Biodiversity Blitzes - Elaine Wright (SEWBReC)
Cwm Taf Fechan Bio-Blitz - Karen McCullough
Oligolophus hanseni: a Harvestman new to Glamorgan - Greg Jones (VC41 Recorder - Orthoptera)
SEWBReC's Data Holdings - David Slade (SEWBReC)
Species ID Training Days - Lindsay Bamforth (SEWBReC)
The experiences of Bryophyte Training Day attendee Richard Carpenter - Richard Carpenter (SEWBReC Volunteer)
Recorders' Fora 2010 (Theme: Aquatic Habitats & Species) - Lindsay Bamforth & Rebecca Davies (SEWBReC)
Mike Sayce - Martin Anthoney (Monmouthshire Moth & Butterfly Group)
Wildlife Crime in Wales Review - Sgt Ian Guildford (Wildlife & Environmental Crime Officer (South Wales))
Gwent's Living Churchyards - Rebecca Price (Wildlife Projects Officer, Gwent Wildlife Trust)
A Syrphid Summer - Andrew Lucas
Wildlife Sightings, Parc Taf Bargoed, Trelewis - Craig Leitch (Environmental & Heritage Warden, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council)
Fishes of Gwent - Colin Titcombe
Biodiversity Action Planning (BAP) in Wales - Sean McHugh (WBP Communications Officer)
VC Recorders' Funds - Sean McHugh (WBP Comunications Officer)
Our Biodiversity Blitz Days were a success again this year, helping to increase knowledge of the areas and also give recorders the opportunity to mingle and have fun while sharing their expertise!
The season kicked off on 6th June with a blitz at Nelson Wern, a mixed habitat of wet woodland, meadows, ponds and streams. Run in conjunction with Caerphilly County Borough Council, this event included an evening session of moth trapping. The day resulted in 133 species, with highlights including Pseudotelphusa paripunctella, a species of micromoth not recorded in the county since the 1970s.
The second 2010 BioBlitz took place at Shirenewton Meadows on 10th July. Run with the help of the Shirenewton and Mynyddbach Fields Association (SAMFAL), the day was a great success, with even the sun deciding to make a rare appearance! The group of naturalists who attended the day managed to record 126 species (including marbled white (Melanargia galathea) and hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), 108 of which were new to the SEWBReC database for the area. SAMFAL hope to improve the site for use as a public amenity in a variety of ways, including as an education resource for the local school. This increase in knowledge of the species found at the site will hopefully help greatly with their efforts.
The final BioBlitz took place on a rather damp and gloomy day at Cwm Taf Fechan LNR, near Merthyr Tydfil. A few hardy souls braved the slightly offputting weather, and managed to gather an impressive list of 476 species for the day, 341 of which were new to the site for SEWBReC! Jim Davies of the Botanical Society of the British Iles (BSBI) kindly helped guide the day, ensuring that nobody missed out on the rare plant species found on site, including brittle bladder-fern (Crysopteris fragilis) and broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine). The day was run with the help of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, and a public facing event was run alongside the traditional BioBlitz, to engage people of all levels of expertise and knowledge (see Karen McCullough's article for an attendee's perspective of this event). Species highlights for the day included silver washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia), and Oligolophus hanseni, a harvestman previously unrecorded in Glamorgan (see Greg Jones' article for more information on this species).
Elaine Wright (SEWBReC)
My seven year old son Craig and I decided we'd go along to the Beginners Event after having had such a fantastic day out at Atlantic College last year. The weather forecast was a little iffy, but we have the gear, so we agreed to go whatever the day turned out like.
Despite my somewhat suspect navigational abilities, the Cefn Coed Community Centre was very easy to find. We got there spot on time. Once a few more of us gathered we were lead off by Dr Lizzie Wilberforce and Mr Robert Parry from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. We hadn't met either of them before, but they soon had us relaxed and looking forward to our day of species recording. The meadow we were taken to was stunning. I drive past this site regularly and never knew this little gem was hiding in the valley. This pretty little meadow one side and then some large cliffs on the other.
Within minutes of arriving one of the experts had found an otter spraint. Now I've found loads of these, but never managed to persuade Craig to take a sniff, but this time he overcame his disgust and actually got close and personal with it. He didn't actually pass comment, but neither did he pull away horrified. Lucky it wasn't mink scat. I've made that mistake early on in my spraint hunting days. Once smelt, never forgotten!
We dumped the ridiculously huge and heavy rucksack I had packed for the day and I skipped off to look for whatever species would reveal themselves to me. In the meantime Craig explored the bridge and the river. We had a dull start, but the sun broke through and gave us perfect butterfly conditions. Using my greatly improved field skills I headed for the verge of the meadow and was rewarded with numerous common blue butterflies, hoverflies, bees, wasps and countless other invertebrates. I got some lovely photos. There was an abundance of devil's-bit-scabious, common knapweed and various umbellifers (I don't know where to start with these).
As I was prowling with my shiny new compact camera taking lots of photos for later identifications, a large orange coloured butterfly fluttered over my head and settled on the knapweed ahead of me. I knew that this was a new one to me. It looked to be too large for a comma and I got quite excited. What could it be? I used my old camera to get the distant shots which I've learnt is a good method. I've missed so many identifications by trying to get the close up first. Long shots and then a gradual creeping up seems to be the most expedient method with butterflies.
