Nice pile of rocks.

 One of the seven wonders of the cynon valley. Or UFO landing site.

Brecon Mountain Centre

A couple of shots from this afternoon.

Broad leaved helleborine

I found 12 up on Abernants Parish Road this morning in four different sites. Mark said they were in Abernant but I do not know if this is new site or mark knew about them. They are a lot easier to see with seed bods than flowers. There was also Canadian Fleabane and a lot of Ploughman's Spikenard.

 Fly Agaric Aberdare Park

Found this in Robertstown any ideas.

Rhaslas

Two shoveler and a wigeon flushed by a dog walker with bins walking the bank at 09:30, also tufted duck[33] were still sitting him out when I give up, jumped back in the car and left. Best of the last couple of days; kestrel in serious aerial pursuit of a meadow pipit, briefly taken by 1 talon before the bird shook itself loose and escaped (7th), pintail[2] (9th) and small number of wheatear still going through, image below taken yesterday evening.

A Couple of Pics from Robertstown

During my short visit to Robertstown, I found this beautiful hoverfly; Chrysotoxum festivum. It is a distinctive species and one I haven't previously seen.

Chrysotoxum festivum

It is fairly well distributed, but apparently never particularly abundant.

Chrysotoxum festivum

While there, I also came upon this Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum), which is a local species, but one I occasionally come across in such overgrown, scrubby places..

Hairy Shieldbug

It is a pity that this particular site is doomed to be developed as the site of the new college.

For Martin

Following our chat today, here are some pics of the migrant hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri and the plant Canadian Fleabane, both taken at Abernant. Car passed (still in shock) so I've treated myself to that book on Hoverflies.

Scaeva pyrastri. Note the distinctive, comma-like ends to the cream stripes.

Canadian Fleabane. The plant is around 40cm tall.

Detail of the flowers.

Everything bar birds

Few photos from the last week.

 Was told that Mike used to have one of these as an haircut

 Black Darter and below Large White