Dragonflies galore at Crymlyn Bog, Swansea

Keeled Skimmer

Date:  18 June 2017

Location:  Crymlyn Bog, Swansea

Not far from where I live is an awesome little nature reserve called Crymlyn Bog; a designated SSSI with an array of flora and fauna.

The weather was brilliant (about 25 degrees) so we planned to go to the reserve looking for lizards that usually basked on the boardwalks.  Unfortunately, it looked like the lizards were hiding, perhaps the weather was to hot? On the other hand dragonflies were out in good numbers.

Here are some of my pics from the walk...

Crymlyn Bog information sign

Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly

Keeled Skimmers mating

Damselfly

4 Spotted Chaser

Black Tailed Skimmer

The fantastic boardwalks of Crymlyn Bog (usually lots of lizards on the sides)

Apart from the wonderful dragonflies there were quite a few birds around including Sedge Warbler, juvenile robin and a fabulous buzzard that was perched on a nearby lamppost.

Sedge Warbler

Juvenile Robin

Buzzard

Buzzard in flight right over our head

Horses in a nearby field

Ringed Ouzel in the Brecon Beacons

Date:  16 June 2017

Location:  Craig Cerrig Gleisiad, Brecon Beacons

An interesting day today. We ventured up to the Brecon Beacons National Park to a wonderful Nature Reserve called Craig Cerrig Gleisiad.

We knew Ring Ouzel have been sighted there, it even says on the information board at the entrance of the reserve, but we've never ever seen one here...until today. 

The start of the walk with a information sign...

...Ring Ouzels!

We made our way to the reserve and were dwarfed by the overpowering steep crags. This fascinating landscape is the result of the Ice Age 20,000 years ago and over time the ice carved the 150m cliffs we see today. 

Despite the reserve's tough, mountainous setting it has an array of wildlife. Over 500 plants can be found here and 80 different birds including; Peregrine Falcons, Kestrels, Red Gouse and of course the Ring Ouzels. In addition to the plants and birds, you will find many species of fungi, insects, amphibian and reptile species. 

The step crags of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad

Green Tiger Beetle

Red Tailed Bumblebee (I think)

We explored deeper into the reserve and noticed a large bird perched on a cliff in the distance, we couldn't really work out what it was, so we checked the pic on the camera's screen and noticed another bird on the right of the pic...we couldn't believe it, a Ring Ouzel! We saw with our own eyes the Ring Ouzel was join by another one and attacked the bird on the left until they eventually chased it off. 

Here is the pic, you can see the large bird on the left (which is in fact a buzzard) and to the right you can see a small black bird (the Ringed Ouzel) with the distinctive white collar

After all the excitement and no other sighting of  the Ouzels we decided to call it a day. Walking back to the car we spotted a fox and watched as  Pen Y Fan disappeared behind hill fog. 

Pen Y Fan behind the clouds

Red Fox

Want to see Craig Cerrig Gleisiad in the snow?

Then check out my previous blog from a few years ago...

Kingfisher at Forest Farm, Cardiff

Date:  15 June 2017

Location:  Forest Farm, Cardiff

Without doubt, one of my favourite bird is the kingfisher. I haven't seen many in my life and it was only last year I saw my first one. A spectacular, colourful little bird that is so charming to see and I get so excited when I get a glimpse of one.

Recently on Facebook I noticed there had been a few spotted in a lovely little place called 'Forest Farm' in Whitechurch, Cardiff. A great place and a haven to wildlife with some really good bird hides. We got comfortable in one of the hides and waited; whilst waiting we meet a lot of lovely people all eager to to get a glimpse of this beautiful bird.

A few other birds made an appearance, including a grey heron, green woodpecker and moorhens:

Grey Heron

Adult moorhen

Juvenile Moorhen

It must have been well over an hour before we got our reward, my partner Dan spotted it in the back of the pond. It was quite hard to see at first, with the orange breast blending into the reeds. But as soon as he started flying, with that striking blue, there was no way you could miss him.

The beautiful kingfisher at Forest Farm

Unfortunately, he was only around for about a minute and never returned when we were there. We didn't mind, we saw him and that was enough to make us smile!

I will definitely make Forest Farm one of my 'go to' birding places, it's great! Here are some of the other treats we saw:

Closeup of a Magpie from one of the hides

Great Tit

Not far from the education building we discovered this little patch of wild flowers; isn't beautiful? I would much rather see flowers like this than a well mowed lawn :)

Red tailed bumble bee collecting pollen from a cornflower.

30 Days Wild 2017 - Star Species

This will be my 3rd year to do the Wildlife Trust's  #30DaysWild challenge and I thought I would do something a bit different.

For 2017 I will be concentrating on one species a day and finding out lots of interesting facts about it. Whether it's a flower, mammal, bird, fungi, insect etc. I will try and discover (and hopefully photograph) something of interest daily and learn more about it by researching the internet and reading books. I will also try and create some artwork inspired by it using different mediums.

So this year, my #30DaysWild will be all about #StarSpecies - Click here to read my #30DaysWild blog