Dave Troy @davetroy

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**Lukas VFN** @animalculum@scholar.social · Jul 21, 2024

Jul 21, 2024

Lukas VFN @animalculum@scholar.social

#Conservation success: Rare #birds make remarkable comeback
https://nation.cymru/news/conservation-success-rare-birds-make-remarkable-comeback/

"Before 2020, #bitterns had previously not bred on the #GwentLevels for at least 200 years, yet officers have recently recorded four separate nests at the reserve... The #MarshHarriers originally arrived at #NewportWetlands in 2016 and the original pair raised 12 chicks between 2017 and 2022. A second pair began breeding at the reserve in 2023 and successfully fledged 3 chicks."

A large bird landing in a marshy landscape among reeds

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 29, 2023

Aug 29, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

Back to the #GwentLevels and the #WalesCoastPath today for a #wander from #Redwick to #Caldicot. Frequent squally showers made it, mostly, a #monochome day.

A green tunnel:

A gravel path with a strip of green grass in the middle leads away from the camera in a straight line. Trees line both sides of the path, their boughs meeting above the middle, causing a soft green light to illuminate the scene . In the distance a person, out of focus, walks towards the camera.

A "Putcher Rank":

A black and white photo. Looking over the mouth of the River Severn towards the Somerset coast. The tide is out revealing wide expanses of mud flats. Close to the camera a parallel line of wooden stakes emerges from the foreshore (A "Pitcher Rank" on which baskets would have been suspended to catch fish as the tide moved out)

A wandering duck:

A black and white photo of a female Mallard duck as she wanders out onto the mudflats, leaving a slightly meandering path of footprints behind her.

The Second Severn Crossing:

A black and white photo of this long bridge as it crosses the Severn. The tide is out revealing the substantial concrete pillars supporting most of the bridge, The middle section however, is supported by wires suspended from two tall towers. The towers are reflected in the water below the bridge. Above thick, dark clouds threaten rain

#Cymru #Wales #blackandwhite

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 23, 2023

Aug 23, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

I've been enjoying my wanders on the #GwentLevels recently, the idea that these unique habitats are threatened is infuriating , have a read and sign the petitions if you feel the same:

"New battle to save unique Gwent Levels from development": https://nation.cymru/news/new-battle-to-save-unique-gwent-levels-from-development/

Nation.CymruNew battle to save unique Gwent Levels from developmentMartin Shipton A countryside charity that fought off a proposal to build a motorway through a unique wetland area is having to defend the same landscape against new encroachment. Having helped persuade First Minister Mark Drakeford to reject the M4 relief road that would have split the Gwent Levels in two, the Gwent Wildlife Trust […]

#Cymru #Wales #Nature

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 22, 2023 *

Aug 22, 2023 *

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

Back to the #GwentLevels for a #Wander today, From #Goldcliff to #Redwick. Pictured are:
- The Second Severn Crossing (don't make me say it's official name )
- A "Putcher Rank"; historically, baskets would have been suspended between these rows of stakes to catch fish .
- Looking along Windwill Reen, Llanwern Steelworks in the distance
- St Thomas' Chuch in Redwick showing the highest level the water reached in the "Great Flood of 1606".

The Second Severn Crossing:

Looking along the muddy foreshore of the Severn Estuary, the brown water separating Cymru from England is bisected by the slightly arching course of a white bridge. Numerous pillars support the bridge, except for the central section which is suspended by two tall towers. In the far distance, the bright white suspension towers of the older bridge can be seen.

Looking out across the muddy Severn Estuary and to the Somerset coast, where green farmland gives way to the mostly white industrial buildings of Portishead and Avonmouth. Near to the camera, two parallel lines of old wooden staves emerge from the stone and mud of the foreshore and into the water

Looking inland from the sea wall:

Looking along the course of a "reen". Thick reed beds line the bank of the shallow channel, initially hiding it's course from sight completely. Further on a metal sluice gate controls the flow of water. A series of narrow footbridges can be seen crossing the reen at various points. In the far distance the grey buildings of Llanwern Steel Works rise from behind a line of trees.

