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Wales Gwent

Dipper Cinclus cinclus ŠNigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Gwent comprises: Monmouthshire County, Newport County Borough, Torfaen County Borough, Blaenau Gwent County Borough and Caerphilly County Borough

Gwent is an essentially rural county, and large areas are still unspoilt by either industry, urban sprawl or agri-business. The landscape ranges from the Gwent Levels along the Severn Estuary, to the north-western ridges which rise to 450-580m above sea level. The western boundary is formed by the River Rhymney, the east and north-eastern by the River Wye and it`s tributary the Monnow. and the River Usk also flows NW-SE.

There are four fairly distinct regions

1. the alluvial levels by the Severn Estuary, protected by a sea-wall; they are drained by ditches known locally as reens.

2. the W. valleys, formerly heavily industrialised. The ridges between the valleys have areas of birch and oak woodland, but commercial conifer plantations are also present. The tops can be open moor-land, forestry or extensive piles of mining wastes.

3. the Black Mountains in the N. are completely rural. Turbulent rocky streams, small pastures, patches of alder, ash and oak woodland. The slopes (ffridd) between the enclosed farmland and the open moor are rough grassland with bracken and scattered hawthorns and rowan. The plateaux support heather and bilberry, moor-land and peat bogs. Rocky crags and cliffs, and disused quarries are also present.

4. the central area largely consists of rolling farmland with well developed hedgerows and scattered woodlands.

top sites

Llandegfedd Reservoir

(ST320990)is more important for wintering wildfowl. There is sailing on part of the lake in the summer. Again, many good spots are too small, and too numerous to list.

Region 1

Peterstone Wentlooge (ST270200); Uskmouth and Goldcliff (ST320820); Collister Pill (ST450850); Black Rock (ST510880) are known for passage waders, some sea-watching, etc. There are small numbers of breeding Redshank, lapwing and curlew on the Levels. Magor Marsh reserve, run by GWT (ST4286). Reedwarblers, etc, breeding Little Grebe. There is to be a new wetland site at Uskmouth to replace the Cardiff Bay. It is not yet clear exactly what habitats will be provided.

Region 2

Sirhowy Valley Country Park for woodland birds, Mynydd Maen ST260970 (pronounce the y as in but, southern English accent, dd is th ) and Mynydd Garn clochdy SO2805 for moor-land species: possibilities include Merlin, whinchat, Wheatear, meadow pipit, skylark, tree pipit

Region 3

Trefil Quarries (SO120130) used to have Ring ouzel, raven, peregrine etc, but the quarries are in active use again. Use an OS map, and discover for yourself dipper, grey wagtail, common sandpiper, sand martins ,buzzard and sparrowhawk of course, raven, pied flycatcher, wood warbler, all 3 woodpeckers, common redstart, all the tits (except crested!); red grouse are sparse.

Region 4

This includes the large tracts of woodland, Wentwood Forest (ST400930) and Chepstow Park Wood (ST480970) which at the right times of the year have crossbill, nightjar, woodcock, redpoll, siskin. Goshawk can be seen in various locations, as can hobby.

The Wye Valley

is a region in itself, with steep, wood-clad slopes, and is a Mecca for botanists. Symonds Yat viewing point is a well-known for Peregrine.

contributor

Ruth Brown
Ruthb@jizz.demon.co.uk

county recorder

Chris Jones
22 Walnut Drive, Caerleon, Newport, Gwent NP6 1SB
01633 423439

numbers

Number of bird species:289

useful reading

Birds of Gwent

by Andrew Baker Helm 2007
ISBN: 0713676337
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Gwent Bird Report

both available from Jerry Lewis, Y Bwthyn Gwyn, Coldbrooke, Abergavenny NP7 9TD

clubs

Gwent Ornithological Society

http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk
TJ Russell, The Pines, Highfield Road, Monmouth, Gwent NP5 3HP 01600 716266 - Home Page for the Gwent Ornithological Society (GOS) now up and running with news, the latest newsletter, meetings dates, links and more...

Gwent Wildlife Trust

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/gwent/
Gwent covers the lower Wye and Usk river valleys and the Severn Estuary in South East Wales. In the last fifty years Gwent has lost two thirds of its ancient woodland and the lowlands surrounding the Severn Estuary are threatened by industrial development.

Torfaen Wildlife Interest Group

Torfaen Wildlife Interest Group (TWIG) is the Torfaen branch of Gwent Wildlife Trust. We are dedicated to promoting the conservation of nature in our local area. Torfaen has a rich diversity of wildlife, despite a long industrial history, but it is under constant threat. The needs of a large urban population and a burgeoning new industrial base create a great deal of pressure for increasing development and the loss of important habitats. Our wildlife needs to be surveyed, recorded, monitored and protected.

reserves

Eryri or the Snowdonia National Park

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1098/Eryri.html
Eryri or the Snowdonia National Park was designated a National park in 1951, the third National Park to be created in England and Wales under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the countryside Act. It is the second largest National park in England and Wales, covering some 2,171 square kilometres (838 square miles) of north west Wales, and including the Carneddau, and Glyderau mountain ranges as well as the Highest mountain in England and Wales (1085m/3560ft)- Yr Wyddfa (the Tomb in welsh); or Snowdon from which the Park takes its (english) name. The welsh name Eryri means place of the eagles.

Forestry Commission - Caerphilly Woodlands

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/wildwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/WalesCaerphillyNoForestCaerphillyWoodlands
Good for buzzards and owls...

Gwent Levels Wetland Reserve

http://i086.coolfreepage.com/gwentlevels/
A pictorial tour around the reserve...

Gwent Levels Wetlands Reserve

http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk/GLWR.htm
This new wildlife reserve (opened in March 2000), on part of the tranquil Gwent Levels on the edge of the City of Newport, was created as mitigation for the loss of mudflats of Cardiff Bay. The new reedbeds, saline lagoons and wet grasslands have already attracted a wealth of wetland birds including over-wintering wigeon, shoveler, teal, shelduck and pintail. Bitterns may be seen at the Uskmouth Reedbeds in winter along with hen harriers and short-eared owls...

Gwent Wildlife Trust Reserves

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/gwent/reservemap.htm
Clickable map...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

local guides

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Brick House Country Guest House

http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/brickh.html
The many interesting sites in the vicinity include Caldicot Castle, eight miles east of Brick House and famous for its Medieval Banquets, held on most summer evenings.

West Usk Lighthouse

http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/westusk.html
In 1821, it was on an island where the Severn and Usk run into the sea, with views far out into the Bristol Channel. Since then, land has been reclaimed and although on one side the loudest sound is of the sea when the tide (second fastest in the world) comes racing in to the foot of the building, on the other only the occasional mooing cow can be heard. You can sit in the latern room, go birdwatching or wander along the reedy dykes, looking for the plants that botanists find of particular interest. Rabbits scamper beneath the willow, butterflies flit among the blackberry bushes.

A local Biodiversity Action Plan for Blaenau Gwent

http://www.ukbap.org.uk/asp/lbap.asp?ID=415
Conservation partners and plans...

Ebbw Vale Owl Sanctuary

http://www.owlpages.com/articles/ebbw_vale/Default.htm
The sanctuary is in Ebbw Vale, Gwent, and it is run by a man called Malcolm. He doesn`t charge a penny for entry into the sanctuary, you are free to donate anything you might wish to, whatever you can afford. All his owls are rescued birds which have suffered some horrible fate, or been injured at some time, and Malcolm takes them in and looks after them...

artists