I checked that I had a clear shot and virtually ran back to pick up my butterfly guide. You have to understand that I don't care if it's rare or not, I just get ridiculously excited by finding anything I've never seen before. To my delight it looked like it was a silver-washed fritillary. Rob had noticed my dash for the field guide and came over to investigate what I thought I'd found. I was thrilled when he confirmed it was indeed a silver washed fritillary. It was also quite a good shot, as apparently they don't sit still for long. I think I was lucky as the sun hadn't been out for long and it was probably still a bit sluggish. Beginners luck too.
We spent the whole morning wandering around the meadow and had our lunch down there. Craig and I had the company of Lizzie and Rob and we both learnt lots more about the grasses, plants and insects in the meadow. It always amazes me how helpful naturalists are, and how willing they are to share their hard earned knowledge. I can be a bit like an over-enthusiastic puppy, but it didn't seem to bother them.
After lunch Craig and I decided to complete the circular walk back around to the Community Centre. Luckily for Craig it was pretty dark under the canopy, so I didn't stop for that many photo opportunities. He loves river valley walks as there's always the prospect of a waterfall. He's easily pleased thankfully, as a 2 inch drop constitutes a waterfall for him. I spotted some birds flittering about down by the water but couldn't really make out what they were. I could exclude dippers, but that was about it. When we later caught up with the expert group they confirmed that they were grey wagtails. I got a couple of distant shots and I'm happy that they were my first grey wagtails.
Our luck with the weather held out for most of the day. We got caught in a few heavy downpours but there were enough sunny spells for us to spot silver washed fritillaries twice more (could have been the same one of course). We also caught up with a group of expert naturalists and we found all sorts of fungi. I'm a complete dunce at identifying them but it seems I've got an eye for spotting them. None of us were fungi experts, but one of the gentlemen out with us knows a man who is, so he gathered photos and specimens and we left identification with him.
My final first of the day was a broad-leaved helleborine, although I didn't spot it myself. I got a pretty poor photo of it as the light conditions were dreadful, but clear enough for me to recognise it if I came across it again. Craig had a thoroughly enjoyable time too finding bugs and fungi and asking the experts.
Once again we had an incredibly informative, fascinating and fun day out. Many thanks in particular to Lizzie, Robert and SEWBReC. Craig and I spend a lot of time out on our own exploring and learning, but it's a delight to meet up with like-minded people and share the experience.
Karen McCullough
It will soon be time to start organising the 2011 BioBlitzes - any suggestions for suitable sites are gratefully received! Please contact SEWBReC with any ideas.
Harvestmen are members of the Class: Arachnida, Order: Opiliones and despite their resemblance to spiders are only distantly related, being closer to the scorpions. It is a relatively small order with only about 5,000 known species worldwide, of which 27 have been recorded from the British Isles.
Until the SEWBReC Bioblitz at Cwm Taf Fechan on 14th August 2010, Oligolophus hanseni (Kraeplin, 1896) had never been recorded from Glamorgan, nor indeed from south-east Wales. Hillyard (2005) says that "this species has something of a northerly distribution ... its preference is for Scots pine ... it is nowhere abundant". The distribution map shows that the bulk of the records are from the Caledonian pine forests of north-east Scotland, with a scattering of records from elsewhere.
I collected two specimens at Cwm Taf Fechan on 14th August 2010, beaten from hawthorn bushes bordering the "lower meadow" at SO042095, they were preserved in ethanol 70% and determined following microscopic examination the following day. As it was a species that I had not previously encountered, and was collected from a tree or shrub not mentioned in the literature and located well outside its known range, I forwarded the specimens to Simon Warmingham for a second opinion who agreed with my determination.
I re-visited the site on 18th September 2010 and targeted this species, again beating deciduous shrubs and trees. I collected 7 specimens from hawthorn bushes and also from ash trees bordering both the "lower meadow" and the "upper meadow" at SO043096. I took these specimens home alive to photograph using a studio set-up (see photo).
The site is a good one for Opiliones as a total of 7 species were recorded on the day of the SEWBReC Bioblitz; I beat 5 arboreal species - Oligolophus hanseni, Paroligolophus agrestis, Dicranopalpus ramosus, Leiobunum rotundum and Leiobunum blackwalli. Steve Bolchover added 2 terrestrial species - Nemastoma bimaculatum and Oligolophus tridens by searching the ground layer and turning rocks and logs. Further searches may well reveal even more species as the Glamorgan list currently stands at 22.
Reference: Hillyard P D (2005), Harvestmen Synopsis of the British Fauna No. 4 (Linnean Society, London).
Greg Jones (VC 41 Recorder Orthoptera)
The SEWBReC main database now contains over 1.6 million records, of which nearly 750,000 come from the MapMate recording community. Bird data continues to dominate our volunteer time, and looks likely to do so for some time yet. Other major contributors of data in the past twelve months have been the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, Caerphilly County Borough Council (SINC & Road Verge Surveys), Peter Sturgess Ecology, Steve Williams (personal notebooks), and of course Countryside Council for Wales. Thank you to everyone that has submitted a record over the past year.
