ECOLOGY CYMRU
Newsletter Edition Number 44
Email: [email protected]
July 2016
Website: www.ecologycymru.co.uk
#ecologycymru
Cover: Little Egret with reflection, Goldcliff Lagoons.
In this edition.
Dear friend.
Another busy month wildlife wise with plenty going on in
Monthly wildlife update
the world of nature and events. This month we are looking at
News
the usual monthly bird and wildlife highlights (although most
The missing LYNX
of this month we have been concentrating on the early autumn
NEW – bird ringing news
migration down at Goldcliff), an update on Flaviu the missing
Identity challenge
Lynx from Dartmoor Zoo, a bird ID challenge, some security
advice for vehicles and a new feature starting this month –
Vehicle break-in advice
Ty Hafan fundraising
bird ringing news and updates.
As always, we would like to say a big thank you to you all for
And finally.
forwarding our newsletter on and for your continued support.
Nicola and Neville.
____________________
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Pyramidal moth – Udea prunellis
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Bird and Wildlife highlights from the month
Tying themselves up in knots – what a small section of 3000+ Knot look like in flight,
Holme, Norfolk. Somewhere in this lot was the Great Knot that turned up at Holme
thankfully we spotted back on the shore later when the birds settled. © N Davies.
A Common Lizard ran across the country lane in Rudry on the 6th. The first visit to the
Goldcliff Lagoons was on the 8th with a good mix of birds seen including a Whimbrel which
was a nice surprise as was a male Curlew Sandpiper which I found skulking in the vegetation
just off the island in front of hide one. The Black Headed Gull roost flock is starting to
increase with 255 birds counted today (358 on the 14th) and there was four fully fledged
Avocets.
The 14th here seen another good mix of birds here including a roosting Spoonbill that
eventually woke up and moved about showing off the amazing bill. The Curlew Sandpiper
was still present along with 62 Redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 44 Dunlin,
2 Ruff, a single Knot in breeding plumage, 8 Little Egrets and a lovely male Yellow Wagtail
feeding which was an unexpected surprise and a little earlier than normal. A Marsh Harrier
flew across the lagoons putting everything up including the Spoonbill which thankfully soon
settled back down.
Close up of Southern Marsh Orchid in light form and a Skipper butterfly in the same
meadow feeding on Knapweed – Coed-y-Mardy Caerphilly. © N Davies
A juvenile House Martin pestering mum, Coed Parc-y-Van (Caerphilly) and a Swallow
(Goldcliff). The latter are starting to build up in number on the wires. © N Davies.
Also at Goldcliff on the 17th with a 6am start, another good mix of birds with two White
Wagtails being a nice surprise as was 2 Whimbrel and 4 Yellow Wagtails. The Spoonbill
was still present and showing well. Common Swift numbers have dropped off considerably
with only very small groups seen (4 on the 18th, 2 on the 21st respectively).
A walk around the Usk Valley on the 19th despite the very hot weather seen a good variety
of flora and fauna including Siskins, a family group of Spotted Flycatchers, family group of
Mistle Thrushes, Ringlet butterflies and a young Grass Snake crossing left to right in the
canal – the head was protruding just above the water enough to show the distinctive yellow
neck collar. Flora of interest included a large clump of Pennywort, Meadowsweet,
Enchanter’s Nightshade, Hedge Woundwort and a group of young Honey Fungus growing
on a fallen Birch tree.
Honey fungus and an impressive clump of Pennywort, Usk Valley walk. © N Davies.
Goldcliff on the afternoon of the 21st with a guest had another good mix of birds such as 2
Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint in immaculate plumage, 6 Common Sandpipers out on the
rocks by the sea wall which was a lovely surprise, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7
White Wagtails and a group of 7 Whimbrel flying across the lagoons close to the first hide
which was a nice sight. The Spoonbill has moved on now.
Adult Mediterranean Gull (centre/black hood) and Common Gull, Goldcliff © N Davies.
