The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales North Ceredigion Section Newsletter September 2016

View from above Cwm Clettwr across to the Dyfi estuary (Photo. F. Corke)

1. Chairperson’s Introduction Following the section AGM in May, John Wildig decided to step down after a long stint as chairman. He can be rightly proud to have helped steer the North Ceredigion section to become the envy of the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust, in terms of the support and activities of local members. I was elected as John’s replacement. I have been a member of the section since I moved to Aberystwyth in 2012. We moved from Norfolk so the contrast in landscape and wildlife never ceases to amaze me. Please excuse my faltering pronunciation of Welsh reserve names at forthcoming meetings. This summer I have continued to explore more of the numerous nature reserves and the coastal path. The diversity of flora and fauna here always excites me. From orchids at Ynyslas and Borth Bog to spring squills on the coastal path. I only have to look out of my kitchen window to enjoy Siskins feeding and Red Kites soaring whilst Choughs feeding on closely cropped, cliff-top turf have enhanced many walks. Following a number of diverse and interesting outdoor meetings organised by our section, Aberystwyth Botanical Society and the Penparcau Community Forum we now return to our indoor meetings. The upcoming meetings are listed elsewhere in this newsletter. There are various other events which are notified by e-mail – please give our Secretary, Dave Purdon, your e-mail address if you would like to be kept informed. I recently read an article in Natural World about the health benefits of conservation volunteering – it promotes both physical and mental health. Whilst in Norfolk, winter Sunday afternoons meant coppicing on a local reserve. I missed this when we moved to

North Ceredigion Section – local contacts Chairperson Fiona Corke 01970 822078 [email protected] Secretary Dave Purdon 01970 871012 [email protected]

Wales, whilst work precluded me joining Em Foot’s mid-week volunteer group. So last winter we started a Sunday group at Cwm Clettwr, which I lead. I described our local activities to Norfolk friends as ‘extreme conserving’, with steep gradients, chest-high heather and splendid views across Borth Bog to the coast. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me. Em is also keen to welcome new volunteers for her weekday work

… splendid views across Borth Bog to the coast (Photo. E. Foot) parties. Exercise, fresh air and the company of people with a shared love of the natural world – what can compete with that?

2. North Ceredigion Section programme of meetings for autumn/winter 2016 (compiled by Ian Scott) Indoor meetings are held in Theatre C22, Hugh Owen Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University:

 Monday 3 October, 7 pm. Discovering Cardigan Bay by Natalie Brown (Living Seas Awareness Officer, Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre).  Monday 7 November, 7 pm. Magnificent Meadows Project in Ceredigion by Vicky Squire (National Trust).  Monday 5 December, 7 pm. The Woodcock Network by Owen Williams (Local Wildlife Artist).

Details of the meetings in January, February and March are yet to be finalised. Please contact the Secretary, Dave Purdon, to go on the Section's mailing list for regular updates on our activities.

3. Penparcau Community Forum and The Nature of Our Village project (Chloe Griffiths) The Nature of Our Village project, which aims to survey all the wildlife of Penparcau, has been full steam ahead over the summer. We have had a fantastic Bat Walk, which attracted 21 people and was led by local bat specialists, Aline and Annette. Three species were

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One of this year’s spotted flying along the cycle path at the base young lizards on of Pen Dinas and we had fun listening to the Pen Dinas (Photo. C. weird sounds of their calls through bat Griffiths) detectors! We have also been learning about hoverflies and bees, as well as having training on grass identification and the plants that grow in coastal shingle. Surveys have included the Roadside Verge near Morrisons at Aberystwyth, some rock pools and freshwaters, and of butterflies and reptiles. I’m delighted to say that the Pen Dinas lizards have bred successfully and their youngsters are already sunbathing on the slopes! Many thanks to all the volunteers, experts, and expert volunteers who have made this project so enjoyable to work on!