St Thomas' Church at Redwick:

The stone wall next to the Porch of the church showing the level to which the water reached during the "Great Flood" of 1606. A Circle with a line through it marks the level, whilst below is inscribed "GREAT FLOOD, A.D. 1606". The mark is just below where the arch starts on the Porch Entrance, approximately 1.3M high

#Cymru #Wales #Landscape

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 12, 2023

Aug 12, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

A few #Insect pictures from this week's walk along the #WalesCoastPath on the #GwentLevels.

A #RedAdmiral #Butterfly
A mating pair of #RuddyDarter #Dragonfly
A #CommonBlue butterfly
A #FurrowOrbWeaver #Spider

A Red Admiral butterfly enjoys the nectar of some Hemp Agrimony flowers:

The butterfly sits on top of a clump of small light purple buds. It's wings are spread showing the mottled dark brown colour with orange, white and black patches.

A pair of mating Ruddy Darter Dragonflies cling to Bramble bush:

The male is a bright red colour and it's tail clasps the pale yellow female on the top of her head. The females body curves round meeting the males under its abdomen, The two bodies forming a heart shaped outline

A Common Blue butterfly perches on Ragwort:

The butterflies wings are closed, showing only their underside which are a light brown colour with black spots outlined in white. A hint of its blue colour cab be seen on its body. The ragwort flowers are bright yellow and resemble miniature sunflowers

A Furrow Orb Weaver spider scrambles through the petals of a Ragwort flower:

The spider is small, about 5mm across and has a bulbous body coloured in shades of brown and beige.

#Nature #naturephotography

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 11, 2023

Aug 11, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

Some of my #Bird spots from yesterdays #Wander on the #GwentLevels, plenty more were seen, but pictured are

- A #Swallow
- #BlackeHeadedGulls, #BlackTailedGodwit and #Lapwing
- A #GreatSpottedWoodpecker, and
- A #Pheasant

A Swallow sits on a horizontal twisted wire. It's mouth is open as it stares up into the sky, showing its bright yellow gape. It's steely blue black wings are folded tight against its body. Pictured from below it's bright white belly an chest, and tawny throat can clearly be seen

A flock of black headed gulls stands in a shallow, calm lagoon. Dotted amongst them are a 4 Black Tailed Godwits, whilst a single lapwing stands at the edge of the water and in front of a line of reeds.

The black headed gulls are mostly white, with black edged, grey wings and tail. They are in their summer plumage, so their heads are actually a mottled light grey colour.

The black tailed godwits have long beaks and necks, bright orangey-brown chests and black and white stripes on their wings.

The lapwing is a little out of focus, but it's white belly and dark purply black back and wings can be seen

A great spotted woodpecker sits in the fork of a yellow lichen covered tree. It has pecked a hole in one of the branches and it's tongue can be seen flicking in and out of it.

The bird has white cheeks with black lines underneath, a black cap, a pale breast with black upper parts, and a bright red rump. The beak is thick and powerful.

A male pheasant struts purposefully through rough grass.

The bird has rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on their bodies and tails, with a dark green head and red face wattling

#Nature #Birds

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Aug 10, 2023

Aug 10, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

Bank on the #WalesCoastPath for a #Wander today. From The #NewportWetlandsCentre to the #SeaWall at #Goldcliff. Here's some views..... I'll post some birds and bugs tomorrow

The inscribed slate plaque at the entrance to the Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve:

An oval shaped, large grey slate plaque, marking the opening of the reserve, stands vertically in front of tall, lush green reeds. A gravel path leads away, towards East Usk Lighthouse, the white cylindrical top of which can be seen above the reeds

Looking over mudflats to the Severn Estuary:

Green rushes give way to a large expanse of dark mudflats, which in turn give way to the slate blue Severn Estuary. To the right, the curve of Cardiff bay can be seen. Across the water, the hills of North Somerset rise out of the water. Between them the two humps of Flat Holm and Steep Holm can just be made out. A Blue sky with some thin white cloud sits above the scene

Looking out over an area of Salt Marsh on the Gwent Levels:

A line of green bushes gives way to orangey brown scrubland, which ends in the green bank of the sea wall. Above white clouds are building in a deep blue sky.

