Recorders Newsletter 34 (Summer 2015)

Pollinator action to help pollinating is grassland, these can be distinguished by all the rage at the moment. The Welsh their characteristic floras (as well as the Government has produced a action degree to which your socks get wet). plan which promotes the virtues of wildflowers as food. It is great that In much of our dry attention is being given to the importance of species rich neutral grasslands belong to the wildflower rich habitats and the insects they National Vegetation Classification MG5 support. It is even more exciting in RCT, Cynosurus cristatus- nigra neutral because wildflower rich grasslands are one grassland, with U4 Festuca ovina-Agrostis of the things we are good at. We have a capillaris-Galium saxatile acid grassland on wealth of such habitats, which is not the case the thinner acidic soils. The NVC categories in most parts of Britain. Wildflower rich hay involve the tinniest bit of Latin, but don’t be meadows and grazing pastures are amongst put off, in essence MG5 is the classic flower our finest botanical riches. These are home rich meadow of children’s books and plate to a multitude of grasses and herbs, and an mats. Instead of just rye grass, it is home to accompanying fauna of bees, and hoverflies, lots of different grass species, such as red grasshoppers, butterflies and . fescue, meadow fescue, sweet vernal Species-rich grasslands are still part of our grass, crested dog’s-tail, yellow-oat biodiversity fabric, and something deserving grass, and common bent-grass. You may of our highest attention. They occur in old not know the names, but go in high summer fields, low-lying marshes, grass verges, and look at the flower heads of the grasses, if parks, cemeteries, on colliery spoil heaps you can spot six or seven different flowering and random brownfield ‘bits and pieces’, and grasses you might be in species-rich these wildflower rich communities have all grassland. Of course, the easier clues are come from the local natural seedbank: none the herbs, or forbs, or flowers (depending on of it is sown or planted. So, if you are what you want to call the things that aren’t interested in pollinator action in RCT, a good grasses or sedges), which give flower rich starting point is to get interested in our meadows their characteristic ‘flowery’ species rich grassland: the two go ‘hand in appearance. So buy yourself a British flower glove’. guide (or borrow one from your local library) and using whatever method suits best (which The main clue to finding important is usually pictures first, reading descriptions grasslands is to do a bit of botanising next, and only in the most extreme (which is much easier than it sounds). In circumstances resorting to the keys) look for broad terms our important grasslands can be bird’s-foot trefoil and common knapweed. split into two main types: dry and wet These are the two most characteristic flowers of unimproved neutral grasslands, if you’ve Vegetation Classification M24) where got the low growing, yellow and red peas amongst the species described above there flowers of the trefoil, and the cornflower blue are often stands of the beautiful meadow of knapweed then it’s time to get excited. thistle, marsh valerian, and sedge-rich With a bit more effort you may find red vegetation. Rush dominated grasslands are , rough and autumn hawkbit, self- also an important feature of the rhos pasture heal, ox-eye daisy, meadow vetchling, hay landscape. The typical soft/sharp-flowered rattle and common spotted orchid. On rush-marsh bedstraw rush-pasture (National limestone sites (with more alkalinity) species Vegetation Classification M23) is extremely characteristic of more calcareous conditions, variable in composition and species-richness. such as quaking grass, cowslip, bee There is an obvious requirement for rushes orchid, fairy flax, field scabious and (and often purple moor-grass and Yorkshire greater knapweed are mixed in, and on the fog) and marsh bedstraw and greater more acidic valley sides the U4 grasslands bird’s-foot trefoil are the typical indicator have swards of sheep’s fescue, wavy hair ‘flowers’. There also is often a very good grass, heath grass, tormentil, heath diversity of species, which may include wild bedstraw, sheep’s sorrel, heath milkwort angelica, meadowsweet, ragged robin, and heath spotted orchid. cuckoo-flower, skullcap, lesser spearwort, southern marsh-orchids, marsh marigold, Wet, and marshy grassland are one of our and marsh-thistle. most characteristic and important habitats. As the name suggests these grasslands The key to having species rich grassland is occur on wet soils, but these can occupy a to have a nutrient poor soil, a local seedbank variety of locations, including low-lying and appropriate management. The latter is floodplains, ‘perched’ upland wetlands, or dependent either on conservation grazing or flushed hillside mires. All of our marshy taking hay cuts. With ‘conservation hay cuts’, grasslands are based on vegetation with a the wildflower and grass are left to flower and high proportion of either purple moor-grass seed before being cut in late summer/autumn and/or rush. These are commonly known with the hay being removed. Removing the locally as ‘rhos pastures’. A welsh name cut grass is essential. given to a habitat which is restricted to the Atlantic seaboard of Europe (somewhere I Much of the attention afforded to the Welsh have a report called the Rhos Pastures of Government Pollinator Plan is based on Gallicia (Spain) – where unfortunately there sowing nursery produced wildflower seed. isn’t much left). This is not a model which suits the particular circumstances in RCT. For a series of Purple moor grass (National Vegetation fortuitous reason RCT has a rich network of Classification M25) dominated marshy wildflower rich habitat. For us the key is grasslands are perhaps the classic South realising the natural potential of sites Walian rhos pasture. They occur on moist, through appropriate management. All the sometimes peaty soils and are dominated by grassland types described above depend purple moor-grass and rushes, but species- upon the natural seedbank, and it’s that rich examples also include forbs such as same seedbank which allows our