This was a Sunday morning visit designed to check the 300 + black- headed gull that were residing at Cwmbran Boating Lake, for birds carrying rings. With no rings in sight and with the numbers of dog walkers increasing quickly I diverted my attention to the nearby Afon Lwyd in an effort for some peace and quiet.
Taking the bankside path from the Boating Lake to the river bridge near to Burton's biscuit factory, I was struck by how much this river had been modified by bank revetment work. Almost every twist and meander was characterised by moss covered blockstone. In addition the tentacle type root systems of the riparian trees were festooned with discarded clothing and other urban rubbish. These features hint at the on going abuse of this valley river that hit a peak during industrialisation but continues to this day.
Otters are known to occur along the whole length of the Afon Lwyd. Although rarely seen, signs of their presence can be found. A large rock in mid stream and just below the boating lake supported some old and some new spraint. A grey wagtail picked its way around a pebble beach and a dipper alighted briefly before moving on.
The Afon Lwyd runs the whole length of Torfaen from its headwaters above Blaenafon to its convergence with the River Usk at Caerleon and like so many other areas in the South Wales valleys receives little attention from naturalists. My occasional visits suggest there's much yet to be discovered.
