{"id":15309,"date":"2022-04-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=15309"},"modified":"2022-04-25T10:54:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T08:54:35","slug":"beasties-of-the-bog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/04\/06\/beasties-of-the-bog\/","title":{"rendered":"Beasties of the bog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATURE ESCAPES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n

DAY OUT: <\/strong>Cors Dyfi, Powys<\/span><\/p>\n\n

BEASTIES OF THE BOG<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

There is more to Cors Dyfi than ospreys, says Simon Whaley, <\/strong>after spotting vibrant bog flowers, sunbathing lizards and zipping dragonflies from the reserve\u2019s wheelchair-friendly boardwalk<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

S<\/span>andwiched between a caravan park and Dovey Junction, the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Cors Dyfi is worth savouring. This mixed habitat of bog, swamp, scrub and wet woodland is famous for its April-arriving ospreys, but look a little closer and you will notice a host of other wildlife wonders throughout late spring.<\/p>\n\n

A wheelchair-friendly boardwalk weaves across the boggy habitat, from its new visitor centre towards the osprey-viewing 360 Observatory. Amble slowly for your best chance of sightings.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Diverse Dyfi: this Welsh reserve is home to 112 bird, 504 moth, 18 dragonfly and damselfly and 24 mammal species <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

BOARDWALK BATHERS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Sheltered by yellow-flag irises, grasses and shrubs, the sun-soaked boardwalk edges are favoured by lazing common lizards (pictured, inset). Adults emerge from hibernation in spring, ready to mate in April and May. Unlike other reptiles, common lizards incubate their eggs inside their bodies, giving birth to inchlong babies from July. They are easy to spot against the boardwalk thanks to their brown or green colour, with darker spots or rows running along their backs.<\/p>\n\n

REED REVELLERS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Large red damselflies also rest along here on occasion. Emerging from the end of April, their vibrant scarlet bodies and eyes are easily spotted as they dart along the boardwalk between Cors Dyfi\u2019s pools.<\/p>\n\n

Listen out for the chirpy chirrup of reed warblers and the staccato song of sedge warblers drifting through the adjacent tall grasses and reeds. The recognisable calls of cuckoos and red kites also fill the air. May is when furry drinker moth caterpillars are busy munching leaves, ready to pupate in June. Despite all this noise, the reserve\u2019s nocturnal dormice remain oblivious, and sleep right through the day.<\/p>\n\n

HIDE HOPEFULS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Those pausing in the Ceri hide may snatch a fleeting glimpse of the elusive water rail, sneaking between the reedbeds. Bigger splashes might be playful otters frolicking about. There is always a chance of catching the unmistakable fluorescent cerulean flash of a kingfisher darting across the water.<\/p>\n\n

BEAVER BIODIVERSITY<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Cors Dyfi\u2019s newest inhabitants are three Eurasian beavers, which were released into an enclosure here last spring. The wetland habitat management skills of this keystone species will ensure that Cors Dyfi continues to benefit a wide range of wildlife, including the beavers\u2019 famous osprey neighbours.<\/p>\n\n

Visit Cors Dyfi: \u00a36 adult, \u00a32 children, free for MWT members. Caf\u00e9, shop, accessible loos and visitor centre. montwt.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Simon Whaley is a photographer and writer with a passion for the countryside.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Photos: Simon Whaley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DAY OUT: Cors Dyfi, Powys<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":15306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"86","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"86","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_86-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_86-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_external_id":"May-2022-86-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"May-2022-86-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084055||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084055||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-04-08T09:42:08Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"4cf0ed21-717d-4f13-9c6b-41ce5059e78b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-04-25T08:54:41Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ATPDtIXF9TxOca0HOUFnniw","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[30],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99.jpg",1465,1220,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99-300x250.jpg",300,250,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99-768x640.jpg",768,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99-1024x853.jpg",800,666,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99.jpg",1465,1220,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/692ee73b-4fa8-48ee-ad17-f45a6653ea99.jpg",1465,1220,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"DAY OUT: Cors Dyfi, Powys","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15309"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15309"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15648,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15309\/revisions\/15648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}