With the start of autumn migration already underway, Goldcliff kept luring us down there to
see what was moving through, and the 23rd was filled with interesting species. My friend
Dan and I managed to see 62 species that morning and on the fence by the first hide was a
pair of Whinchats, a Stonechat, Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler all feeding together.
Elsewhere we watched hirundines in good numbers such as 60+ Sand Martins and over 40
Swallows. Four Swifts were also seen (these were to be my last sighting of the month
sadly). Water birds of note included 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 5
Turnstone, 104 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 25 Black Tailed Godwits and 2 Ringed Plovers.
Interestingly, an adult Mediterranean Gull was in with the Black Headed Gulls from the
third hide, spotted by Dan. You can just see the bird on my distant shot above left, the black
hood; larger red bill and white eye rings are visible. A lovely adult Common Gull was in with
the other flock of Black Headed Gulls from the new platform. Butterflies seen included
plenty of Meadow Browns and single numbers of Gatekeeper (Hedge Brown), Small Copper
and Common Blue.
The 26th saw Glyn wright and I doing a tough going twelve mile walk from Tal-y-Bont,
through Llanfechan and back down to Pencelli. Fungi of note included Chicken of the woods
(sulphur polypore) below left and Dryads Saddle (below right). Birds were plentiful and we
did see both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Siskin’s, Nuthatch, Buzzards, Coal Tit,
Treecreeper, Redstart and twenty four other species.
Rain nearly stopped play down at Goldcliff on the 28 th, but managing to avoid the worse of
the showers we did get to see an interesting mix of birds including a family group of Reed
Warblers, a family group of Shelduck (with 7 young), Kestrel, 34 Black Tailed Godwits, 1
Ruff, 240 Dunlin (with 9 juveniles mixed in), 6 Little Egrets, 2 Snipe, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 12
Turnstone which was a lovely surprise and a good number, 1 Whimbrel, 25 Ringed Plovers,
9 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Common, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Whinchat on the fence again
by the first hide. It was nice to see the numbers of Yellow Wagtail increasing and they
seemed to prefer feeding between hide two and the new viewing platform.
Also here for a repeat visit on the 30th to end a good months birding we clocked up another
good mix of species including 3 Common Buzzards circling, a Cettis Warbler calling, 1 Reed
Warbler, 27 Lapwing, 81 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 300 Dunlin with
plenty of light coloured juveniles mixed in, 32 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff in transitional
plumage, 4 Common Snipe and only 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Teal numbers are steadily
increasing with 18 seen along with 6 Little Egrets, a male Kestrel hovering and 24 Ringed
Plovers roosting. Black Headed Gull numbers in the roost just peaked past 300. Seven
Turnstones showed well and mixed in was a single Sanderling which are always lovely to
see. A juvenile Red Kite flew low overhead past the new platform with the sun shining
through its wings giving us a lovely view of such a splendid bird.
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News and Updates
Gwent Wildlife Trust has kindly been in touch with some more information on the M4 Relief
Road proposal. Please take the time to read the below.
You may have received a communication from Welsh Government concerning your
objection (where applicable) to the planned M4 Relief Road. GWT has received such
centrally, and we are upholding our objection to the scheme. This is because the responses
to our concerns are of insufficient detail to warrant a withdrawal. We also have concerns
over accuracy and wording. For example, GWT is still facing a compulsory purchase order
for part of our Magor Marsh Nature Reserve.
Should you feel likewise unsatisfied then we would urge you to maintain your objection.
The easiest way to do this is to not respond to the communication. I have been informed
by the M4 Project’s public liaison officer, Brian Greaves, that a nil-response will be
considered a continued objection to the scheme.
Continued objection does not mean that you will have to give evidence to a Public Inquiry
(as the communication seems to imply). Submissions to Public Inquiry are voluntary!
I hope that this information is helpful.
____________________________________
Tree felling at The Warren Caerphilly.