We have records for over 17,500 different 'Taxa' - and here I use the term in the loosest sense, as this includes records where only the family was given, or worse. Four species have been recorded from all 61 of the 10km squares in our area: red fescue (Festuca rubra), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), and cat's ear (Hypochaeris radicata). A further 21 have been recorded from 60 10km squares, including a few birds.
The 'most diverse' squares (as you might expect), are on Gower and around Cardiff (see table 1 below):
And equally unsurprising, the least 'diverse' squares are those that have very little land (i.e. they are located on the coast or on the SEWBReC border), see table 2.
It is also interesting to note that most of the squares at either end of the scale are in VC41 - presumably showing that there is a more uniform level of recording across VC35! The top ten most recorded species are largely unchanged from last year:
And the top species recorded from the most distinct grid references is also remarkably similar to last year:
David Slade (SEWBReC)
Both this year and last, SEWBReC have been fortunate to receive funding towards species identification training workshops from Wales Biodiversity Partnership (www.biodiversitywales.org.uk), with the aim of stimulating recording interest and generating biological records.
The topics chosen this year were: Coleoptera (beetles) - Trainers: Brian Levey & Steve Bolchover (event held in association with Department of Biodiversity: Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/biosyb/); Bryophytes (lower plants, mosses) - Trainer: Nick Hudson; Freshwater pond species - Trainer: Dr Dan Forman; and Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, etc.) - Trainer: Greg Jones.
Following informative talks and discussion, beetle identification training day attendees were able to take advantage of the museum's extensive collections, and used microscopes and fully illustrated keys to identify (to species) specimens from the family Carabidae. The remainder of the training days were held at sites rich in their subject matter, enabling a field element to be included in the training. Those on the bryophyte course were given the opportunity to attempt the identification of specimens both in the lab and in situ around Forest Farm, Cardiff, using a combination of microscopes and hand lenses. The freshwater day attendees took part in a practical wetland sampling session at Margam Country Park, using keys to identify specimens to family, as well as being treated to a lecture on wetland ecology. Orthoptera training day participants practiced their capture and identification skills around Kenfig National Nature Reserve, and each received a CD of grasshopper and cricket sound!
All of the identification days proved popular, with excellent feedback being received from each. We hope that all those who were able to attend were inspired by their experience; we are pleased to report we have already begun to receive records from attendees using the knowledge they gained on the day!
Lindsay Bamforth (SEWBReC)
After a brief introduction on the life cycle of bryophytes, Nick took us through the main differences between mosses and liverworts, and between the major types of mosses. Then we got down to work with hand lenses, field guides and spray bottles on a tray of specimens which Nick had collected that morning. What had seemed relatively simple in theory proved to be more difficult in practice, but with patience and Nick to guide us, we began to make progress in spotting the salient features, such as ranking of the leaves and the presence or otherwise of nerves, so that by the end of the morning we had taken half a dozen or so specimens down to species level. After lunch we took what we had learned into the field in the immediate vicinity of the Centre, finding plenty to examine on walls and trees, in a meadow, and on the surface of a parking area. By the end of the afternoon the subject seemed less daunting than previously, and we had acquired some basic skills on which we could build. Altogether an informative and enjoyable day.
Richard Carpenter (SEWBReC Volunteer)
The Glamorgan Recorders' Forum was held at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, where we welcomed a new Chair for the event, Rob Parry (Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales). Kicking off proceedings was Dr John Taylor (Environment Agency Wales), with a talk on the captive breeding and juvenile culture of the freshwater pearl mussel taking place. This species is at risk of extinction in Wales, with factors leading to past decline including poor water quality, silt build up, habitat loss and pearl fishing. It is hoped that the breeding program, in conjunction with habitat improvement work, will secure the future of the species.
Next up was Judith Oakley (Marine Biologist), speaking on marine non-native species. The talk included details of the project 'Marine Aliens II: Controlling Marine Invasive Species by Targeting Vectors of Dispersal', as well as her input to the Wales Biodiversity Partnership Invasive Non-Native Species subgroup. We were also treated to some stunning photography, which accompanied information on the species themselves. Dai Roberts (The Riverfly Partnership) then brought us up to date on the work of the Partnership, including their training workshops and river monitoring program, and the importance of riverflies to aquatic conservation and function. The series of themed talks was concluded by Rob Parry himself, with a presentation on 'Re-introducing Beavers to Wales'. This began with fascinating details of beaver anatomy, ecology and life history, and the reasons why a feasibility study into their re-introduction is being undertaken. The talk also included tales from Wildlife Trust Wales' 2008 trip to Norway, where Rob had the opportunity to observe beavers, their habitats and interaction with the community.
Outside the central theme, Dr Rob Davies (IT/GIS consultant) gave us the latest information on mobile recording technology, including the pros and cons of different software and a comparison of different gadgets. He also recounted his experiences using such technologies to map rocky outcrops and black eagle in Africa. The day was rounded up by Dr Mike Wilson (National Museum Wales), with a talk entitled "Industrial melanism in the meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius): a 25 year perspective". A survey of this species (which has both typical and melanic morphs) was undertaken between 1973 and 1987 around the Phurnacite Plant, Abercwmboi, revealing that the population in the area was predominantly black. Alongside a Nuffield funded bursary student, Mike revisited these survey sites in 2009, with the aim of discovering whether any changes in population composition had occurred since the plant closed. Preliminary findings showed a large decrease in the number of melanic morphs adjacent to the plant.