fantastic tormentil, devil’s-bit scabious, saw-wort, brownfield grasslands to spring up when old lousewort, cross-leaved heath, heath industrial sites are abandoned. spotted-orchid, bog asphodel, petty whin, marsh thistle and meadowsweet. A feature So to realise positive pollinator action in of the purple moor-grass sites in RCT is the RCT we can avoid the expense, carbon-foot presence of localised base-rich springs and print and ecological problems of sowing flushes which injects characteristic floristic nursery produced wildflower seeds. From a diversity. These are purple moor-grass- biodiversity perspective our pollinator action meadow thistle fen-meadows (National will be much better served if we can focus on grassland management and identifying both of them well below the average for that areas where relaxed management can allow month, which is 102.73mm’. existing wildflowers to flower, and seed and to provide pollen and sources for Mark Evans also sent through a fascinating insects: in essence where can we change account of the 2014 weather records. The management to allow grass areas to bald figures of 2258.65 mm of measurable become conservation hay meadows and not precipitation made it the second wettest lawns? So if you are keen on , my winter in 20 years in (only 2000 advice is to do a bit of botanising. If you was wetter). Compare and contrast with have a lawn, or you are responsible for a bit Marcus’s 3806.5 mm for (which of grassland or amenity space have a look again shows the significant west-east rainfall and see what you have, and how changed differences in the ). A few management might realise a wildflower rich comments in Mark’s weather record showed display. If we trust in our fantastic natural the trend for 2014, on the 9/2/14 ‘note this is seedbanks and put our efforts into now the wettest winter in 20 year (Mark management then we might realise some recorded 1300 mm of precipitation over the real biodiversity action which can benefit not winter of 2013/14) and 16/2/14 ‘after 66 only pollinators but much more besides. days of measureable precipitation this was the first dry day in 2014’. For 2014 Mark Weather recorded that he had 252 days with some Marcus Middlehurst sent through his measureable precipitation and 232 days excellent Treherbert precipitation totals. with 0.2 mm or more: it shows just what a These beautifully pick up the theme of a wet moist climate we have. Mark also had the mid winter grading into the long and dry late average max temperatures of 14.57 degrees winter and spring. C and average mean minimum of 6.25 degrees C: characteristics of a mild oceanic Dec 2014, Total precipitation 459mm, max climate. 85 on 18th and a grand precipitation total for 2014 of 3806.5mm with no measurable Spring snow during calendar year. Margaret Harding enjoyed the cool, but Jan 2015, Total 551mm, highest 78mm on generally sunny spring: ‘well spring is 1st with only 5 rain free days in the month definitely on its way the daffodils, celandines Feb 2015 Total 234mm, highest 50mm on and primroses are everywhere. Even the the 22nd and no rain for 10 days (2nd to butterflies are out in force there is a field 11th). next to the fire station in where March 2015 Total 133.5mm, highest on I saw 2 male brimstone it was the middle of 30th at 33mm and average 4.31mm the day and they would not settle so no April 2015 Total 39mm, highest on 28th photos but there were peacocks and a much at14mm, next highest on 2nd at 13mm, slower comma which I managed to capture. average 1.26mm, With 26 rain free days in Maralyn my next door neighbour even had month and 13 consecutive dry days from frog spawn at the end of February which is 11th till 25th incl. the earliest it has been’. May 2015 Total 217mm, Highest 29mm on 30th. Mark Evans sent some thoughts on the late spring on April 20th: ‘Martin Bevan and I did Mark Evans commented on the same dry our Breeding Bird Survey early visits on period, ‘after the driest winter in the twenty Saturday and Sunday. The most remarkable two years I've been recording, April was also thing about them was the weather, which the driest for the same period. The total was was more like winter, especially on the 16.30mm for the whole month, the previous upland squares, on Mynydd Merthyr, driest April being that of 2011, with 24.30, yesterday. The old country folk had a name for it: the "Sloe Winter." In most years, when blackthorn is in bloom, we get a short cold Mountain in January is as good a place as snap, just to remind us that winter isn't that any to see them. far behind us and is still close enough to give us a playful flick with its finger. Despite Paul Marshman saw a jack snipe in the the cold, ‘on my way down from Mynydd perched peat bog above on Jan Merthyr, I saw my first couple of green tiger 8th , while David Harry had male and female beetles’. blackcap in his garden in late January plus a white wagtail. Jack snipe are tiny snipe Birds that winter with us but breed in the far north. I missed out a report from Neville Davies of Our winter blackcaps come from central house martin migration last summer ‘during European, the birds choosing to fly west for a dawn survey in the Rhondda Cynon Taff the winter, whereas our summer (breeding) area on August 18th there was a good blackcaps clear off south. Hazel Penthelby movement of house martins going south. saw two red kites over in 147 were recorded in the first movement at February around the same time that Vivian 0615hrs followed by a group of 47 at Anderson saw a red kite over 0650hrs.’ Neville forward a great picture of Mountain. migration in process. From June 28th 2014, from near the Llantrisant Business Park, One of the earliest signs of spring is the Neville also reported a common snipe return of skylarks to our upland tops. This flushed from marshy ground and male year Paul Marshman reported skylarks back hobby. The snipe might just have been on the highest ground above Llwynypia by breeding; they used to be common, while mid February. Ray Edwards heard a the hobby is a really nice record. chiffchaff singing on March 16th 2015 in the Industrial estate, while Mark Evans Mark Evans sent a summary of his 2014 saw his first swallow on April 3rd, on the raven counts (monthly counts), with an 8th of April I saw sand martins over average 204 with a high of 426 in June and Town and by the 13th there were low of 74 in December (when many of the 10 over Rhondda at and two adults would have been busy setting up swallows heading west in Pontypridd. The breeding territories).On the 27th March Mark spring flood gates were half open and on the ‘went to see the great grey shrike, which 15th willow warblers and chiffchaffs were has been reported in the forest by Bwlch-y- singing in Pontypridd: one near identical leaf Lladron, above and as I was warbler running through its repeating reels walking past Tarren-y-Bwllfa and heading up of descending verse, the other resolutely onto Mynydd Bwllfa, it was great to find the ‘chiffchaffing’. air full of the song and display flights of skylarks and meadow pipits’. In mid April excitement rippled through the local bird watching world and was relayed to Jonathan Barratt was ‘out last week me by Graham Powell with the report that a (January) in between the two great spotted cuckoo was present and reservoirs, Maerdy and Lluest Wen when I raucously calling at Cwm Cadlan, Penderyn spotted what I am very confident were two on April 17th. The bird had overshot from it hen harriers. One was sat on a fence post Spanish breeding grounds and was sizing and the other on an old stone wall about up the local magpies (in Spain it parasites 200m apart. It is possible they were Juvenile magpies and azure magpies). For a few birds but I was able to get very close to the days it was seen, together with an early one on the wall. Not sure if we get many hen cuckoo, before clearing off to pastures new harriers around here but it was a first for (perhaps it re-orientated and flew south). me’. A great record, and while we don’t get Hot on the heels of that came, on April 19th many hen harriers, those that we do are an equally fantastic report from Hazel and mainly winter visitors to our uplands: Maerdy David Penthelby of two cranes passing over their Erw Hir, Llantrisant home, and heading hear their song throughout the spring and south. They have seen cranes in Europe early summer months. It’s beautiful warbling and they both saw and heard the birds song, with high fluting notes that has given it calling to each other. Hazel later told me renown as the ‘northern nightingale’, which that a friend had seen them In Llantwit given that we are now (unfortunately) well to Fardre. Cranes have colonised Norfolk (after west of the western edge of the nightingales many centuries absence) and are being ever declining UK range, must mean that for reintroduced to the Somerset Levels. us it is the ‘western nightingale’. Anyway the Perhaps we can assume these birds had point is, garden warbler’s song is very like floated across the Bristol Channel: if they the blackcaps but is a softer uninterrupted successfully colonise the Somerset Levels rambling warbler that goes on and on. If you we may see more of them in the future. become accustomed to the blackcaps song, Casting my mind back I am pretty sure Tony then it’s worth checking out any unusual Swann saw cranes at Marsh a sounding blackcaps. A quick glimpse of a few years ago (Tony is that right?) uniformly grey-brown warbler and you may have a garden warbler. By April 21st Paul Marshman heard his first cuckoo of the year on Ysrad Tips, with Glyn Hughes reported an ‘immature swan wood warbler and whitethroat in which seems to have taken a liking to a Glyncornel. Ben Williams and Richard Smith stretch of the Taff between the Machine (independently) heard cuckoos in the bridge and Trefforest weir’. As Glyn noted and area, and Ben’s it’s the ‘first time I've seen one this high up wife heard one a week later at Pontypridd the river and it's been there at least 2 days Golf Club. In early May Mark Evans noted running now’. Mute swans are a decidedly that in the ‘conspicuous by its uncommon species in RCT. There was still absence was the cuckoo, or cuckoos. So far a male and female goosander on the River this year, the only Cuckoo I've seen and Taff in Pontypridd Park on April 30th , Paul heard was at Bodwigiad, whereas by now, I Marshman saw a male goosander on his have usually had them at a few of their patch on May 20th and I saw a bird flying usual haunts’. A little later Mark did confirm over Pontypridd on June 9th. They are the that cuckoos had arrived. Mark Evans most magnificent species of duck, and they passed on spring count news for the ravens are only here because our rivers have ‘I counted them this morning, before work, become cleaner and fish populations have the total being 322, which may turn out to be recovered. They are indicators of just how the highest for May’. good the Taff and Rhondda and Cynon, and Ely have become. It would have been On April 23rd I saw my first swifts of the unthinkable 40 years ago. year over Pontypridd with sand matins, house martins and swallows. The swifts I was pleased to see a kestrel on didn’t stay long and I assume they were Common in early June. Kestrels are an passing through: Pontypridd’s resident increasingly uncommon sight these days. swifts were back when I returned from the Paul Marshman reported possibly the last bank holiday on May 5th (I assume they ‘cuckoo-ing’ cuckoo of the year with a male came in that weekend). Mark Evans saw his calling twice from the Gelli Tips on June 15th first swift on May 4th ‘as it headed up the and in Mid May Sarah IIlsely ‘saw a red kite valley and with a brief visit to the Merthyr on my way to work this morning. It was tunnel area, between jobs, I heard and saw flying west over the A4119 at Thomastown’. my first wood warbler of the year’. Jonathan Barrett emailed in June with ‘a On April 27th Paul heard a garden warbler great view of a merlin again up near Lluest singing in Llwynypia. Blackcaps are now a Wen Res’ and whilst out with Lee Clarke at really common summer visitor and you can the very top tip above Maerdy on June 8th they both ‘spotted a very large raptor about 12th October 2014 saw the ‘first large tit 100 metres away. We could not see what it flocks of autumn observed with 19 long- was but it was very big. As we made our tailed tits plus blue and great tits’. way towards it, the bird took off and landed 22nd November 2014 