Post 60 Travelogue

Walking, Wildlife, the Wales Coastal Path and others, all with photographs.

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  • This is my Travelogue
  • Walks
    • Castle Howard
    • Newby Hall and Gardens
    • Lockdown Walks
    • Scampston Hall, the Park and Gardens
    • RHS Harlow Carr
    • Kenfig Pool Walk
    • Llanrhidian to Llanmadoc Walk
    • Burry Port to Pembrey Country Park
    • Peterston Wentloog to Dyffryn Newport
    • Loughor Estuary part 4 – Pwll to Burry Port
    • Loughor Estuary part 3: Machynys to Pwll – Llanelli by the Sea
    • Parc Slip Nature Reserve
    • Lougher Estuary Part 2: Llanelli Wetlands to Machynys and Bwlch y Gwynt
    • Penclawdd to Llanrhidian
    • Oxwich to Port Eynon
    • Lougher Estuary Part 1: Lougher to Llanelli Wetlands
    • A Walk Around Llangynwyd Village
    • Loughor Castle to Penclawdd
    • Pengam to Peterstone Wentlooge
    • East Moors to Pengam
    • Port Eynon to Rhossili
    • Cowbridge Oasis
    • Castle-upon-Alun and Coed-y-Bwl Nature Reserve.
    • Three Cliffs to Oxwich
    • Caswell Bay to Three Cliffs Bay
    • The Mumbles to Caswell Bay
    • Swansea Marina to The Mumbles
    • Somerset Views
    • Jersey Marine to Port Tennant
    • A Stroll around Cosmeston Lakes
    • Further trips to Cwm Colhuw and Nature Reserve
    • Aberavon to Baglan/Briton Ferry
    • Visit to Dinefwr
    • Kenfig Pool to Margam
    • Cardiff Bay to Penarth Cliff Top
    • Rest Bay, Porthcawl to Kenfig Pool
    • Newton Point to Rest Bay, Porthcawl
    • Ogmore to Newton Point
    • St. Andrew’s Major Circuit Photos
    • Penarth to Sully Walk
    • Porthkerry to Fontygary Walk
    • Fontygary to Gileston,Limpert Bay Walk
    • Limpert Bay, to Summerhouse Bay Walk.
    • Summerhouse Bay to Cwm Colhuw Walk
    • Cwm George and the Salmon Leaps Walk
    • Cwm Colhuw to Nash Point Walk
    • An Interlude at Cefn Onn
    • Nash Point to Dunraven Bay Walk
    • Aberthaw Nature Reserve
    • Dunraven Bay to Ogmore Castle Walk
    • Barry Island to Porthkerry Walk
    • Return to Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve
    • An Evening Return Visit to Aberthaw
  • Photo Galleries
    • Castle Howard Photos
    • Newby Hall and Gardens Photos
    • Scampston Hall and Gardens Photos
    • RHS Harlow Carr Photos
    • Kenfig Pool Photos
    • Llanrhidian to Llanmadoc Photos
    • Burry Port to Pembrey Country Park Photos
    • Peterston Wentloog to Dyffryn Newport Photos
    • Loughor Estuary part 4 – Pwll to Burry Port Photos
    • Loughor Estuary part 3: Machynys to Pwll Llanelli by the Sea Photos
    • Parc Slip Nature Reserve Photos
    • Penclawdd to Llanrhidian Photos
    • Lougher Estuary Photos Part 2: Llanelli Wetlands to Machynys and Bwlch y Gwynt
    • Lougher Estuary Photos Part 1: Lougher to Llanelli Wetlands
    • A Walk Around Llangynwyd Village Photos
    • Loughor Castle to Penclawdd Photos
    • Pengam to Peterstone Wentlooge Photos
      • East Moors to Pengam Photos
    • Port Eynon to Rhossili Photos
    • Cowbridge Oasis Photos
    • Oxwich to Port Eynon Photos
    • Castle-upon-Alun and Coed-y-Bwl Nature Reserve Photos
    • Three Cliffs to Oxwich Photos
    • Caswell Bay to Three Cliffs Bay Photos
    • The Mumbles to Caswell Bay Photos
    • Swansea Marina to The Mumbles Photos
    • Somerset Views Photos
    • Jersey Marine to Port Tennant Photos
    • A Stroll around Cosmeston Lakes Photos
    • Further trips to Cwm Colhuw and Nature Reserve Photos
    • Aberavon to Baglan/Briton Ferry Photos
    • Visit to Dinefwr Photos
    • Kenfig Pool to Margam Photos
    • Rest Bay, Porthcawl to Kenfig Pool Photos
    • Newton Point to Rest Bay, Porthcawl Photos
    • Ogmore to Newton Point Photos
    • St. Andrew’s Major Circuit
      • Cardiff Bay To Penarth Cliff Top Photos
    • Penarth to Sully Photos
    • Porthkerry to Fontagary Photos
    • Font-y-gary to Gileston Photos
    • Limpert Bay to Summerhouse Bay Photos
    • Summerhouse Bay to Cwm Colhuw Photos
    • Cwm Colhuw to Nash Point Photos
    • Cefn Onn Photos
    • Nash Point to Dunraven Bay Photos
    • Aberthaw Nature Reserve Photos
    • Dunraven Bay to Ogmore Castle Photos
    • Return to Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve Photos
      • Cwm George and the Salmon Leaps Photos
    • Barry Island to Porthkerry Photos

