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.
