The past few blogs have been from my trips over the fields (and salt marshes) and far away. I thought I would return to my home patch for this blog.
For those of you who have read these blogs since the beginning you will know I spend an inordinate amount of time hiding in reed beds at Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales. I am usually trying to get a photo of those elusive “near-mythicals”, Bearded Tits.
I first started visiting Newport Wetlands and exploring the wider environs of the Gwent Levels about five years ago, so I basically cut my birding teeth in the area so to speak. The wide variety of wildlife than can be found there piqued a hitherto unknown interest in dragonflies, plants and most things that slither and bound around our countryside. I am a self-taught photographer. Most of my skills came from practising getting shots (mainly of wildfowl) on the levels. I have made several good friends whilst visiting Newport Wetlands, most of them can be found posting on the Newport Wetlands message boards on this website, or posting their fantastic photos on the Newport Wetlands Flickr pages that I help run. It really does have a special place in my heart.
I visited the Wetlands last week. I managed to see a couple of Bearded Tits flitting around, but the highlight of the day for me was watching a couple of Gadwall going about their lives close to the screen where I was sitting. The Gadwall is an underrated bird. It is often overlooked possibly because the female looks a lot like a female Mallard. The male is a dusty light brown and has the most wonderful patterns or vermiculations on their backs. The pair I was watching looked resplendent in the autumnal sun. Along the coastal path I spotted three orange/ brown birds flying from reed stem to reed stem. A quick check through the binoculars and I had found a family of Stonechats. Once again I settled down on a bench and waited for the wildlife to come to me. It is a wonderful feeling once the birds become accepting in your presence … you can be rewarded with some lovely close views of them acting naturally and you can get some wonderful photographs. I wasn’t alone there, even though it was a Tuesday morning. There were decent numbers of people out for a walk, having a cycle along the Welsh Coastal Path, or just bird watching like me. It always pleases me seeing so many people simply connecting with nature in their own ways.
Along the coast from the reserve is Goldcliff. There are a number of hides there and some wonderful birding opportunities. I managed to see the Glossy Ibis there a couple of years back, as well as a Great White Egret and a Spoonbill. There is an Avocet colony there during the breeding season, and it is one the best places in South Wales to see Merlin hunt. During the migration season Hobby’s pick off dragonflies and small passerines. Other species that can be found include Meadow Pipit, Lapwing and Skylark. In the month of August alone Newport Wetlands very own Mat Meehan recorded 151 species in the Gwent area alone. The area is truly teeming with bird life!
Which is why it is desperately disappointing to learn that this area is under threat from the proposed M4 relief road that will cut a swathe through this beautiful landscape. The current proposal is for a motorway that will pass through no less than four Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are fears that the impact that the increased levels of noise and air pollution would alter this fragile eco-system for ever, and this in turn would put even more pressure on protected species of plant, animal and bird life. It is worth noting that the Newport Wetlands Reserve was created as compensation for the destruction of the natural habitat at Cardiff Bay. I have watched it flourish over the past five years, and I have used it as a place to find a little bit of peace and solitude from the humdrum of modern day life. It is hard to imagine the sounds of articulated trucks thundering past in the near distance. I want my summer days there to echo to the sound of Reed Warblers not rush hour!
I cannot see for the life of me what can be gained from harming such a wonderful natural habitat, especially one that has been carefully managed for years to help the fragile ecosystems there flourish, just to knock half an hour off people’s daily commute. The State Of Nature report highlighted our wildlife’s fragile condition; this proposal will put even more pressure on this. It would be a sad day if this would be allowed to happen.
If you want to read more on the proposals, Dana Thomas has put a more in depth look at the proposals and what input you can make into the decision making process in her blog on the subject here. Take five minutes to read it if you already haven’t already.
All Images taken at the Gwent Levels and © Anthony Walton