A SEWBReC update, including details on becoming a member of the company, was provided by Adam Rowe (SEWBReC). The event also featured a walk around the site at the end of the day. Attendees were lucky enough to spot a bittern at Kenfig Pool.
The Gwent Recorders' Forum was held at the RSPB Centre, Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve. Starting us off was Dr Elizabeth Chadwick (Cardifff University) who gave us a fascinating talk about her research into otter carcases. Elizabeth pointed out that the post-mortem is much more than just looking into the cause of death. It can generate useful biological information that can guide conservation and be used as an index of condition of ecosystems.
Dai Roberts (Riverfly Partnership) outlined the work of the partnership and the importance of monitoring the riverfly population as they are essential indicators of the health of aquatic systems. Dr Ingrid Juettner (National Museum of Wales) provided a unique insight into diatoms-a group that most attendees knew very little about. Diatoms are very much under-recorded and their taxonomy needs considerable more work as many species have not yet been described, or have been grouped with others. The work of the Environment Agency (EA) with the reintroduction of water voles at Llangorse Lake was presented by Selwyn Eagle (EA). The reintroduction programme is going well despite the pressure of leisure activities around the lake and numerous predators, in particular, mink.
Outside the central theme, Adam Rowe (SEWBReC) gave an update on SEWBReC, and how to become a member of the company. Jerry Lewis (Gwent Ornithological Society) gave a talk on hawfinches. Jerry has developed a more successful methodology for ringing hawfinches. His studies have shown that it is probable that by using traditional bird ringing techniques we have been underestimating hawfinch population numbers. Jerry illustrated the talk with some amazing photos of these colourful birds.
In the afternoon and in the last hour of the glorious winter sunshine, a few attendees took a walk around the reserve.
A big thank you to all the speakers at the fora. They made both days highly informative and very enjoyable.
Lindsay Bamforth & Rebecca Davies (SEWBReC)
Keep an eye out for dates of the 2011 Recorders' Meetings, they will be announced very soon.
Article taken from the Monmouthshire Moth & Butterfly Group Newsletter, No. 71, September 2010.
We were sorry to hear in September of the death, aged 63, of one of our members, Mike Sayce. I first got to know Mike in 1985-1990 when he was a trustee, and latterly Vice-Chairman, of the Gwent Wildlife Trust. After a short break, Mike resumed on GWT Council and was Chairman of the Conservation Committee for six years to 1998.
Having done a degree at Hatfield Polytechnic, Mike worked for many years with the Home Office Forensic Science Service, rising to senior posts at the Chepstow laboratories and subsequently on a UK-wide basis. After taking early retirement Mike became a magistrate but devoted much of his time to his beloved Shirenewton meadows. He was instrumental in forming the Shirenewton & Mynyddbach Fields Association Limited in 2006 which raised money to purchase (2009) and manage the meadows near to his home. Only a month before his death he accompanied Roger James and me on an evening's moth trapping to add to the list of fauna for the site, and on 10th July SEWBReC had held a biodiversity blitz day at the site.
Mike had a very dry, self-depreciating sense of humour. He claimed to have the largest moth trap in the country, though it was actually his local pub the Tredegar Arms, where he had carefully trained the staff to catch and retain any moths which flew into the pub in the evenings so that he could get them identified!
Our condolences go to Mike's family and friends.
Martin Anthoney, Monmouthshire Moth & Butterfly Group
The Welsh Assembly Government recently requested a review into the prevention and investigation of Wildlife Crime in Wales. This was carried out on behalf of Ian Arundale, the Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, who has responsibility for combating Wildlife Crime within Wales. On the 1st September 2010 the final report was presented to Environment Minister Jane Davidson at the Senedd by Superintendent Tony Mathias on behalf of Ian Arundale.
The full report can be found at the following link: http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/content/uploads/documents/SG%20Meetings/SG11/wildlife%20crime%20review%20for%20paper%205.pdf
Sgt Ian Guildford, Wildlife & Environmental Crime Officer (South Wales)
The churchyard - 'God's Acre' - is one of the most enduring features of our landscape. Over the centuries, many churchyards have become sanctuaries for the living as well as the dead, where an abundance and diversity of indigenous and naturalised wildlife can flourish. Taken together, Gwent's churchyards make a significant area of land that has survived untouched by wider agricultural changes and development pressures.
Over the past 3 years Gwent's Living Churchyards project has worked with individuals, groups and Local Authorities to inspire and educate about our rich churchyard heritage. The project has been a fantastic way of engaging local people with local wildlife in both urban and rural situations. Balancing the needs and expectations of visitors with the needs of wildlife can sometimes be a challenge, but when achieved can have immense rewards for both.
The project has attracted interest from over 75 churchyards and cemeteries and has worked most closely with its target of 25 sites. New data on the species and habitats of these churchyards has been collected and wildlife friendly care plans developed. In some churchyards this has meant identifying appropriate areas for trial wildflower meadow areas or leaving uncut margins, whilst in others creating reptile refuges, rebuilding stone walls or in one case building a new compost bin, to replace an old pile located beneath a fantastic veteran yew tree.