was ‘goldcrest day’ on a fence post. We managed to get within with 8 seen. about 20-30 metres. It was a very large bird 8th December 2014 ‘a cold bright afternoon mainly brown in colour but it had a very with the delight of watching a pair of great (almost pure) white chest, which I would spotted woodpeckers pair bonding. The describe as striking. Lee said what is it as male would fly onto the trunk occupied by he had never seen anything like it. To be the female, either below or at the same honest I was a bit perplexed and said it height, but always on the opposite side. He could be a honey buzzard or maybe a hen would then move himself round the trunk as harrier. I had my field guide to spotting and if going to say ‘Boo’ to the female. She identifying birds so we got it out and looked would then fly off but no more than 10 foot at the two aforementioned birds and neither away onto another trunk and the male would looked anything like the bird in front of us. repeat his actions and sometimes fly to a We started going through all the pictures nearby dead limb and call or drum. I and we came to one and we both said watched these antics for some 20 minutes “that’s it”. We both believe that the bird before moving on. before us was an osprey. We searched for Later on the walk I came across a female more pictures of ospreys on the net on our reed bunting – quite a sighting rarity at this phones and we are both certain that the bird location’. we could see was an osprey. We watched it 30th December 2014 ‘3 fieldfares disturbed for about ten minutes with every time we by horses were the first time I have seen tried to get closer it flew to another fence them in the woods this year. A rare species post’. That is a great record, and ospreys do for this location as they prefer more open pass over RCT every spring heading north areas with scattered trees. Two day earlier I (and returning in the autumn), so the osprey recorded 28 species and today only 20. record sounds really plausible. I assume the The only real difference was today was bird was attracted to the environs of the much warmer and the frost covering on Maerdy Reservoir and the prospect of a adjacent fields was minimal. This illustrates fishy meal. However, June 8th seems a little the different feeding patterns adopted to late for migration. Watching Springwatch combat the weather vagaries’ this year they were talking about how different ospreys fight over nesting sites, Tony also Reported 400 to 500 and how the vanquished ones have to clear chaffinches, and some bramblings (their off (somewhere). There are now two northern cousins) feeding on beechmast in breeding sites in and perhaps failed Llantrisant Forest in early January 2015 birds are beginning to roam about a bit in a slightly forlorn hope of finding a mate and 9th January 2015 ‘Raptor Day, red kite somewhere to nest. In which case, circling towards north east and a flyover Jonathan’s osprey might be a disappointed from east to west by a peregrine falcon. I north Walian looking for some solace in had to go back to 2009 for the last record for Maerdy. this site of a peregrine’. 13th January 2015 ‘a very tame male pheasant – if I had seed I reckon it would Bids from Brynna Woods have come to within a few feet. Single Tony Swann sent through his excellent chiffchaff but against the light I couldn’t tell summaries of birds on the Brynna whether it was common or Siberian as the Woods/Llanharan Marsh Wildlife Trust bird didn’t call.’ Nature reserve; 21st January 2015 ‘21 fieldfares, with a few redwing, in the field southwest of the railway, was a brilliant sight. In the east Tip) near to Llanwonno. I also saw in area of the wood were a small group of 4 Llanwonno last week a that I could lesser redpolls feeding on alder. A small not identify as I only saw it for a couple of group of both male and female reed seconds whilst it was crossing a track in bunting were present from late February front of me. It was a medium sized ferret like until mid-March prior to dispersal before animal coloured light brown’. The hare breeding’. record is very encouraging, as for the ferret I 18th March ‘the return of the chiffchaffing wonder if it was sandy coloured? In which chiffchaff as the herald of spring and much case, it could have been a domestic ferret, more unusual was a single willow tit near a but medium sized sounds a bit big for a residential feeding station. The first ferret. Ten or so years ago we had a spate brimstone was seen on 6th March and it of possible (but none confirmed) pine was not until the 21st March that I noted a martin reports (including one from the peacock. In between these date I had a Llanwanno forestry), pine martins are a bit small tortoiseshell in the garden visiting more medium sized and in certain lights the flowering heather’. might look light brown. Monthly total number of bird species seen January – 39 February – 38 March – I was amazed to hear on Springwatch that 41 hedgehog numbers have crashed from an estimated 30 million or so, a few decades Of the many highlights of Tony’s report the ago, to just one million today. Local willow tit stands out. These are now very extinctions seem a decided possibility. In rare birds in RCT. If you’ve not been, the my travels I continue to see poor ‘run over’ Brynna Woods Nature Reserve is well worth hedgehogs - two on the main road between a visit. Amongst the fantastic wood and Mountain Ash and Aberdare, and then scrub habitats there is a superb (long another two on the A473 around Talbot unmanaged) floodplain mire part of which is Green. Run over hedgehogs do at least now being summer grazed by beautiful prove they are still around. My garden still highland cows. has hedgehog ‘poo’ in it most mornings and my daughter watched one sprinting along Mammals the verge the other evening. My guess In January, Jonathan Barrett saw ‘3 foxes would be that hedgehogs would still find a all in the daytime and all in the Llanwonno good home in RCT. area over the past fortnight. It seems they are like buses’. Butterflies and Moths In the winter Mark Evans and Mike Hogan David Harry had one lesser horseshoe bat counted hibernating 65 herald moths in in his wood shed in January, their tunnel site in the Cynon Valley. The which