Thankfully the tree felling has stopped as promised by the contractors to limit disturbance
to nesting birds and wildlife in general. However I and others still feel strongly that work
should have not commenced so close to the breeding season in the first place. Disturbance
to birds and wildlife looking to establish territories and begin breeding has hopeful has not
been affected? To that end, correspondence continued by myself, concerned residents and
environmentalists to key individual people.
Natural Resource Wales (NRW) did reply to one of the group concerned and provided a
good update with photocopies of licences for bats and birds alike, plus provisions for the
protection of badger setts and great crested newts. Thanks to NRW for their help with this
matter and for replying promptly.
Unfortunately we never had any replies or acknowledgements to emails from certain
individuals including the council ecologist which was very disappointing. It transpires that
apparently the local councillors supported the tree felling and gave it the go ahead but this
is yet to be confirmed.
To that end, I guess the next step is for us to identify the councillors and ask for a meeting
so that we can discuss these issues and hopefully come up with a satisfactory compromise
to future felling in the area particularly when the next breeding season approaches.
___________________________________
Vehicle break in.
There was a report this month of a vehicle having been broken into at the Fisherman’s car
park at Llandegfedd Reservoir (near to New Inn, Pontypool). It is unclear whether anything
of value was on display or whether this was an opportunist. However, to hopefully prevent
this from happening to you, there is the following advice below I always offer people.
Sometimes it is unavoidable when we visit certain places that car parking may be off the
beaten track or out of the way of houses etc. To that end if this is your only choice then the
following may help deter someone breaking in.




Ensure that NOTHING of potential value is left inside the vehicle on display.
Vehicles get broken into not just for sat-navs on display, but for phones and
handbags left on seats – yes it’s surprising what people leave on display.
Remove CDs, loose change, coats and bags – they will encourage an opportunist
to break in too.
Never leave a sat-nav on display or the holding device and always wipe away the
tell-tale sucker mark on the windscreen that shows you use a sat-nav.
As a further preventative measure, I always leave the glove box open to show
that nothing of value is inside. This is where most sat-navs get put when not in
use.
Personally I always leave anything of potential value inside the boot and out of sight. It is a
real shame that we have to go through such measures to prevent what I can only refer to as
scum causing us misery. Always ensure the steering lock is on, consider a visible steering
device. You can also get a device that prevents the gears being utilised. Don’t let this
activity put you off from visiting areas, staff are always aware of these issues and always pay
attention to anything suspicious, just take a few moments to look inside your car before you
walk away – if there is something you like and want in view, so would someone else. Hope
this of use… I am happy to offer advice in person when you see me out and about.
_______________________
Caerphilly housing development and relief road scheme
Some good news for a change plans for these ridiculous schemes have thankfully been
dropped. Please see the below snippets taken from the Caerphilly Observer (Thursday 21st
July - August 3rd edition). Full and excellent article available in the paper written by Richard
Gurner © Caerphilly Observer.
Plans for the construction of thousands of houses has been scrapped. A meeting on
Tuesday 19th July seen councillors UNANIMOUSLY vote to withdraw the draft Local
Development Plan (LDP).
There was the potential for over 13,000 homes to be built on green field sites and the
potential for a relief road from the Nant-y-Calch fields and over a section of Caerphilly
Mountain through beautiful forestry.
In total – 4,654 individuals and organisations
responded with six petitions received.
(My personal view) – Now this is good news and a big thank you to everyone who took the
time to object to this proposal and for passing the information on to others. It is such a
relief to know that these sites won’t be affected as they are truly stunning areas with a
fantastic and diverse range of flora and fauna. I am just keeping an eye on developments
now and hoping that no future smaller scale developments are put in resulting in people
thinking oh well this is smaller than the other proposed ones, which may of course lead to a
few more and before we know it all the green spaces have gone. Maybe that’s me being
cynical, but I like many others love the countryside and want to see it remain – certainly the
parts that are left.
_________________________________
The missing LYNX. The story so far.
I do feel sorry for Dartmoor Zoo who recently had a Lynx escape from captivity and who has
literally given staff, volunteers and the emergency services the run around for several
weeks. The staff immediately sprang into action to retrieve Flaviu. The story has had wide
coverage from the local media and radio to Twitter and other social media networks.