A diverse series of talks and training sessions have been delivered, attended by over 600 people. Highlights have included Fred Hageneder's talk on ancient yews at Bettws Newydd, hedgerow planting at St Peter's, Pantside and the charismatic Ivan Pedley (British Lichen Society) inspiring the people of St Teilo's, Llantilio Pertholey about churchyard lichens. In addition local groups have organised local churchyard open days and events such as community 'rake and bakes', bug hunts and native bulb planting with school groups. Such events provide the opportunity for local people to learn more about the wildlife and history to which their churchyard is home and join in helping record it, care for it and enjoy it!
Support has also been provided for small grant applications by churchyard groups, to a variety of funding bodies. Over 10 successful grant applications have been made including an artistic interpretation board to celebrate Bettws Newydd's famous yew trees, and strimmers and native spring bulbs at St Michael's, Tintern.
The Gwent Living Churchyards project has attracted interest and support from churchyards across Gwent - there is certainly a demand for advice on 'wildlife friendly' churchyard management and as the project approaches its end (this December) it continues to attract new interest. It's hoped the 25 key churchyards/cemeteries we've worked with will act as models of good practice, for those wanting to know more about the concept of Living Churchyards. One churchyard group already has a PowerPoint presentation on their churchyard project which they've been giving to other churchyards locally.
The project has been possible thanks to the support of a variety of partners. Thanks are made to all our funders and those who've delivered training and talks, undertaken specialist surveys and supported groups with grant awards. The biggest thanks go to those enthusiastic, active individuals and groups associated with Gwent's churchyards, which have embraced 'Living Churchyards' and encouraged others to join them.
See www.gwentwildlife.org/livingchurchyards for more information or to download the latest edition of the Living Churchyards newsletter.
Rebecca Price (Wildlife Projects Officer, Gwent Wildlife Trust)
A copy of Alan Stubbs' 'British Hoverflies' had been on my bookshelf for nearly ten years, defying me to try to get into these attractive insects. But, despite my best intentions, it remained unopened until 2010.
So when I got the opportunity of a training course at the National Museum in Cardiff, it was hard to resist. There is no better way to learn a new taxon than under the patient guidance of real experts. In Roger Morris, Stuart Ball and Mark Pavett, who ran the course, I had that in abundance. After two days of keying out specimen after specimen under their expert eye, I felt I was ready to fly solo.
Hoverflies offer the perfect balance between accessibility and challenge. With about 270 species in Britain, the group is not too overwhelming, and the more common ones can readily be identified without optics of any kind. But there are still an alarming number of little black jobs, for which a binocular microscope is essential.
It's also possible to break new ground. A glance at the distribution of records on the hoverfly recording scheme web site (www.hoverfly.org.uk) is really just a map of the most active invertebrate recorders in Wales. There are lots of records from Ceredigion up to Anglesey, Gower, Llanelli, the Tywi Valley, and Gwent. But large parts of the country are marked the hoverfly equivalent of " 'Ere be dragons". My home square, SN60, had been barely touched. Next door in SN70, there wasn't even a record of the marmalade fly Episyrhus balteatus!
Roger reckoned it should be possible to record about 80 species in a year. I'm well short of that at about 150 records of 40 species or so. My prize find of the summer was a specimen of the marshy grassland specialist Microdon mutabilis, only the third or fourth record for East Glamorgan and, of course, new to that 10km square. But I've still only scratched the surface of this fascinating group. I've had my share of mistakes, carefully keying out a species, only to discover that I'd supposedly found a hoverfly in my back garden usually confined to the Caledonian pine forests. But by and large it's gone well, and the knowledge that almost anything I find will be 'new' has kept my enthusiasm going.
I still have a tray of specimens awaiting identification, to keep me going through the winter. It's only October, but already I'm looking forward to spring, and the chance to get out, net in hand, once again!
Andrew Lucas
My spring highlight at Parc Taf Bargoed was a pair of sand martins who attempted to breed in a drainage pipe on the man-made island on the lakes. I am unsure whether they were successful, but we will be keeping a close eye on them next year. Definitely successful in their breeding attempts were our two pairs of dippers, who can still be seen regularly on the river.
Over the summer months, we saw young goldfinch, sand martin, green woodpecker, grey wagtail and cormorant around the park. Other sightings included common sandpiper, reed warbler, kingfisher and a number of butterfly species, such as red admiral and common blue.
Without doubt, the best record of the year so far was made in May by volunteer bird surveyor, John Harley, who reported spotting a hobby over the park on two separate occasions. Another interesting sighting was a grey wagtail, with a difference! This individual, seen regularly in July and August, had the usual yellow belly, but its upper, rather than the normal grey, was pure white. This phenomenon is known as leucism and can occur for genetic reasons or due to a mineral deficiency in the diet.
More recently, a pair of red kites have been seen circling over the park, followed closely by a watchful buzzard. There have also been a number of reports of otter, adding to some received earlier in the year, and spraint have been found on the park.
Craig Leitch (Environmental and Heritage Warden, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council)
One of the richest streams in southern Gwent, as far as its piscifauna is concerned, is the Llanmartin Brook. It rises at two points on the south-facing slope of the Wentwood ridge from where it passes down on a parallel course with Henrhiw Lane, below the A48 at Llandevaud, through Llanbedr and Llanmartin to run along the north-westerly edge of the Underwood Estate before turning south to pass through Llanwern and under the Llanwern Steelworks. It then merges with, and becomes a part of, the Caldicot Level drainage system (Monks Ditch) and enters the Severn Estuary at Goldcliff Pill.