just goes to show how bats can be cool spring was late for butterflies, although active in the winter. They don’t necessarily Gareth Henson reported lots of brimstones spend all winter in deep frozen hibernation, and small tortoiseshells on the Graig depending on the ambient temperature, they Pontypridd on April 14th. Orange tips were can shift roosting sites, and if the winter out in good numbers in the sunny weather in midges are out they may even do a bit of the wet grasslands at Station Terrace, feeding. and on the 16th with Liam Olds and Ben Rowsen I saw orange tips, Liam Olds saw a brown hare on the brimstone, peacocks and small Coedely Tip at Coedely. This is the first tortoiseshells in Dare Valley Country Park. brown hare record for some time and it was very welcome news. This was closely In early May Paul Marshman reported followed by an email from Jonathan Barrett painted lady from Road, and I ‘I saw a hare up by Old Smokey ( have since seen the odd painted lady here and there. The suggestion is an early spring reported a friend’s sighting of a dark green migration, which, if the weather suited and fritillary at in mid June. breeding ensued might lead to good numbers in a few weeks time: watch out for In late May, Ben went back to the Clydach them. Vale and ‘saw 5 small pearls, all fresh new males, 2 dingy skippers and a green I was very pleased to see a hummingbird hairstreak, flying about at about 90 mph. hawk feeding on my garden red The violets on the site are really doing well valerian in early June and on bird’s-foot and that bodes well for next year’s figures trefoil on the Route of the so long as the weather behaves. I think the Church Village By-pass on May 12. On the cutting we did last winter has paid off. I was latter occasion it was together with two on the site for half an hour’. Ben and the dingy skippers (a new site) Tidy Towns have undertaken some butterfly and on June 3rd I had a bonanza dingy habitat management at and skipper day. In short time I found a that seems to be really reaping its rewards. population along the grass verges of the Clydach vale is turning out to be an Hirwaun industrial Estate next to Blaen important butterfly site. All the wildflowers at Cynon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Clydach Vale have sprung up from the local and two other Sites on and around Hirwaun seedbanks, or blown in on the prevailing ponds area (again close to the SAC): all westerly’s (carrying as they do seed for the sites had masses of bird’s-foot trefoil, which various sand dune that flourish in the is the butterflies foodplant. On all these sites Site’s ‘pseudo dune slacks’). The dynamic common blues and butterflies ecology is fascinating and much, much more and burnet companion moths were important than if it had been sown from a common. At , on the RCT owned bag of seed. The art now, is to try and do part of the new SSSI grassland I again saw little bits of constructive habitat management the chimney sweep moth. In recent early to keep the superb habitat mosaic. springs, most dingy skippers would be gone or very tatty by early June: the fact that I Marsh fritillary butterflies seem to have found lots of pristine butterflies shows the done well in the North of the County lateness of the spring. The impression of a Borough, with particularly large numbers at late spring was re-enforced by Mark Bryncarnau Grasslands SSSI (near Powell’s record of male orange tip at Dare ) from where the butterfly appears Valley on June 4th. to have spilt out to re-colonise sites in Merthyr (from where it had been extinct for a Ben Williams found green hairstreaks on number of years). At Tonyrefail, Richard the hillside between Tonyrefail and Smith, Ben Williams and Paul Denning have Trebanog and he ‘went over to another site seen small populations. We wait in hope for behind Trefyrig School and found 19 green a population boom that can mirror that which hairstreaks there along with 6 brimstones’ : has happened on the northern sites in the Ben commented that both brimstones and last two years. green hairstreaks did really well this spring. He also saw big numbers of small pearl- Colliery Spoil Invertebrates bordered fritillary from Clydach Vale, Liam Olds, who is a local naturalist, has where the sheltered micro-climate led to an been employed by the National Museum to emergence well in advance of elsewhere. undertake some invertebrate surveying of Paul Marshman saw ‘small pearls’ on his colliery spoil sites in . This is Llwynypia patch, and I recorded them on really exciting project. Other than butterflies, Llantrisant Common and near some moths and tiger beetles we really Cemetery in June (where I also saw the don’t know how important colliery spoil is for beautiful mountain bumblebee Bombus other invertebrate groups. So whatever Liam monticola feeding on tormentil). Paul also finds will be of greatest interest. In May he sent me an email about the Gelli Tips, ‘it’s news that it was indeed to be found around an amazing site - I love it! It seems to be these here parts, spurred me into action. My really good for bumblebees - they're first opportunity for an outing fell in early everywhere. Recorded Bombus monticola October and on a walk along a forest ride there today (first time I've ever seen one) so that climbs steeply up the side of the I'm up to 6 bumblebee species there at the Fforchaman valley, I searched the gloom moment’. beneath an overhang and found a couple of tiny patches, shining beguilingly in my torch Bryophytes (Mosses and Liverworts) light. Mark Evans sent the following: ‘Back in September, George Tordoff emailed me to I searched similar looking sites in a few ask if I had ever seen the stunningly places after that, but all proved to be too wet beautiful moss, Schistostegia pennata for it: the field guide states that it has a (goblin gold, or luminous moss) anywhere preference for dark places, in dry, crumbly in , as he had just found it (on the earth. However, in late November, I was 23rd September 2014) in the gloom, under a having a general exploration of Craig sandstone outcrop, above Troedyrhiw, and found myself on the and Sam Bosanquet had sandstone outcrop above , Mountain made the first discovery of it in Glamorgan, Ash, called