Lone wolf naturalist

True naturalists are inquisitive, looking for nature where others don't or won't. Searching for nature in the most unlikely locations is the modus operandi of those who's aim is to broaden our knowledge of species distribution in order to inform conservation priorities. I am no exception, I struggle with some nature hotspots such as the Newport Wetlands where comfy conditions and many eyes remind me of 'shooting fish in a barrel'. I find this model of nature study to be akin to a reduced sized Mars Bar, wholly unsatisfying, so I avoid. I am a lone wolf naturalist!

Last weekend I went on the prowl along the saltmarsh on the margins of the River Usk near to the Newport Transporter Bridge. Walking from an access point close to Newport Van Sales I followed the saltmarsh at low tide towards City Bridge, sniffing out nature on the way. I was hoping to find a new niche location for gull watching but, although all common species were present numbers were low. At low tide the river reveals an indicator of people's opinion of it. A muddy settlement of hundreds of tyres has created a reef that in turn has trapped tree trunks, 45 gallon oil drums, parts of cars and shopping trolleys that will have been deposited into the river, not by chance, but by design. A single curlew briefly alighted, before continuing under the transporter bridge and out of sight.

I am unfamiliar with the wildlife of saltmarsh. Needless to say that the trusty bat detector picked up more long-winged conehead and field grasshoppers were widespread on the dry upper reaches of the marsh. Plant wise sea aster was common along with lyme grass. Sandhoppers were also numerous under discarded material. 

Rural petty criminals

The peri-urban environment or 'edgelands' that is that interface between the urban and rural is home to the petty criminal. Whether it is fly-tipping or off-road vehicles driving on common land, these marginal areas are accessible and off the radar for law enforcement, and as such relatively risk free to the perpetrators. A brief recent stroll around the rural margins of the Varteg provides a case study.

There's always been a bit of a fly-tipping hot spot as you turn off the main Varetg to Blaenavon road towards Red Ash. A hundred or so metres is just sufficient distance to be out of sight allowing enough time to empty the contents of your vehicle, have a cigarette, drink in the vista of vast Mynydd Garn Clochdy, then make your getaway. More recently the local authority has erected signage suggesting the presence of a covert camera and the worst of the fly tipping at this spot at least has now been displaced. Nonetheless, there are lasting signs of previous dumping in the form of non-native species. Species such as monbretia, listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act as an invasive species and therefore illegal to allow to grow in the wild, remains a lasting and increasing legacy. I suspect that organised clean-ups of fly-tipped areas, either by statutory agencies and/or volunteers tend to focus, understandably, on removing the unsightly environmental appearance of domestic waste and maybe overlooking the fact that garden and builders waste especially can contain species that have well documented ecological implications.

I've discussed both the positive and negative ramifications of off road activity in the edgelands through previous postings on this blog - so I won't rehearse them again. Those who indulge in this past-time claim to be having fun and do not understand the impacts they have on peat bogs or the livelihoods of common land farmers. Nevertheless, even if they don't know why their activities are causing a problem they will know its illegal. But just like fly-tipping its a risk free activity. You can ride your bike or drive your 4x4 all over the upland landscape with little fear of being caught. Furthermore, insurance, MOTs and road tax don't feature as part of the running costs of an off-road vehicle, why would you bother as the chances of being caught are next to nil. I wonder how I would fair, if, when walking the hillsides I was injured by unlicensed vehicle? The opinions of some locals to riding on common land is evident by the amendment to this warning sign.

Finally, an example of the links between the two aforementioned illegal activities. The image below was taken on the lower slopes of Mynydd Farteg Fawr. It was a significant distance from any accessible road or track so could only have been accessed by a 4x4 vehicle. This for me demonstrates that if you are willing fly-tip you won't worry about breaking other laws to achieve it!

