Natures many beautiful sights.
Friday 22nd saw a change of scenery, covering the Tal-y-Bont on Usk area. Perfect weather made for a perfect day, with an array of interesting flora and fauna. I was joined by my friend Kerry who is a ranger with the council, and after a coffee at the village shop/post office we were on our way. From the canal to the main path we watched Rooks gathering at their 'rookery', and Mallards, Woodpigeons, Jackdaws, House Sparrows, Siskins, Chaffinches, Wrens, Song Thrushes and Robins - most of which were busy singing away.
Joining the Henry Vaughn walk (named after the Welsh metaphysical poet), we enjoyed a walk between the two hedgerows where along the banks, the first spring plants were appearing including Dog's Mercury, Lesser Celandines and Ramsons (Wild Garlic). More birds were singing their hearts out including Great Tits, Coal Tits, Nuthatches and Blackbirds, and a single Buzzard circled high overhead. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming away ten to the dozen and Blue Tits crossed over ahead of us. A lone Jay flew down across the field and was calling loudly as it passed us.
Soon we joined the Brinore Tramroad which was used to bring down Limestone to the kilns at Tal-y-Bont (this run for 8 miles from Tal-y-Bont on Usk to the quarries at Trefil between 1815 and 1865). Here we listened to bird song and found a group of Birch Polypore fungus. A Mistle Thrush was in full fine song and after a cup of tea under the branches of an old majestic Oak we made our way onto the tarmac road which could take us up to Bwlch-y-Waun. Now in open countryside the bird life changed somewhat, and soon we were watching a male Stonechat and a small group of Linnets. A Raven gave of its 'cronking' call from high overhead, and passing a line of old Alders on both sides of the road, one tree in particular had some Southern polypody ferns growing on it along with a nice clump of Pennywort, and carpeting the tree was a host of mosses and lichens, all vying for the same nutrients from the tree, and included fine specimens of Cladonia Fimbriata, Dicranium Scoparium, Polystrichum Commune and a little Foxglove just peeping out of the base. Moving we there was the overhead song of a Skylark and a Meadow Pipit shot past. Four Dunnocks appeared out of the Birch and Alder copse and were frantically chasing each other around. The prize moment however was as we were at eye level of the Norway Spruce plantation, and after some searching I was able to locate a pair of Common Crossbills (both females) and I was able to get a nice photo as well which was good.
Common Crossbill
At Bwlch-y-Waun, lunch was taken sat on a fallen stump, and with flasks at the ready and the Sun warming up our backs, we settled down for some lunch. Just prior to this, a small pond had been dug out by the farmer which was being fed by natural spring water from close by. The local Frogs had already made their presence known by laying large clumps of Frog spawn - my first of the year. Already some Water Crow Foot had taken hold and insects in the form of Water Boatmen and Whirligig Beetles had also claimed their spot. The nearby stream is always worth investigating, and like the last time, we located some Alder nitrogen fixing nodules. Alder is particularly noted for its important and symbolic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacterium. It is found in root nodules which can be as large as a human fist.
Alder nitrogen fixing nodules.
Soon the habitat changed again this time to open farmland, where several Stock Doves were seen and a Goldcrest was heard calling from a Pine copse. Moving onto a country lane for a short while saw masses of Cow Parsley poking through the short grass of the banks, which contained several small Bank Vole holes and a few Rabbit burrows. A Pied Wagtail was on a nearby house roof. Finally it was time to descend down to lower ground and join the canal for the walk back to base. A group of Scarlet Elf Caps showed off their bright reds from amongst the leaf litter, and a distant Cormorant was added to the list. The canal was seeing the first of the Coltsfoot in flower. This species is quite unique in that the plant flowers before the leaves are seen, and one flower in particular had a species of Dung Fly feeding on it from the group 'Scathophaga'. A group of Long Tailed Tits flitted past, and after stopping to take a look at the 'heronry', we counted twelve nests and at least ten Grey herons in the trees. They make some strange almost prehistoric calls, and this ended a great days wildlife watching.
All photos copyright of Neville Davies.
Alder catkins. 
Joining the Henry Vaughn walk (named after the Welsh metaphysical poet), we enjoyed a walk between the two hedgerows where along the banks, the first spring plants were appearing including Dog's Mercury, Lesser Celandines and Ramsons (Wild Garlic). More birds were singing their hearts out including Great Tits, Coal Tits, Nuthatches and Blackbirds, and a single Buzzard circled high overhead. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming away ten to the dozen and Blue Tits crossed over ahead of us. A lone Jay flew down across the field and was calling loudly as it passed us.
Soon we joined the Brinore Tramroad which was used to bring down Limestone to the kilns at Tal-y-Bont (this run for 8 miles from Tal-y-Bont on Usk to the quarries at Trefil between 1815 and 1865). Here we listened to bird song and found a group of Birch Polypore fungus. A Mistle Thrush was in full fine song and after a cup of tea under the branches of an old majestic Oak we made our way onto the tarmac road which could take us up to Bwlch-y-Waun. Now in open countryside the bird life changed somewhat, and soon we were watching a male Stonechat and a small group of Linnets. A Raven gave of its 'cronking' call from high overhead, and passing a line of old Alders on both sides of the road, one tree in particular had some Southern polypody ferns growing on it along with a nice clump of Pennywort, and carpeting the tree was a host of mosses and lichens, all vying for the same nutrients from the tree, and included fine specimens of Cladonia Fimbriata, Dicranium Scoparium, Polystrichum Commune and a little Foxglove just peeping out of the base. Moving we there was the overhead song of a Skylark and a Meadow Pipit shot past. Four Dunnocks appeared out of the Birch and Alder copse and were frantically chasing each other around. The prize moment however was as we were at eye level of the Norway Spruce plantation, and after some searching I was able to locate a pair of Common Crossbills (both females) and I was able to get a nice photo as well which was good.
Common CrossbillAt Bwlch-y-Waun, lunch was taken sat on a fallen stump, and with flasks at the ready and the Sun warming up our backs, we settled down for some lunch. Just prior to this, a small pond had been dug out by the farmer which was being fed by natural spring water from close by. The local Frogs had already made their presence known by laying large clumps of Frog spawn - my first of the year. Already some Water Crow Foot had taken hold and insects in the form of Water Boatmen and Whirligig Beetles had also claimed their spot. The nearby stream is always worth investigating, and like the last time, we located some Alder nitrogen fixing nodules. Alder is particularly noted for its important and symbolic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacterium. It is found in root nodules which can be as large as a human fist.
Alder nitrogen fixing nodules.Soon the habitat changed again this time to open farmland, where several Stock Doves were seen and a Goldcrest was heard calling from a Pine copse. Moving onto a country lane for a short while saw masses of Cow Parsley poking through the short grass of the banks, which contained several small Bank Vole holes and a few Rabbit burrows. A Pied Wagtail was on a nearby house roof. Finally it was time to descend down to lower ground and join the canal for the walk back to base. A group of Scarlet Elf Caps showed off their bright reds from amongst the leaf litter, and a distant Cormorant was added to the list. The canal was seeing the first of the Coltsfoot in flower. This species is quite unique in that the plant flowers before the leaves are seen, and one flower in particular had a species of Dung Fly feeding on it from the group 'Scathophaga'. A group of Long Tailed Tits flitted past, and after stopping to take a look at the 'heronry', we counted twelve nests and at least ten Grey herons in the trees. They make some strange almost prehistoric calls, and this ended a great days wildlife watching.
All photos copyright of Neville Davies.
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