Rhaslas with Mike Hogan, Sophie-Lee Williams et al.: 15 wigeon, 6 mallard, 1 teal (with broken wing), 2 GC grebes, 1 cormorant, 1 kestrel but no sign of Wednesday’s merlin. 2 mipits, 28 starlings, 2 skylarks, 2 pied wags, otherwise quite quiet. Pink wax cap (Hygrocybe calyptriformis) by the dam.

Of note: the proposal for opencast/surface-mining in the area surrounding and encompassing Rhaslas pond was submitted on 10th October 2013. The full proposal can be found here:

http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/site.aspx?s=oMR4sZmcAxsXPse6F8ZuQA==

…and the Environmental Impact Assessment can be found here (scroll down to Chapter 8, ecology & nature conservation):

Click to access ES_Volume1_Technical_Assessments_Part1.pdf

At Llanishen: 2 moorhen (highest ever count here for me!), 6 mallard, 8 Canadas, M&F sparrowhawk soaring together.