Exploring Welsh Uplands

I recently spent a few days exploring the uplands of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, formerly known as the Brecon Beacons. Although a lot of the uplands are closely grazed and so rather poor in biodiversity, I was exploring a few small pockets of fantastic natural upland habitat. 

The first main location I visited was Craig-cerrig Gleisiad NNR, a steep cliff surrounded by moorland, rising to Fan Frynych at 629m. At the summit, the surrounding landscape stretched out into a damp plateau and was absolutely packed with Cotton-grass.

Difficult to properly capture in a photograph; the natural regeneration of woodland at Craig-cerrig Gleisiad was just fantastic, with birch, hawthorn and rowan sprouting up in the more sheltered areas of the main cliff, creating a superb habitat for upland passerines, such as Willow Warbler, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. There are also large patches of scree slope, perfect for Wheatear.

Moving down the slope, the woodland turned into bracken-dominated habitat, which held many pairs of Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. 

Unlike a lot of the surrounding, heavily grazed uplands, the ground in this lightly grazed area was carpeted with Bilberry and Heath Bedstraw, creating a much more biodiverse ecosystem.

Over the few days in the area,  I found Bog Pimpernel (top left) growing on the margins of almost every stream, mire or wet flush I encountered, often alongside Marsh Pennywort (not pictured). Slightly less frequent was Bog Asphodel (bottom left) and Lesser Water Plantain (top right), the latter of which is a scarce plant in Britain, mostly confined to the western fringes of the country. 

Whilst checking some rocky outcrops, I was really please to find a small clump of Mossy Saxifrage (bottom right), a small, low growing alpine plant, again mostly confined to the western fringes of Britain. 

Occasionally, on areas with thin soil and low growing vegetation, large swaths of Wild Thyme grew, sometimes with Bilberry Bumblebees foraging on them.

One of the most common plants in these areas was Heath Bedstraw, which covered the ground. I also came across a few Dark Green Fritillary butterflies in these sheltered areas - an odd sight as they zoomed across the seemingly barren uplands!

Whilst admiring a small section of a drystone wall with Sheep's Bit Scabious and Mouse-ear Hawkweed, a small insect zooming around caught my attention - a Western Bee-fly. This nationally scarce species can be told from the two other common bee-fly species by it's small size and that it has clear wings with no dark markings. 

I saw a large amount of Meadow Pipit breeding evidence during the few days, with at least 30 nest sites found, and practically every adult was carrying food.

Stonechats were also very abundant, with at least 10 territories and plenty of adults with food, as well as a couple of recently fledged young. Over 8 Willow Warbler nest sites were found too.

Although July isn't really the best time to see upland breeding birds, I still managed to see a few, including very good numbers of Lesser Redpoll. 

In an area of raised mire at Mynydd Illtyd I was pleased to see a Snipe dart upa and then dropping back down very quickly, shortly followed by another - after watching their behaviour for a while, I'm pretty sure they were a pair with young, hidden well out of view by the long vegetation. In the same area, I also saw (well, actually, first heard, then saw!) a number of Curlew; almost certainly breeding birds. 

And finally, a Spotted Flycatcher at Pwll-Y-Wrach nature reserve near Talgarth...well, to be precise, in the car park!

...and just a few meters away was its nest with at least 3 young!

I had a fantastic few days exploring these uplands, the small pockets of habitat I saw was just superb; to see what can happen when grazing pressure is reduced it really encouraging. 

But just before this post ends, a quick local birding update of what I've seen...

Mid-summer is a very quiet time for birding locally, although the first south-bound returning waders are slowly starting to trickle through, including Green and Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and Ruff at Slimbridge a couple of days ago. 

As I write, I can hear Swifts 'screaming' over my house in Herefordshire.

Since it warmed up (finally!) they have been gathering in quite large numbers; peaking yesterday at over 70 birds which may have coincided with the mass emergence of flying ants in the afternoon!

Not long now and early Autumn visible migration will be upon us once again...south-bound hirundines and mipits...I can't wait!