Daranlas. I had never been up at a sandstone outcrop, just south of Craig y there before, but could see the nooks and Llyn, on the 4th September 2013. I had recesses of the outcrop held the possibility previously seen it only on a couple of of finding Schistostegia pennata, so torch in occasions in Cornwall, both times, growing hand, I started searching all the dark places on the vertical faces of granite, once in an I could find, without success, until deep Iron age Fogou, and the other just inside a inside a narrow vertical cleft, a glint of gold mine adit. I was absolutely captivated by its in my torch beam caught my attention. It apparently luminous golden green glow, was too far inside for me to get close to, but when light struck it. The first time I saw it, I it seemed to be S. pennata, not an imposter, wasn't sure what it could be, but by the time such as a leafy liverwort covered in water I saw it again a year later, I had found out droplets, which can also reflect back light and read up about it in "British Mosses and with a.greenish colour. Initially elated by the Liverworts" by E.V. Watson, but no amount find, I later had my doubts, so a week later I of technical knowledge of it could rob me of returned, armed with a monopod, on which I the awe I felt when on shining my torch intended mounting my compact camera, set inside the entrance to a small adit, alongside to self timer mode, to try and get a close up the coast path, the gloom, lit up with patches photo of it. This proved to be more difficult of glowing golden green light. than I expected and ultimately failed. Taking a break from that frustration, I wandered For a year or two after that, I searched in about and discovered a very narrow, vertical vain for it around the Cynon and Taff cleft, just 50-75mm wide, that I had valleys, but lack of success, coupled with previously overlooked. I shone my torch into ever reducing free time, in which to search, it and there was a patch of gorgeous gold, meant that I eventually almost gave up the size of my hand, shining back at me and looking. Even when the excellent book by as it was closer to the entrance of the cleft, the British Bryological Society "Mosses and I was able to obtain a reasonable photo of Liverworts of Britain and Ireland, a Field it. Guide" came out, I only searched for it in a desultory way. I am no bryologist, but when I I've since looked a couple of other, had more time to do such things, I dabbled a promising looking sites, but with no success. little with the mosses (this is no false Looking at all four of the Glamorgan sites, modesty) and Schistostegia pennata has they seem to share a similar aspect; in always been a bit of a holy grail for me, so outcrops or overhangs that face somewhere between North and East, so are not facing scabious. The huge population of common the sun, apart from early morning in the blue butterflies was great to see. summer months. The two sites I checked that proved negative, both faced S. West. In a couple of places at Hirwaun I found the As more sites are found for this species, in lady mantle Alchemilla glabra. It looks (as the valleys, it will be interesting to see if a all lady’s mantles do) a bit like the common significant proportion shares this aspect. garden lady mantles, but I have pulled up enough of that invasive garden thug to know On my way back down, alongside the forest that the lady mantle I was looking at was road, running water had washed the soil off different. On checking it at home, the larger a section of the sandstone bedrock, hairless leaves keyed out to glabra. Looking revealing a polished and striated surface, it up in the Flora of Glamorgan (Wade et al) courtesy of the glacier that carved out the I see that it only occurs in the very northern valley here. The striations were 150 metres edge of Glamorgan, in the foothills of the above the present valley floor and goodness Brecon Beacons: which describes Hirwaun’s knows how much higher up the top surface location. Elsewhere on the Hirwaun of the glacier was’. industrial state I re-found (I’d seen it there before) the beautiful dyers greenweed: a Mark sent me a picture of ‘Fforchaman’s yellow flowered dwarf shrub of the pea goblin gold’ and it is a marvellous looking family. Again checking its distribution in the thing. Flora of Glamorgan I found this time that dyers greenweed is decidedly rare (indeed absent) from the northern half of Plants Glamorgan. It is certainly the only site I The green winged orchid population at know in RCT. Also in June, Margaret Cefn Y Parc Cemetery continues to yo-yo, I Harding found 3 bee orchids at Cwm found flowering 18 spikes. The interesting Colliery thing is that some of the flowers do shift around a bit from year to year (well they Lichens don’t physically shift, but the location of Mark Evans and Mike Hogan ‘found Terana flowering spikes does sometimes alter from caerulea (cobalt crust) growing on a year to year). Perhaps they don’t all flower tangled mix of fallen dead branches and in one year, in which case perhaps the bramble. Amongst the species on which it population is larger than the yearly counts was growing was larch. I have never before suggest. Margaret Harding also visited the seen it growing of larch, nor have I heard of Cemetery, ‘It is that time of year to check it doing so’. on our green winged orchids so pleased to find 14 in the main area two were much Dr Paul Smith of Bristol University sent further over than usual the one being a pink through a very exciting report of a lichen so that is definitely new. In the other found in the Cynon Valley: ‘one of my MSc meadow I could only find two at the top but students (Emma Burak) found the specimen very strong looking. Another thing I noticed shown below on a hawthorn on coal waste. was the cowslips were only just coming It has gone off for confirmation but, subject through and the dandelions had gone to to that, I believe it to be goldeneye lichen seed’ Teloschistes chrysopthalmus. A few days late Sam Bosanquet , who is a Welsh and Cefn Y Parc Cemetery grasslands is looking UK lichen expert issued the following; superb, on a recent visit the carpets of bird’s-foot trefoil were interspersed with ‘Goldeneye has arrived in Wales! hundreds of common