For us, we are heading down there soon to visit Benjamin Mee the Zoo owner and in the
meantime we checked the website each day to see what the updates were, and hoped that
they had a LEAD and could COLLAR him soon enough. It seems they missed him by a
WHISKER on a few occasions – PAWS for thought that… But joking aside, this was a
stressful time not just for Flaviu himself but for everyone involved, and the sterling work
that has gone into trying to find him well and safely returning him to his new home back at
DZP. The story unfolds:
Flaviu the Carpathian Lynx – picture © Dartmoor Zoological Park.
Flaviu arrived from Kent to Dartmoor Zoo on the 6 th July and was settled in only to chew his
way out of the enclosure that evening. The area surrounding the zoo consists mainly of
farmland with a nine-hole golf course close by, all with a high degree of vegetation and
hiding places, so from the offset in fairness to the staff, getting him safely back was going to
be hard work.
From having stayed in the area many times and a regular visitor to the Zoo, we can
appreciate the terrain of the local area. To date Flaviu is still out missing despite efforts to
find him which have included the use of drones and thermal imaging, playing the calls of its
mother in an attempt to lure him back and humane traps with food. So far these have not
worked and it is believed he is still close by in the farmland area surrounding the Zoo.
Last going off, a professional tracker has been called in to track down and capture Flaviu.
Cow pats are being used on the bottom of footwear to mask any human smells. Flaviu has
certainly got the media’s attention and has seen articles in both the Sun and the Guardian
and the local papers. There is a big Twitter following but to be honest it is mostly daft
comments and pictures of him in parts of the country on a break. Our thoughts go out to
the staff at DZP who has a big task on their hands finding Flaviu who will be very skilled at
evading capture and camouflage. Their efforts so far have been very commendable and
staff are confident he will be back at his new home very soon.
If you are in the area of Dartmoor particularly around Sparkwell and the surrounding areas
and you spot Flaviu, do not approach him yourself but phone 999 and quote log reference
number 252 of the 07/07/16.
____________________________________
NEW MONTHLY FEATURE
Bird Ringing News and Updates
From this month we are hoping to have enough news and updates to begin a regular
section looking at findings and results from bird ringing schemes. Both Dan Webb from
the Herefordshire area and Alan Lowe who works the Caerphilly and surrounding areas
have offered to provide some results. The first of the results are listed below. Please feel
to contribute to any information you may have via email to [email protected] and
we will gladly pass it on to the relevant ringing recorders.
From Alan Lowe. I had an email from the BTO saying a bird I ringed at a local farm turned
up 604 days later, so a good record.
At the right time of year there are good numbers passing through and have ringed over 200!
A particular Blackcap was trapped as a juvenile in the Caerphilly area on 11/10/14 and
controlled (trapped and all biometrics taken before releasing again) on 07/05/16 at
Woodvale Airfield, near Formby, Merseyside. Duration: 604 days Distance: 219 km
Direction: 3deg (N)
From Neville Davies, email received from Graham Giddons in relation to a report I
submitted for a colour ringed Avocet this month at Goldcliff:
Thank you for reporting the sighting of the colour ringed avocet. I ringed it as a chick last
summer at Needs Ore Reserve near Beaulieu in Hampshire. The combination of letter on
the yellow flag is AC. I appreciate that the letters can be difficult to read, but I know that the
letters are AC because, in order to avoid confusion, we do not use G. After fledging it
moved along the Hampshire coast, then it wintered in Poole Harbour in Dorset, and then it
moved to Gwent in late February.
Graham
Dan Webb who regularly joins me down at Goldcliff, like I submits records of colour ringed
Black Tailed Godwits and other species. Dan has since had two reply updates concerning
two individuals which he submitted information on. Where these individuals travel to is
quite staggering as can be appreciated from the list below.