A fleeting glimpse

For a while, along the road that separates the upper part of Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve from Waun Afon bog, I shared a conversation with a dog walker. Among the chit-chat was some interesting  information about a family of little owl that was present a few months earlier. We parted ways, and as I pushed through the increasing willow shrub at the southern end of the bog's railway cutting a chiffchaff could be heard. A party of about 20 hirundine, mostly swallow but with an odd house martin passed overhead.

The cutting, with its remnant limestone chipping base juxtaposed against a wider acidic landscape of heathland and semi-improved grassland is worthy of closer botanical examination. A stand of brightly coloured common toadflax caught my eye and further on towards the top of the cutting a small patch of hare's tail clover, a species I've not note recorded locally and one that is rather surprisingly listed on the rare plant register of Monmouthshire (vc35). A couple of Aaron's rod stood proud covered by about 30 hairy sheildbugs, Here too bird activity increased, a single whinchat on a telegraph wire, along with numerous meadow pipit, a couple of flyover skylark and at least two families of stonechat. Willow warbler, wren, blackbird, goldfinch, great and blue tits, a single greenfinch were also noted.

Beyond the cutting I took the route of the now disused mine road. No longer taking vehicles but increasing popular with dog walkers. A spray painted message warned owners that 'loose dogs will be shot'. Nonetheless I saw one off its lead as its owner walked head down scrolling through his phone. What did we do before mobile phones?  There were also fresh tyre tracks evidence of the on-going state of rural lawlessness in the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape.

Around the top of the bog a single mature ash tree sheltered a memorial bench, to who I do not know. Several cyclists were now using the mine road as I climbed upwards to reach a small pond with its rusting overflow pipe. A single emerald damselfly alighted on the broad leaved pondweed that covers around half of the pond, there were also a couple of ovipositing common hawker dragonfly. Standing on this lofty perch I had a panoramic view of the bog and its industrial landscape in the distance. It was a bold action but I decided not to return whence I came preferring to take a line through the middle of the bog as my return journey.

Before I entered the bog with its unpredictable terrain I paused on an area of coal spoil, a flattened pan like feature that was sheep grazed but supported extensive carline thistle and small cudweed. I pulled out my trusty bat detector, not really expecting any significant orthoptera activity but was surprised to pick up yet another singing long-winged conehead. The range expansion of the species in recent years has been nothing but amazing. I stepped off this area of short vegetation onto the purple moor grass dominated bog entering an area that proved difficult to transverse - I stumbled on several occasions before reaching the otherside. There was little to see on the bog, no flowering plants except the odd tormentil. However, I did watch a male hen harrier rise from the bog and move southwards and quickly out of sight - a fleeting glimpse. The bog is well know as raptor hotspot, so not a major surprise to see this bird but a smart male never fails to impress. 

Back at the railway cutting there seemed to be more warblers passing through the bracken. It was hard work getting across the bog, but one that I was satisfied I'd achieved. And just as I had started a chiffchaff called as I passed a disused farm outbuilding.

Penhow Quarry

Its been a few years since I pottered around this site. Penhow Quarry is an extensive yet shallow disused quarry on the eastern outskirts of Newport. Access is unofficial but judging by the well worn paths and the presence of a couple of dog walkers it seems to be tolerated.

A late August visit is not the best time to be recording flowering plants, but a few commoner species we still showing making the visit worthwhile. Large-flowered evening primrose was numerous as was the quarry favourite yellow wort. There are at least three small ponds present with some developing lush vegetation including gypsywort. On the bare mud was marsh pennywort and shoreweed.

The day was hot exacerbated by the bare ground micro climate. I hadn't brought my sweep net with me so invertebrate recording was limited. However, I had popped my trusty bat detector in my naturalist kit bag that once deployed readily picked up long-winged conehead. The ponds were well populated with common odonata, including common blue and emerald damselflies along with common darters, a couple of emperor dragonflies and good numbers of hawkers that refused to settle to allow identification. In addition the only bird of note was a vocal hobby.

All in all a very worthwhile visit to a location that demands more addition. Noted as one to visit more in retirement.