spotted orchids, the seed heads of cowslips, and the soon to I have just had an email from Janet Simkin flower black knapweeds and common at the British Lichen Society passing on a photograph of goldeneye lichen the goldeneye lichen: who knows you may (Teloschistes chrysopthalmus) taken in just find another site for it. Glamorgan a few days ago. In keeping with the detective work (that is This is one of the most spectacular British part of lichenology) , Mark Evans sent the lichens and also one of the rarest. It was following lichen related news ‘following the thought to be extinct in Britain for about 30 exciting news about the discovery of the years until a patch was found on an orchard rare lichen Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, I tree in Herefordshire in 2007, since when have paid far more attention to the foliose there have been 2 or 3 records from lichens on trees here about. Although I southern England. Recent surveys in Co haven't seen T. chrysophthalmus locally, I Cork revealed strong populations on was fortunate enough to discover it on a Hawthorn by two estuaries, but I have Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve, near looked for it in similar estuary-side habitats Dorchester, in early March, so I now know Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan without what it looks like in the field. Casually success. It has been suggested that recent searching (can you casually search?) for it warmer, wetter conditions may somehow on various species of trees, with nutrient benefit Goldeneye lichen and that it could be enriched bark, I have become all the more increasing, although it may have just appreciative of the beauty of many of those remained undetected by southwestern foliose lichens and a few of the crustose estuaries for decades, with these colonies ones too. One thing that I really began to giving rise to occasional spore-grown tufts notice was that in a group of trees of the further north-east. same species, of around the same age and mode of growth, there always seemed to be The new for Wales colony was certain individuals which bore a much larger photographed by MSc student Emma Burak, population and diversity of lichens than their who is studying the ecology of coal tips. Its neighbours. In some groups the differences identification was confirmed by freelance are really marked, with the bulk of the lichen ecologist Dr Paul Smith, and subsequently flora being concentrated on a small by British Lichen Society experts. The proportion of individual trees in the group. photograph was taken on a coal tip near This must be due to the degree of nutrient Aberdare. This lichen is protected on enrichment of those individuals Schedule 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act because of concerns that it might be the Fungi target of collectors. As the single Mark steer has continued to expand the list photographed tuft represents the entire of local fungi (particular for Llanharan). known Welsh population of the species, and His list for February 2015 – November 2014 because this is particularly striking-looking is as follows; lichen, some secrecy around the precise location is considered necessary.’ Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasiculare var.fasculare (caps to 4cm at the moment, So given concerns over the vulnerability of specimens with Cardiff University for the lichen it means that its exact location is ongoing research project) being kept secret, but if you look up Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasiculare goldeneye lichen on the internet you will see var.pusillum (small variety caps to 2cm just what a spectacular (if tiny) thing it is. As fairly flat and thin, specimens with Cardiff I understand it there is nothing necessarily University) special about the hawthorn bush it has been Bleeding broadleaf crust Stereum found on. So if in your wanderings in RCT rugosum and you happen to pass hawthorn bushes, it Holly speckle Trochila ilicina (less than is worth (particularly in the winter when the 1mm only on upper surface of dead leaves) leaves have gone) keeping an eye out for Phacidium multivalve (similar to Holly names!). These were identified with help Speckle but more than 1mm and on both from Lee Johnson formerly with Gwent sides of dead Holly leaves) Fungus Group but now in Orkney. Oak pin Cudoniella acicularis Specimens were looked at by Lee under the Oyster mushroom Pleurotus (not sure if microscope – essential to confirm P.ostreatus or P.cornucopiea, in centre of identifications but unfortunately beyond my Talbot Green on a live tree) capabilities. Often you will find slime moulds Silver leaf fungus Chondrostereum on the underside of logs in damp shady purpureum places. If you would like to learn more about Elf Cup Sarcoscypha species (previous slime moulds I would recommend this specimens in the Woods have been website as a starting point: confirmed as S.austrica but you need to go www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/’ to microscope to be sure of species) Turkeytail Trametes versicolor Then recently Mark sent the following ‘not Fool's conecap Conocybe filaris (my sure if too late for next edition but I have garden, often in potting compost and very found another slime mould in Brynna Woods poisonous!) - Metatrichia floriformis. I'm pretty sure on Common bonnet Mycena galericulata identification as I have seen it and had Trooping funnel Clitocybe geotropa reliably id'd elsewhere. First time in the Smoky bracket Bjerkandra adusta woods though. It was on underside of dead Cobalt crust Terana caerula (said to be elder which had plenty of jelly ear on top’. uncommon but seems to be frequent in Glamorgan VC41) In terms of slim mould hunting Mark offers Firerug inkcap Coprinellus domesticus some excellent advice ‘I'm sure that there (quite similar to Glistening Inkcap are many more slime moulds lurking out C.micaceus species need to go to there! It's just a matter of turning over logs to microscope to separate) find them - plenty of odd looks from Shaggy ccalycap Pholiota squarrosa walkers!’ Thanks to Mark we now know at Split gill Schizophyllum commune least 500% more about the slim moulds of (Llanharan Station car park). RCT than we did before.