Fish species noted in the Underwood section of this stream during the summer of 1986 were minnow, stone loach, eel, bullhead, brown trout and three-spined stickleback. In May of 2006 I also noted the spawning of Brook Lampreys in this stream, just below the bridge which leads to the Underwood Leisure Centre, while the Monks Ditch sections also hold both nine-spined sticklebacks and roach.
Thorn-back Ray (Raja clavata) - egg-cases once found frequently along the Severn Estuary strandline during the 1970s, and on one occasion, the tail of a dead thorn-back.
Conger Eel (Conger conger) - this marine species was frequently to be found below boulders on the intertidal flats of the Severn Estuary. Records include - 3 found under rocks on the Severn intertidal flats off Caldicot on 17.6.64; 1 individual of c.16lbs weight found on the Severn intertidal flats off Nash in September 1980.
Greater Pipefish (Sygnathus acus) - one of this species was found dead in the River Wye at Chepstow in the spring of 1981.
Cod (Gadus morrhua) - commonly taken from the Severn Estuary by anglers (and at one time netsmen too) during the 'winter' months. Records include a specimen of c.10lbs caught on rod and line at Magor Pill on the 29.11.81.
Bib (Trisopterus luscus) - a frequent 'winter' visitor to the Severn Estuary and commonly caught by anglers -1 caught at Magor Pill on the 21.11.82.
Whiting (Merlangus merlangus) - another species caught by anglers and netsmen in the Severn Estuary.
Hake (Merluccius merluccius) - 1 small specimen washed up dead on the Severn Estuary foreshore near Goldcliff Pill on the 1.6.80.
Three-bearded Rockling (Gaidropsarus vulgaris) - 1 found dead on the Severn Estuary foreshore near Collister Pill, Undy on 24.3.73.
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) -a 'summer' fish in the Severn Estuary. Records include 1 caught in a Lave-net in 'The Lake', an intertidal pool in the Severn Estuary off Caldicot on the 18.4.65; 1 taken by an angler at Magor Pill on 18.4.74.
Thin-lipped Mullet (Liza ramada) - a 'summer' visitor into the Severn Estuary in small shoals and a species noted for considerable vitality. Its feeding behaviour means that it is rarely taken on rod and line, and it can be difficult to net. Records include - 'grey mullet' (apparently of this species) jumping in 'The Lake', a tidal pool in the bed of the Severn Estuary off Caldicot on the 1.8.64.
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)- not a frequent fish in the Severn Estuary to my knowledge but during the late spring of 1997 a large number found their way well up the Estuary beyond Gwent.
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)- remains (torso) of a swordfish was washed up on the Severn Estuary foreshore near Collister Pill, Undy on 1.8.71.
Photo: Bones taken from the corpse of the Collister Pill Swordfish
© Colin Titcombe
Common Goby (Gobius minutus) - a small species and common in the Severn, e.g.- 1 at Black Rock on the 1.10.01.
Red Gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus) - specimen washed up dead along the Severn Estuary strandline below Undy on the 20.11.65.
Sole (Solea solea) - next to the flounder, this is the commonest flat-fish in the Severn Estuary off Gwent. Records include - 4 sole (along with 3 grey mullet, 1 flounder and 2 whiting) taken in a 'long-net' off Farmfield Lane, Nash near Uskmouth on the 18.9.66; reported as 'particularly abundant' in the Severn Estuary during the summer of 2001.
Sunfish (Mola mola) - a specimen was taken in the 'Putcher Rank' at Sedbury (just east of the mouth of the Wye in Gloucestershire) during July 1995.
Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) - frequent in the Severn Estuary with specimens taken by the Chepstow 'Stop-boats' and the Goldcliff 'Putcher Ranks'. Records include a specimen c.3 feet in length washed up dead on the foreshore near Collister Pill, Undy on the 31.5.74; distinctive L-shaped bones of this species often found along the Severn Estuary strandline in Gwent.
Brook Lamprey (Lampetra planeri) - At one time a common species in Gwent but now becoming increasingly scarce. Records include - 2 in the Cas-troggy Brook between Lower Cwm Mill and Great Llanmelin Farm when the brook was partially dry leaving the fish stranded in pools - 15.2.59; 6 brook lampreys noted spawning in the Llanmartin Brook at Underwood on the 11.5.06.
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) - a common and wellknown fish of clean freshwater habitats. Records include - 1 brown trout (along with several roach and dace) taken in a 'cleach-net' in the River Wye at Monmouth on the 2.3.67. This type of fishing can only be carried out when the river is 'high' (in flood); 2 small brown trout in the Afon Cibi (Park area above Abergavenny) on the 26.8.02, 1 of at least 1lb in weight in the River Usk at Llanwenarth; 'several' noted in the River Usk at Llangattock-nigh-Usk on the 5.9.04; 4 in the Afon Lwyd at Pontypool Park on the 28.7.06.
Pike (Esox lucius) - this large predatory species has been widely introduced into various freshwater habitats in Gwent - Llandegvedd Reservoir, the canal system at Newport, St. Pierre Lake near Chepstow, etc. Records include - St. Pierre Lake, Chepstow on the 23.7.67; 'In the shallows (of St. Pierre Lake) we noticed several pike swirling slowly near the surface. After checking the text-book we found it highly likely that these fish were spawning' - 18.3.74.