Aberthaw Nature Reserve

As I mentioned at the beginning of this, shall we call it a, Travelogue, I had joined the Valeway walkers. One of their many walks included the Aberthaw Nature Reserve, so I accompanied them on an easy one and a half hour morning ramble. The 303 bus travels from Llantwit Major to Barry through Aberthaw, so that’s the bus for me. It stops at the Blue Anchor pub. If you remember, my daughter and I had walked the Fontygary to Gileston stretch of the Coastal Path and I commented upon the fact that Orchids were growing in the Nature Reserve and that I would return to the area sometime to photograph them. My opportunity had arrived and I hoped that my visit would prove fruitful. I was not disappointed. There were many patches of hybrid (Dacylorhiza fuchsia x praetermissa), Common Spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii ), Southern Marsh, (Dactylorhiza maculata ) and Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis ).

There was plenty of pleasant chatter as we wandered around the semi-freshwater lagoon, Beware snakesthe old Lime works and back towards the new Cement works past a small manmade pond and through the trees. As we walked we passed scary signs telling us to “Beware of SNAKES”. The Sloe bushes (Prunus spinosa) were beginning to fruit and on either sides of the paths oxeye daisy paththere was a profusion of Oxeye daises (Leucanthemum vulgare) its prominent yellow central disc  surrounded by a ring of pure white ray florets. Unlike the frothy confection that was the earlier Cow Parsley, the Oxeye daisies were a much brighter white spectacle looking like dabs of paint spread with a palette knife. The Orchids are dotted about in little pockets of vegetation. There are Common Blue (Polyommatus Icarus)and Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris) flitting about in the sun, while in the shade of the woods Cobwebs and deware Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria). A cobweb in the grass has caught the dew and sparkles like jewels in the sunshine. The varieties of grasses are growing lushly, all intermingling with one another and Common Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is creeping through them, its tendrils snaking up their stems. Horsetails (Equisetum arvense) are also making an appearance.

As we approach the lagoon the Reeds and Thistles are growing thickly on the banks. Two Mute Swans, a flock of Canada Geese and some Mallards and Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula)were enjoying the smooth waters of the lagoon. A female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) was ushering her youngsters in among the reeds. The Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis) all of a sudden took flight and I managed to get some magnificent shots of the skein circling over the lagoon and towards the seashore. At the lagoon edge a multitude of Larvae were swimming over and in the muddy bottom.

Serene swans
ducklings
Canada Geese

 The hill to the right of the lagoon was festooned with Orchids: quite a sight. These were mostly Southern Marsh Orchids in pale and darker pink shades. On closer inspection a Five-spot Burnet moth (Zygaena trifolii) is sipping nectar from one of the Orchids.

Field of Orchids

Common Spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii ), and Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis ) accompany the Southern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata ) along the path beside the sea wall. The Red Valerian has also burst into flower here. Some Rooks were parading along the path. A few Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) are sitting in the Hawthorn bushes, which are setting their berries. Also a Buzzard and some Sea Gulls are competing for air space above the old Lime kilns.

Traversing the other side of the lagoon, the Dog Roses, both pink and white, and Wild Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum ) were in full flower exuding a heavenly scent ; insects flitting among the blooms and partaking of their lovely nectar. Butterflies were sunning themselves upon the vegetation: Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria), Common Blues, Large Whites and Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta). Near the Limekilns the Wild Cherry trees (Prunus avium) were starting to bear fruit; a few were actually turning red. The Teasels were growing ever higher, almost reaching the top of my head. The whorls of leaves were trapping the rain water, which was shimmering in the sunlight.

Blue dragonflyAt the small pond yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) and purple Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) were in flower and a single White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) was gracing the surface of the water. Blue Dragonflies (Anisoptera species) were hovering above and around the pond which contained Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and I think Trout (Salmo trutta), as I saw flashes of Orange and Brown. Hidden in the Clover by the side of the path was a day time flying moth, a Companion Burnet (Euclidia glyphica ). Almost overlooked was a single brown dead-looking plant, a Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor).

Masses of fernsOn the return journey we were in dappled shade, a tree lined path which took us under a disused railway bridge. Under the canopy of leaves were masses of ferns, Hart’s Tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) and Male Ferns (Dryopteris felix-mas), flowering Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) bushes and some Stinking Irises (Iris foetidissima). The light piercing 434through the trees set them off a treat. I took some gorgeous atmospheric photographs of them.

 

 

Blue AnchorAs is usual with these outings, some of the ramblers would then partake of a little beverage at a local hostelry, in this case the Blue Anchor in Aberthaw. Another delightful walk and photo shoot completed. Back on the bus and home.

I will return to the Aberthaw Nature Reserve from time to time, in order to observe the changing seasons together with its changing flora and fauna.

Further information on the Nature Reserve can be found on the walk Fontygary to Gileston.

Many Thanks to Valeways, especially Sylvia who led the walk.

 

 

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