Monday 22 June 2020

In the Pink

Saturday saw me take a walk up to Nant Llwynog Parc at Bedllwnog to look for dragonflies. Success was had with 2 newly emerged Golden-ringed Dragonflies plus 3 exuvia. a pair of Broad-bodied Chasers, with the female egg "laying" and an Emperor. Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies also noted. Butterflies was notable by their relative absence, though at least 3 Small Tortoiseshell were seen. It looks, at least locally that these are having a really good second generation this year.

Highlights of the birds were two singing Curlew, unfortunately neither seen. Talking to locals, there are two territories above the park. Along with other birds I've seen and heard elsewhere in the Taf Bargoed valley, there could be 4 pair nesting again this year.

The walk home took me through Parc Taf Baroed, were 11 Bee Orchids were noted - a record count for the park, and, also a record, 65 large gulls, 10 Herring the rest Lessser Black-backed, on the main lake. 

Sunday saw me take the first walk since lockdown started to Nelson and Parc Penallta. In damp conditions - it never really made it to full on rain, but it never really got dry either, I failed to locate any Willow Tit. I really think they have died out here.

A Kingfisher was a pleasant surprise as it flew in and perched about 1m from me along the boardwalk at the big pond at Park Penallta. I think it was even more surprised as it landed, peeped, noticed me and was off, all in about 1 second...

I counted 11 spikes of Broad-leaved Helleborine's, but probably more hidden out of sight. The number does look to be increasing each year here.. A single Bee Orchid was found.

Visiting the site where I found Deptford Pinks last year, a known site, but not one I was aware of, i wasn't expecting to find any out in flower yet. On arrival, the damp, waterlogged ground reinforced the view that none would be on show, but it took all of about 2 minutes to spot the bright, deep, pink, of a couple in full flower.





Finally I ran the trap last night, but the returns this morning was very poor, just 9 individual moths. It did produce 3 garden ticks, one of which was a lifer. Large Yellow Underwing  Noctua pronuba, was an expected addition to the garden list along with Ingrailed Clay, Diarsia mendica. The lifer was a bright Bordered Sallow, Pyrrhia umbra.


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