Roach (Rutilus rutilus) - noted in Monk's Ditch at Whitson on the 10.8.64; noted in St. Pierre Lake, Chepstow on the 23.7.67; one found dead at the side of the River Wye at Dixton, Monmouth on the 7.2.82; 'shoals' in the canal at Mamhilad on the 14.8.00.
Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) - a widespread species in Gwent's major rivers (Wye, Usk and Monnow, etc.) but also introduced into other freshwater habitats. Records include - specimens taken from the River Wye at Tintern on 15.7.64, specimens taken from the River Monnow at Monmouth on the 7.2.82; 'several' noted in the River Usk at Llangattock-nigh-Usk on the 5.9.04.
Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) - common in the Rivers Wye, Usk and Monnow but also introduced into other freshwater habitats such as Llandegvedd Reservoir (Chris Hatch). Records include - 1 taken from the River Wye at Tintern on the 15.7.64; 2 in the River Wye near Hadnock Quarry on 1.8.00: 2 of 'moderate size' in the River Monnow at Mill Farm, Grosmont on the 22.7.02.
Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) - a common but somewhat localized species in Gwent, noted recently from the Nant Trefil above Trefil Village on the 29.3.02.
Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) - reportedly introduced into the pool at Clytha Park, and also Llandegvedd Reservoir (Chris Hatch).
Tench (Tinca tinca) - noted in St. Pierre Lake, Chepstow on the 23.7.67, and more recently in Llandegvedd Reservoir (Chris Hatch).
Gudgeon (Gobio gobio) - noted in the River Monnow at Skenfrith on the 10.9.67: specimens taken from the Monnow at Monmouth on the 7.2.82; 'numbers' noted in the 'middle pond', Waun-y-pound between Ebbw Vale and Tredegar - on the 21.7.02.
Barbel (Barbus barbus) - reportedly in the River Wye.
Common Bream (Abramis brama) - introduced for coarse-fishing purposes into a number of pools in Gwent.
Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius) - introduced into a number of pools in Gwent, e.g. Llandegvedd Reservoir and the Nant-y-Mailor Reservoir (Chris Hatch).
Carp (Cyprinus carpio) - a large fish of Asian origin, widely introduced - e.g. 'large carp' in the moat at Hen Cwrt, Llantilio Crossenny on the 15.8.02; 1 with 'spawning tubercles' in the 'Green Pool' of Llandegvedd Reservoir on the 4.6.04.
Stone Loach (Noemacheilus harbatulus) - noted in the Nant Trefil above Trefil Village on the 12.6.82 and 29.3.02: found under stones in the River Monnow at Tregate on the 21.7.86; found in the Bettws Brook, Newport during August 1986; 'good quantities' in the River Monnow at Tregate on the 21.9.03.
Perch (Perca fluviatilis) - introduced into many waters in Gwent including Llandegvedd Reservoir. Records include 'shoals of small-medium sized perch' in the Canal at Mamhilad on the 14.8.00; 'shoals of small Perch' in Nant-y-Mailor Reservoir, Abersychan (one of a number of 'exotic' species that have been illegally introduced into this water) - 21.6.03.
Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) - now present in Llandegvedd Reservoir (Chris Hatch).
Bullhead (Cotus gobio) - one of the most widespread and abundant fish in Gwent. Records include - 'c. 40 - 50 bullheads found dead in the Cas-troggy Brook in the Cwm near Maesgwenith after electric-shock techniques had been used by the land-owner to take brown trout (Salmo trutta) on the 27.7.64; noted in the Nant Trefil above Trefil Village on the 12.6.82; found below stones in the River Monnow at Tregate on the 21.7.86; 1 found under stones in the Pant-yr-eos Brook above Bettws, Newport on the 26.3.02; noted in the Gwyddon Brook, Abercarn on the 16.5.02; 1 found under a stone at the head of the Nant-y-Mailor Reservoir, Abersychan on the 21.6.03; 2 found in the Afon Lwyd at Pontypool Park on the 18.7.06; found in the Afon Lwyd and its small tributary in Pontypool Park on the 10.8.06.
Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - once abundant in the Cas-troggy/Neddern Brook below Caerwent, Recent records include - 'specimens noted in the back-ditch' at Temperance Hotel, Goldcliff on the 14.9.91; noted in the Bettws Brook, Newport during August 1986; 'several' in water-tank 'reservoirs' in M.O.D Caerwent (close to building 337) on the 13.5.03; noted in the pond at Grove Farm, Llanfoist on 31.3.03; noted in breeding colours in the Canal near Bettws, Newport on the 22.4.03; 'good numbers' in pools on Castle Meadows, Abergavenny on the 29.3.04; 'small numbers' of this species in ponds at Pontypool Park, Pontypool on the 4.5.06.
Nine-spined Stickleback (Pungiti pungitius) - once present in the Neddern Brook below Caerwent. Recent records include specimens noted in the 'back-ditch' at Temperance Hotel, Goldcliff on the 14.9.91; noted in the Duffryn Pond (near the Duffryn Estate and Tredegar Park, Newport) on the 24.3.02.
River Lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) - 6 or 7 river lampreys found parasitizing trout in Llandegvedd Reservoir on the 25.6.99; and during the spring of 2009 river lampreys were removed from 10 trout, also in Llandegvedd Reservoir (Chris Hatch).
Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) - 1 found in the River Wye above Tintern in a spent condition on the 23.6.63; 1 specimen found dead at the side of the River Usk near Llanwenarth on the 11.7.00; a large sea lamprey found dead in the River Wye on the Bigsweir Islands in the River Wye around the middle of June in 2007.
Twaite Shad (Alosa fallax) - once caught in considerable numbers on the River Wye at Symonds Yat (just inside Herefordshire) using 'Cleach-nets' during the month of May (hence the local name of 'May-fish'). This statement holds true at least as recently as the 1970s. My main informant was Mr. Edward Gardiner of Monmouth who was a Cleach-net licence holder. On the 27th May 1970 Ted phoned me in order to report the following (see table).
In addition to this - 1 found dead at the side of the River Usk below Llangibby on the 14.6.91, having been killed by a predator, believed to be an otter (see photograph).
Photo:The twaite shad is the more common of the two migratory shads. © Colin Titcombe
Salmon (Samo salar) - a declining species of recent times but, during the early years of the 21st century, making something of a comeback, given a range of conservation aids. Records include - 4 dead salmon (spent fish) on the bank of the River Usk opposite Llanbadoc Church, Usk on the 16.2.97; Salmon jumping at Osbaston Weir on the River Monnow during November 1997.
Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - this is the migratory form of the brown trout and one of which I have little experience.
Eel (Anguilla anguilla) - during the 1950s and 1960s the eel was regularly found in the deeper pools of the Cas-troggy/Neddern Brook below Caerwent. In the Wye Valley the tradition of 'elvering' is age-old and I was first introduced to this activity during the 1960s when I accompanied local fishermen in their pursuit of the elvers between Tintern and Llandogo on the River Wye. Records for this species are as follows - 'large numbers' of elvers swimming up the Neddern Brook on the 26.5.59 and 16.4.61; 'hundreds' of dead eels on dried up bed of the 'First Pool' of the Neddern on the 4.7.59; 'small specimens' found below stones in the River Monnow at Tregate on the 21.7.86; found in Bettws Brook, Newport during August 1986 1 noted in the 'back-ditch' near the mouth of the River Rhymney on 8.9.01.
Flounder (Platychthys flesus) - this is the 'flatfish' which frequently moves far up into freshwater from the sea via the brackish estuaries. Over the years I have noted this species in the River Wye, River Usk and in the Olway Brook beyond Llanllowell. Other records are as follows-5 caught in Lave-nets off Caldicot on the 15.3.64; 11 'sizeable' flounders caught by two Lave-netters on the Severn Estuary off Caldicot on the 17.5.64; described as 'common' in tidal channels on the Severn Estuary flats off Caldicot in June, 1964; 3 'small' flounders noted in the Magor Pill Reen on the 8.4.71; reported from the Mally Brook in the Buckholt Valley on the 28.3.85; 1 found in the Bettws Brook, Newport during August 1986; a male goosander having some difficulty in swallowing a flounder in the River Wye just below Redbrook on the 16.12.98. It was eventually successful!
Colin Titcombe
The BAP process is now devolved from the UK level to the country nations with the UK fulfilling a communications and research role. Building on the success of the existing structure in Wales, the approach to BAP delivery introduces a new layer of Welsh groups that will pool expertise and close the gap between those who deliver action in Wales and those who are able to provide strategic advice, guidance and support. The new groups are nine Ecosystem Groups (Woodland; Lowland Grassland and Heathland; Wetland; Urban and Brownfield; Freshwater; Upland; Coastal; Enclosed Farmland; and Marine), a Species Expert Group and a Wales Biodiversity Policy Group.
The Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP) are leading on the BAP approach supported by many other organisations including the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Partnerships, Local Record Centres (LRCs) & recorder networks. The Wales approach encompasses the needs of all species and habitats listed for Section 42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006, of which there are 545 priority species and 55 priority habitats in Wales, addressing their conservation through ecosystem approach principles. The broad idea is that maintaining and improving habitats encompassing the nine ecosystem groups will enable species to recover although some species will require individual action plans for their conservation. For more details, please visit www.biodiversitywales.org.uk and click on the 'BAP in Wales' link.
Sean McHugh , WBP Communications Officer
The Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP) is keen to support Vice County recorders who carry out a vital role in recording our native and non-native species to build an invaluable temporal record of biodiversity for all the respective counties. VC recorders can claim in any one calendar year up to £25 towards books, identification guides and keys to support their recording effort. Please contact Sean McHugh (s.mchugh@welshwildlife.org) if you are interested in making a claim.
WBP provide funding for Wildlife Training days organised by LRCs in Wales and have also supported funding of bee habitat creation; meadow creation; marine recording; conservation management leaflets for lichens and lepidoptera; and a fungi project (details to be confirmed). In addition, WBP have provided funds to LRCs to support data transfer from archive records to the active database, mobilising many thousands of species records. Please contact Sean McHugh (s.mchugh@welshwildlife.org) for further information.
Click to go to Part 2 of the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders' Newsletter, Issue 3 (Oct 2010), or follow the link to view other issues of the newsletter.