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A few suggested locations for nature photography, mainly within the south Wales area.
Roath Park, Cardiff
Situated in a pleasant suburb of Cardiff, Roath Park's main feature is a large lake. This can be an excellent area, particularly in winter, to photograph ducks and gulls. Species include Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Pochards, as well as Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, and Herring Gulls. There is a Cormorant colony that roosts on tall trees on one of the lake's islands, and these can easily be photographed both whilst roosting and when flying overhead. The islands also attract Grey Herons, as well as the occasional Little Egret. Great Crested Crested also breed on the lake, and often come close enough for photogaphs, although the Little Grebes that arrive in winter need a little more stealth to get close to! There are also large numbers of introduced ornamental and feral birds - such as Greylag and Canada Geese - as well as passerines such as Wood Pigeons, and the ubiquitous Feral Pigeons. Oh, and watch out for Grey and Pied Wagtails anywhere around the margins of the lake. A great place for a couple of hours' photography!
Cosmeston Lakes, Penarth
This is a country park only a couple of miles from Cardiff city centre. What looks like two lakes is actually a single lake, the two parts of which are joined by a narrow stretch of water which is crossed by a pedestrian bridge. Near the main entrance, the water birds are habitually fed by visitors in winter, giving great opportunity to photograph many of the same species as at Roath Park - geese, gulls, ducks, swans, coots, moorhens, etc. Walking clockwise round the lake from here takes you on a boardwalk winding through a small reedbed. The reeds contain Cetti's and (in summer) Reed Warblers, although both are quite skulking and can be difficult to photograph. Bearded Tits occasionally visit, and Water Rails sometimes pop onto the boardwalk, which may be photographed if your reactions are quick! Slightly further along this path is a bird table where small birds are fed by locals, and are tame enough to allow photos of Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Robins, tits, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, etc. And that's not mentioning the ubiquitous Grey Squirrels. Rarer birds can and do turn up on the lake; so keep your eyes peeled!
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