Adult, male(Black Tailed Godwit)
YG-WX 04.07.12
Hrisholl,- Berufjordur,- Reykholar,- NW Iceland
YG-WX 30.08.12
Chenal des Gâtines , Ars-en-Ré, Íle de Ré, W France
YG-WX 12.09.12
Fier d Ars, Ars-en-Ré, Íle de Ré, W France
YG-WX 29.09.12
Fier d Ars, Ars-en-Ré, Íle de Ré, W France
YG-WX 23.08.13
Van Haaftenpolder, Sint-Annaland, Zeeland, W Netherlands
YG-WX 11.04.14
Veerpolder, Warmond, Teylingen, South-Holland, W Netherlands
YG-WX 15.04.14
Veerpolder, Warmond, Teylingen, South-Holland, W Netherlands
YG-WX 18.04.14
Veerpolder, Warmond, Teylingen, South-Holland, W Netherlands
YG-WX 19.04.14
Veerpolder, Warmond, Teylingen, South-Holland, W Netherlands
YG-WX 02.09.14
Réserve Naturelle, Portes-En-Re (Les), W France
YG-WX 27.09.14
Réserve Naturelle, Portes-En-Re (Les), W France
YG-WX 04.10.14
Réserve Naturelle, Portes-En-Re (Les), W France
YG-WX 12.10.14
Fosse de Loix, Loix, Íle de Ré, W France
YG-WX 15.02.15
Fosse de Loix, Loix, Charente-Maritime, W France
YG-WX 24.03.15
Réserve de Chanteloup, L Ile d Olonne, Vendée, W France
YG-WX 25.03.15
Réserve de Chanteloup, L Ile d Olonne, Vendée, W France
YG-WX 1.04.15
Réserve de Chanteloup, L Ile d Olonne, Vendée, W France
YG-WX 13.08.15
France
PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Réserve naturelle C4, Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 19.08.15
France
PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Réserve naturelle C4, Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 11.09.15
France
Réserve naturelle B1, PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 12.09.15
France
Réserve naturelle B1, PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 13.09.15
France
Réserve naturelle A6, PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 09.10.15
France
Réserve naturelle C4, PORTES-EN-RE (LES), Charente-Maritime, W
YG-WX 15.04.16
Goldcliff pools, Gwent, S Wales
Similarly, results were received for a second Black Tailed Godwit also seen at Goldcliff and
forwarded to me from Dan as follows:
Adult, male
R8-YO 11.07.10
Hrisholl, Berufjordur, Reykholar, NW Iceland
R8-YO 17.08.10
Shannon Airport Lagoon, Co. Clare, W Ireland
R8-YO 22.10.10
Port du Collet, Bouin, Vendée, W France
R8-YO 12.11.10
Bondre du Briolet, La Turballe, Loire Atlantique, France
R8-YO 02.12.10
La Turballe, Loire-Atlantique, NW France
R8-YO 04.07.11
Berufjörður, Reykhólar, NW Iceland
R8-YO 04.10.11
Kergeorget, Sarzeau, NW France
R8-YO 09.04.12
Rossleague, Cork Harbour, Co. Cork, S Ireland
R8-YO 31.8.13
Men-Armor beach,Pénestin,Morbihan,NW France
R8-YO 29.03.14
Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour, Dorset, S England
R8-YO 22.10.14
Kergeorget, Sarzeau, Morbihan, Brittany, NW France
R8-YO 27.01.16
Marais de Lasné, Saint-Armel, Morbihan Brittany, NW France
R8-YO 10.04.16
Goldcliff pools, Gwent, S Wales
R8-YO 10.04.16
Goldcliff pools, Gwent, S Wales
R8-YO 15.04.16
Goldcliff pools, Gwent, S Wales
Sightings reported to the relevant persons are of great value in tracking the whereabouts
of individuals and to show the great journeys they are making and also allowing them to
appreciate how long they are living too along with plenty of other useful and relevant
information. Thanks to the International Study Wader Group for taking the time to reply
regarding these sightings.
