shelters and supporting bathroom clutter was lined with Hawthorn that was just coming into leaf. The trees at this altitude tend to be several weeks behind their lowland counterparts when it comes to leaf burst, nonetheless their fresh greenness set against the mornings blue sky was a satisfying sign that spring had now arrived.

A Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker could be heard calling from the nearby Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve (LNR) as I progressed around the foot of a steep coal tip and in sight of Hills Pit chimney. A male Wheatear sang strongly from the top of this conical- Madonna's bra -tip as if to assert his position as 'king of the castle'. At the chimney more Wheatear sparred for control of this elevated stone structure flying strongly between nearby fence posts and ground level exposed stonework before ceasing an opportunity to momentarily claim the chimney for themselves. It was clear that these early spring migrants had arrived in force and were keen to get on with the immediate requirement of establishing a breeding territory. 

Past the chimney the terrain leveled to briefly ease the contours on the map - does anyone read maps these days? Here a number of former industrial ponds, most still supporting open water but with others in clear need of management, are an unappreciated ecological and archaeological feature of this wonderful landscape. I was instantly greeted by the familiar vocalizations of nesting Canada geese. These loudmouth non-native invasive species are now so numerous that paired birds claim ownership to what seems to be sub-optimal habitat in which to raise a brood. Birds not only called loudly from the immediate vicinity but others could be heard from out of sight locations throughout this wetland landscape. Birds that were visible were often encountered grazing sheep-like on vegetated coal spoil tips.

The small number of trees around these ponds are mostly Hawthorn and Goat Willow but are punctuated by several stunted, weather beaten and decaying Crab Apple trees that are clearly a remnant of historical boundary planting. Whilst the pragmatic side of me claim them to be native Crab Apples I hold on to a romantic notion that they could be a rare or long lost breed of native apple and if so will be in urgent need of conservation. I've tried to match the fruit with others online but this has just led me up the garden path to a position of frustration and hopeless resignation that I'll never confidently identify this apple without specialist intervention.

I searched the still largely leafless trees for territory claiming birds. Skylark sang heartily high against the strong raising sun as I picked out a pair of Reed Bunting low down in a willow tree, and further on a pair of Stonechat one of four pairs encountered on this visit. The female had turned her back on me whilst the resplendent black, red and white male stood proudly at treetop occasionally knocking together those pebbles to let me know he was there. A single Linnet flew strongly overhead before I flushed a Snipe from the confines of a stand of Purple Moor Grass.

Further on two medium sized ponds were my focus of attention. Once again these former industrial ponds that last year supported breeding Tufted Duck as well as Common Toad and a typical yet notable community of upland odonata, were now occupied by Canada Geese. Recent work on the lower pond to re-establish a water management regime to help control water levels to moderate flood risk and enhance habitat was refreshing to see. This simple yet cost effective intervention will have wide ranging and long lasting sustainability benefits. Well done to all involved! More please!

An eye out for the Golden-eye lichen

 

It seems the once thought to be extinct in the UK Golden-eye lichen is making something of a comeback in the South Wales valleys. Recent records from Parc Penallta, Caerphilly and the Merthyr area suggests its worth searching those stumpy Hawthorn trees that are such a feature of the upland margins for this attractive eye lash lichen. With this in mind I made a short but unsuccessful visit to search a group of trees near to Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Blaenavon, before moving on to look for early summer visitors in the Pwll Ddu quarry area.

Despite the day being bright and sunny there was a cold brisk wind as I kitted up for what was to be a bracing walk around Pwll Ddu. Call me strange- and trust me I've been called a lot worse- but I enjoy tracking down March dates for species such and Chiffchaff and Wheatear. However this year a two week overseas holiday in the middle of the month had removed a chunk of available time for recording these birds. Chiffchaff is always the easier of the two as I often record my first singing birds from the comfort of my back garden. Wheatears are different, effort is required to either visit a coastal location or to get out in the chilly uplands.

The information post that advises dog walkers to keep their animals on a lead to prevent disturbing ground nesting birds or to not get shot for worrying sheep is largely ignored. And so it was the case on this day! I made my way to the first limestone quarry full of expectation as I knew Wheatears had arrived in the locality thanks to social media posts. Alas no amount of sheltering from the cutting wind was enough for this quarry to support a sight of this characteristic white-rumped bird. And so it was the case for the other quarries in this area. Slightly crest fallen it was time to get back to the car and to head home. Am I the only one that thinks the natural world conspires to take the piss out of people me? As after a couple of hours in the cold searching for Wheatears two birds showed well on a dry stone wall less than 20 metres from the car park- along with a pair of Stonechat. There must be somewhere a small operational committee comprising of a representative from taxonomic group that oversees the movements of birds etc. just to have a laugh at my expense. The thought then crossed my mind that I could of sat in the comfort of my car listening to Iron Maiden just waiting for the birds to alight on the wall and fence posts in front of me. But then that's pure laziness or is it?