4. The 100 Club (Carolyn Lynn) It is almost time for the 100 Club for the forthcoming year and I shall be starting to collect monies at our first autumn meeting on Monday, 3rd October. The price per ticket is £10 and I should be most grateful for your support once again. This is the only source of income for funding Em's excellent work on our reserves and as such is very important - and there are generous prizes to be won. If you are unable to attend the meeting please can you send me a cheque for £10 made out to WTSWW North Ceredigion together with your contact details. Please send to: Carolyn Lynn at Glanyrafon, Pontygeifr, Talybont, Ceredigion SY24 5DJ. Alternatively, I can provide a form to set up a regular standing order, which is a particularly convenient way to contribute. Many thanks.

5. Bird notes: autumn 2016 (Mike Hayward) 2016 must go down as one of the dullest, and at times, wettest spring and summer seasons Ceredigion has experienced for a very long time. Needless to say such inclement weather, especially following a very wet winter, has had an effect on the breeding success of both our resident birds and the seasonal migrants. Reports from across the region have revealed the failure of many nests, quite likely due to the low level of food supplies – ranging from a paucity of insect life to a shortage of small mammals. Pied flycatcher (Photo. M. Hayward) On the reserves where nest boxes are regularly monitored, the local species have fared reasonably well. Nest box occupancy has - 3 -

been slightly below that of the previous year in Cwm Clettwr (85% compared with 91%) but with a full house in Coed Simdde Lwyd. Whilst there was good egg production at both sites and across the species - Blue Tits, Great Tits, Pied Flycatchers and a Nuthatch in a box in Coed Simdde - the number of fledglings produced was down. Failure was undoubtedly due to the erratic food supply and in some instances predation by woodpeckers or mice and also possible human interference. One box in Cwm Clettwr failed due to it being taken over by squatters – bumble bees! The Trust project on the installation of 50 kestrel nest boxes has been completed but it has been a poor season for Kestrels breeding in the county. Of the 70 inland nest box sites which are now being monitored, only five were occupied, reflecting general observations that the number of Kestrels in the county has declined. A box on one reserve however did produce five fledglings. There were also three boxes occupied by Barn Owls which is encouraging as they too have declined somewhat over the past few years. Whilst the coast and estuaries of the county are not noted for vast numbers of migrant waders, gulls and allied species, the past few months have seen some notable sightings - a Purple Heron, Great White Egrets, a Glossy Ibis and a possible White Stork. Of particular interest is the increasing number of Mediterranean Gulls recorded along the coast. In the 1980s and 90s the average August count was of a single bird, generally found along the Aberaeron to Llanrhystud stretch of coast. In the period 2000-2005 the number rose to 16. Since then the number has steadily increased each year into the hundreds. Over 500 were recorded in August of this year, particularly around the Aberystwyth area – notably at the harbour, on the College Rocks and at Blaendolau playing fields. Fewer of these gulls are being recorded along the mid Ceredigion coastline with the greatest concentrations now in the Aberystwyth area. Several of these birds are known to be regular visitors as they can be identified by their coloured leg rings, having been ringed in their natal area of the west coast of France.

Mediterranean gull (adult, winter) and detail of leg rings (Photo. Liz Snell)

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There are ongoing programmes on colour ringing of several species of waders and Choughs along the Ceredigion coastline and any observations of such birds should be reported to:- - the Mid Wales Ringing Group ([email protected] ), - the Teifi Ringing Group ([email protected] ) - or the Ceredigion Bird Blog (http://ceredigionbirds33.blogspot.co.uk ).

6. Snippets of news and information  Saturday 1 October. This year’s William Condry memorial lecture will be given by Jonathan Elphick, entitled Now and Then – a journey through the world of Welsh and other birds. MOMA Wales, The Tabernacle, Machynlleth. Admission £5 (including refreshments) from 7 pm – programme starts at 7.30 (booking is not essential).  As was well-publicised at the time, the State of Nature 2016 report was published earlier this month. It makes depressing reading with 56% of UK species reported as declining between 1970 and 2013, and this decline is continuing. However, there are also some positive findings: other species have increased over this period, including some notable conservation successes and the report highlights the valuable contribution made by volunteers and supporters of wildlife organisations. An animated ‘infographic’ summarising the main findings is available at http://stateofnature.wildlifetrusts.org/ and the full 85 page report can be downloaded from: www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/state_of_nature_uk_report_pages_1_sept.pdf  Ceredigion County Council is looking for volunteers as part of the Council’s Adopt a Path Scheme. This will provide volunteers with opportunities to survey and maintain paths and make new friends while helping to keep themselves fit and healthy. For further information about the scheme please contact Ceredigion County Council on 01545 574145 or email [email protected].