Sighting sent in via Neville Davies regarding: Subject: RE: SSTS:Avocet0333-Fwd: Euring
Web Colour ring Recovery email to coordinator: Avocet
I received a reply for an individual which had a faded orange leg flag. I submitted the
sighting on the off-chance it could be traced and was advised that any Avocets with an
orange leg flag are birds that would have been ringed in France.
Black Tailed Godwit and Avocet at Goldcliff Lagoons © N Davies.
Colour ringed Greylag Goose in Norfolk.
During a recent visit back in June to Hickling Broad, amongst the large group of geese was a
Greylag with a red neck collar and the letters FFS on it. I submitted the record and was
pleased to have received the following response.
Dear Neville,
Thank you very much for your sighting.
The bird you have seen are part of a monitoring program with the aim of finding out where
Greylag and Canada Geese move to after they have been ringed and neck collared during
their annual moult. I have attached a poster that gives a bit more detail into this project.
The bird you saw was an adult male ringed at Hickling broad in 2012. This bird has been
interesting as it has not been seen away from Hickling since being ringed apart from a visit
to Covehithe. Most birds have travelled up to 70km. The age code 4 means that it hatched
before the current calendar year when it was ringed. The age code 2 means it was seen as a
fully grown bird (i.e. not a chick). It is good to hear this bird is still going strong however so
I'm very grateful for your email.
If you have any questions about the project or even about the attached history sheet please
let me know.
Best wishes
Lee
Also provided was a breakdown of the life of this particular individual.
Greylag Goose
5270511 N 4M 26/06/12 Hickling Broad (COOTTS), Norfolk
O 2 Sighted 12/08/12 JRA Hickling Broad (POTTER), Norfolk (47 days)
O 2 Sighted 10/12/12 STP Hickling Broad (HIGHAM), Norfolk (167 days)
O 2 Sighted (R) 10/12/12 LJB Hickling Broad (HIGHAM), Norfolk (167 days)
O 2 Sighted 20/10/13 MHI Hickling Broad, Norfolk (1 yr 116days)
O 4 Sighted 20/02/14 ALF Hickling Broad (MARTHA), Norfolk (1 yr 239days)
O 2 Sighted 10/08/14 RYI Hickling Broad, Norfolk (2 yrs 45days)
O 4 Sighted 04/04/15 RYI Hickling Broad (COOTTS), Norfolk (2 yrs 282days)
S 4 Sighted 07/08/15 RIA Covehithe, Suffolk (42 km, SSE, 3 yrs 42days)
O 4 Sighted 08/06/16 NDA Hickling Broad, Norfolk (3 yrs 348days)
_________________________________
Ok, test your bird ID skills on these two then, taken in the Usk Valley this
month. Answer in the August newsletter.
And Finally!
A few more shots of the recent Spoonbill at the Goldcliff Lagoons © N Davies.
This reminds me – I visitied our local restaurant this month and tried the Pelican Massala.
The food was lovely but the bill was massive.
I recently tried a Squirrel meat dish too, wish they had told me it contained nuts though…
The early morning Sun over the stream at the entrance of the Goldcliff Reserve © N Davies.
Fundraising
Whilst walking along a section of the Tal-y-Bont to Brecon canal on the morning of the 26th
with a friend of mine, there was two guys walking towards us and it was only when they got
closer that we realised they were in full hockey gear. Naturally we stopped to enquire why
and it transpired they were on a fund raising walk for the children's hospice at Ty Hafan and walking from Brecon to Cardiff along the canal route, a long route but for an excellent
cause.
We gave them our loose change and they took the time to chat for a while and we had a
few photos too (yours truly below left and Glyn Wright on the right). You can help to
support this great cause and charity and follow the progress by visiting the Full Kit Walkers
website and further support them by forwarding their website via social media.
BREAKING NEWS
Our article still stands on the adventures of Flaviu the Carpathian Lynx, but we
have been personally informed this morning at 0910hrs that Flaviu had been
recaptured around 1am close to the Zoo. What a result. He is safe and well
back at the Zoo.
Hopefully we will have some photos of this little menace during our visit there
this week.
Thank you again for your continued support.