A panoramic picture over the mudflats at GoldCliff:

Looking out from the top of the sea wall over dark mud. veined by the meandering courses of run off water. At the water's edge, thin wooden poles emerge from the mud. Across the water, the hills of North Somerset rise up. A single cargo shape makes it's way up the channel.

#Cymru #Wales #GwentLevels

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Jul 14, 2023

Jul 14, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

A selection of #Butterflies and #Birds seen on yesterday's #Wander on the #gwentlevels

-A #Gatekeeper / #HedgeBrown #Butterfly
-A #PaintedLady Butterfly
-A female #Mallard #Duck, and
-#GreyHeron, #LittleEgret and #BlackHeadedGull on #PeterstoneGout

##Nature #Wildlife

A Gatekeeper, aka Meadow Brown, Butterfly sits on a bramble leaf on tenGwent Levels:

The butterfly has orange wings with broad brown borders and a black spot on each,. It is facing the camera and sitting on a green leaf with serrated edges

A Painted Lady butterfly sunbathes on a gravel path on the Gwent Levels:

The butterfly has a pale buffy-orange background colour to the upper wings. The forewings have black tips marked with white spots; the hindwings have rows of black spots

A female mallard duck floats on calm water at Parc Tredelerch in CArdiff

The duck is a mottled brown colour and is facing the camera with her head tucked back against her back. The water is calm and mirror-like but gentle undulations in it cause distorted reflections

A number of birds standing in shallow water at Peterstone Gout on the Gwent Levels

In the background a grey heron stands, with one leg raised, waiting for prey to pass.. Similarly, nearer to the camera a smaller, bright white. Little Egret stares intently at the water. A group of 4 black headed gulls and an indistinguishable duck are also on the water

**AimlessWelshWanderer** @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales · Jul 13, 2023

Jul 13, 2023

AimlessWelshWanderer @Welshgrumpygit@toot.wales

My first and probably only #Wander of the week today, another stroll along the #WalesCoastPath, this time the #GwentLevels from St Brides Wentlooge near #Newport to Lamby Way in #Cardiff. Not great weather for photography, but a fascinating area for its geography, history and wildlife... now I need to read more about it. So here's some photos of

looking East and West along the levels, one of the many "reens" and a #Panoramic shot of the "Rumney Great Wharf"

Looking East along the "Gwent Levels" to "Uskmouth Power Station":

Standing on a grassy bank, looking over a level area of rough grass to the grey water of the "Mouth of The Severn" . In front, and across the unseen mouth of the "Usk River", large grey block shaped buildings, a tall chimney stack, lines of electricity pylons and a solitary wind turbine, dominate the skyline. Above thick, dark grey clouds dominate the sky.

Looking West along the "Gwent Levels" towards Cardiff:

A raised path between lines of wildflowers curves into the distance. To The left a herd of cows, of various colours, grazes on the flat grassland adjoining the mudflats of the "Mouth of the Severn", A tight flock of starlings, hints at a murmuration above.. Ahead, the skyline is dominated by the large industrial buildings and a few tall apartment and office blocks of the East of Cardiff.

"Torwick Reen":

Looking along a weed filled drainage channel with a closed metal sluice gate at the near end. A track runs parallel to the left side of the reen and a grass feild is on the right.

A panoramic shot of the "Gwent Levels" and "Rumney Great Wharf" :

Looking over the marshy grassland bordering the mudflats of the "Mouth of The Severn". A line of old wooden posts sticks out of the mud and runs parallel to the shore for almost the entire width of the photo. In the far distance (If you zoom in) you can see the uprights of the "Second Severn Crossing" to the left, the "North Somerset Coast" in front and the islands of "Steep Holm" and "Flat Holm" to the right

#Cymru #Wales #Landscape

**John Page** @Usky@mastodonapp.uk · Jan 22, 2023

Jan 22, 2023

John Page @Usky@mastodonapp.uk

I love water voles, they're such cute little critters, but they do all kinds of damage to the banks of the drainage reens on the Gwent Levels. The burrowing to create nests and passageways often causes the reen bank to collapse; no wonder the navvies of years gone by persecuted them for ruining their canal banks.
#photo #photography #GwentLevels #Monmouthshire #watervoles

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