Field Course: Mountains and Waterfalls

The last day of the field course and took in the Fforest Fawr Mountains and the waterfalls of the River Neath and the Afon Mellte (including the impressive Sgwd yr Etra). In addition to abundant Foxglove, Germander speedwell, Yellow pimpernel, Herb Robert and Herb Bennet seen earlier in the course, Bluebell (Hyacynthoides non-scripta) clung on (later than at lower altitudes) but Water avens (Geum rivale), Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) and Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) were much in bloom. In addition to the conifers, deciduous trees included the Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and Small-leaved lime (Tili cordata). Substantial conifer clearings tended to be dominated by Rosebay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium). There were lots more Common frogs (Rana temporaria). On the River Neath, obtained nice shots of the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and the Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinera) feeding. There was also a clump of the rare Tunbrige filmy fern (Hymenophyllum tunbrigense) near a waterfall.