Mark is also bravely venturing into the World In early May, Mark Evans emailed the of the mysterious slime mould. In his own following, ‘on my way home from work, this words: ‘firstly I would like to say that I am afternoon, I popped up to the Merthyr tunnel not an expert on these but find them area of Cwmbach, hoping I might find an fascinating creatures! Slime moulds in the early wood warbler present, but no luck past were thought to be fungi but now they there. As I hung around admiring the violets, are classified in the Kingdom 'Protista'. Over my eye was caught by some bright golden the past 2 years I have come across a few yellow blobs, a little way off, in the drainage slime moulds in Brynna Woods including ditch alongside the track. I hoped they might false puffball Reticularia lycoperdon and turn out to be the strange, semi aquatic feathers of tan Fuligo septica (sometimes fungus 'bog beacon' (Mitrula paludosa) erroneously named dog's vomit which is and I was thrilled to find that they were just Mucilago crustacea). These are fairly that. There were around a hundred of the obvious due to their size and form. However small, brightly coloured fruiting bodies as with all slime moulds they go through a emerging from the shallow water of the number of stages. ditch, all within a two metre stretch. There are no records of it in Glamorgan, on the Recently I have come across 2 more National Biodiversity Network Gateway examples which are less obvious due to (NBN web site) and the nearest other record their size. These are Badhamia urticularis to here is in a wood, near Libanus.’ Mark and Hemitrichia clavulata (sorry no English sent me a picture and bog beacons are spectacular things, he also recalled that with and beetles. SewBrec working with the Martin Bevan he ‘noticed a colony of it in a Centre are running two events there in July ditch, alongside the Hirwaun to Penderyn looking for pollinators. Details are set out mineral line, ten or so years ago. I nipped up below. there today to check and yes it is still there. It also seems that there are records of it on Pollinators for People is a project that South MapMate, but for some reason, these East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre haven't made it onto the NBN.’ (SEWBReC) is delivering on behalf of NRW as part of its new area-based work in the Finally on Fungi, Mark Steer reminded me of Rhondda catchment. The project is aiming a fungi foray in September: the ‘Llantrisant to inform people about the importance of Common Fungi Foray is Saturday 26th plants and pollinators for people and the September 2015 - we are limited to environment, to inspire people to engage maximum 20 attendees by NRW so booking with wildlife in publicly accessible spaces in with Mike Bright the Rhondda and to report their wildlife [email protected] necessary. sightings via a recording card or a simple Llantrisant Common is a wonderful place for web portal that are being developed. many wonderful things, I suspect grassland fungi will prove to be one of those wonders. The short project will include two events, both taking place at Daerwynno Field National Monitoring Scheme- Centre, Llanwonno Forest: request for surveyors in Wales We had a flier about the following , which we Monday 6th July 10:30am-3:00pm: Pollinators for People: Introduction to pass on ‘The National Plant Monitoring Biological Recording Training session for Scheme (NPMS) is a new habitat-based leaders and members of local environmental plant monitoring scheme designed by the and community groups. The session will Botanical Society of the British Isles, Centre introduce the Pollinators for People for Ecology & Hydrology, Plantlife and Joint resources and survey forms and will Nature Conservancy Committee. The aim is provide a beginners' introduction to to collect data to provide an annual biological recording. Support and assistance will be given to allow group leaders to indication of changes in plant abundance deliver follow-up training sessions to their and diversity. The scheme is reliant on own groups. Potential participants should volunteers to gather the data in pre- contact Adam Rowe at SEWBReC via determined 1km squares which you can sign [email protected] by Wednesday up for and training material and advice is 1st July. available once you sign up. So if you would like to adopt a square and contribute, please Saturday 25th July 10:00am-4:00pm: Pollinators for People Biodiversity Blitz: A sign up so we achieve good coverage and chance to learn species identification skills get the best data possible for Wales. and to help record wildlife (pollinators, wild- flowers and anything else of interest) at the For further details and to register visit the Daerwynno Field Centre and in the NPMS website’ surrounding NRW forestry estate. Anyone interested in attending either as an expert Daerwynno Pollinator Blitz and leader or general participant should contact Pollinators for People Charlene Davies at SEWBReC via Daerwynno Field Centre is a fantastic place [email protected] in the heart of the Llanwanno forestry with the potential for all sorts of solitary bees and Further details of both events will be wasps, fritillary butterflies, day flying moths published on www.sewbrec.org.uk as they are confirmed.

Anyway that will probably do. I must have Richard Wistow missed reports and records and I apologise Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, (in advance) for those I have. We have Sardis House, moved office to Sardis House, Pontypridd Sardis Road, where the 6th Floor offers great views of Pontypridd, sand martins, and herons. CF37 1DU

As ever thanks for the records, and words [email protected] and thoughts, please keep them coming and enjoy the summer.