7. Emily Foot’s September 2016 update on work in the Ceredigion reserves We finished off the winter season with the coupes at Coed Maidie B Goddard and some tree safety works. We also had a final day clearing willows along the stream at Cors Ian. There was also bramble bashing at Caeau Llety Cybi, in one of the Coed Maidie meadows, at Rhos Glyn yr Helyg and at Old Warren Hill. The weekend work party at Cwm Clettwr continued with the removal of western hemlock. Aberystwyth University students and staff installed an impressive oak bridge over the Nant Paith at Coed Penglanowen. They also installed a second bridge across a stream, two benches and created a new loop of path within the reserve. We created a new path at the East end of Cwm Clettwr which links the far end of the riverside path to the top paths. It is quite steep in places but passes though some nice heather and has good views. It is already well used.

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Volunteer work parties are on Wednesdays Since then it’s been a good year for and Thursdays. For more details, please growth, so we’ve been pulling ragwort contact Em on [email protected] or and Himalayan balsam, spent several 07980 932 332. days bashing bracken at Coed Simdde Lwyd and Caeau Llety Cybi and have Please bring suitable clothing, footwear & been cutting back vegetation along the waterproofs that you do not mind getting dirty, paths on many of the reserves. We’ve work gloves if you have them and your lunch. had odd bits of tree clearance at Many of our reserves are very muddy and will various reserves. require wellies. Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided for elevenses. We’ve done lots of work in the stables area at Cors Ian - dismantling some Volunteers should always contact Em before parts, sorting some timber to reuse, the workdays to confirm details as changes clearing the concrete areas and cutting often occur and with bad weather things may back some of the trees. We are now have to be cancelled or changed at the last mending the remaining sections of the minute. building so we can improve them for wildlife. The reserve entrance will also be resurfaced and some new paths built to allow better access for all. At Coed Maidie B Goddard we’ve done some fencing to improve the grazing. We’ve also cleared up in the area of wood we thinned over the winter and improved a short section of path. There are four new reserves leaflets - Caeau Llety Cybi, Penderi Cliffs, Cwm Clettwr and Coed Simdde, which are available for download from the reserve pages on the website and on the reserves. Dormouse box checks have continued at Cwm Clettwr this summer. For the first time we have found maternity nests containing young, and their mothers. Some have used the new boxes. Blue Tits, wood mice and pygmy shrews also use the boxes.

8. Autumn on the Ceredigion reserves The reserves pages of the WTSWW website include summaries of the best times of year to visit each reserve and what to look out for. As we move into autumn, it seems timely to bring together this information to provide a brief overview of what the Ceredigion reserves have to offer over the next couple of months. As would be expected in autumn, fungi provide much of the interest and are listed as a feature of many of the reserves, including Allt Crug Garn, Caeau Llety Cybi (waxcap fungi), Coed Simdde Lwyd, Cors Ian, Old Warren Hill, Pant Da and Rhos Fullbrook. For avian interest, Llyn Eiddwen is a well-known location for observing wintering wildfowl while Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Woodcock are features of Rhos Glendenys during the winter months. The September - November period is listed as a good time to visit Cors Ian

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to see migrant birds. Similarly, this is a good time to visit Coed Maidie B Goddard for a chance of glimpsing a red deer. Full information about the reserves is available on the Trust website at www.welshwildlife.org/nature-reserves/information-on-ceredigion-nature-reserves/.

Newsletter editor Steve Cuttle ([email protected]), who gratefully acknowledges the contributions to this issue and invites contributions for the next newsletter in January 2017.

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