These latest images allow me to see exactly where the bird was, and significantly where the recognised boundary lies. The Kenfig River forms the boundary between NPT and Bridgend. An OS map would show the boundary to follow the path of the River as shown on the illustration above. Comparison of the map and image allow the recognised path of the river to be followed through the reed bed, and crucially this path lies to the north of the scrape. This also shows me that I only ever saw the Wood Sandpiper in East Glamorgan.
I'm not absolutely sure about the history surrounding the creation of the scrape, but looking at it closely in the images appears to shows the route of the Kenfig River may be changing. I imagine that during periods of heavy rainfall a significant amount of water runs through the middle of the scrape as well as running along what is taken to be the recognised path of the Kenfig River. However, there are certain signs, which can be seen in the images, that show the scrape route is developing into what will become the main route. This may need to be addressed to keep the scrape in it's current and seasonally favourable condition. If the area is left to develop naturally I imagine that the recognised boundary will need to change.
To summarise, it looks like East Glam will lose ground (or reed bed) to West Glam!
4 comments:
Mark, I know the vice-county boundaries technically are static, which means you can have bits of both adjoining counties on the same side of the riverbank where a river has changed its course since being mapped by Watson. However, not sure how this applies to LA boundaries, which change more frequently than the wind!
The wetlands on the north side of the river were dug out in the 1990s by the former Kenfig wildfowlers. The wetland on the south side has not been scraped. It's a natural feature that floods when the river is in spate. Since the late 1990s it has become more of a permanent water body only drying out during prolonged dry periods in the summer. Cattle grazing on the reserve has helped keep the area open. To my eye, the river course looks the same on both images.
Agree with Dave about the course of the river, which is visible as a very thin line through the reeds, meaning anything on the open marsh south of this is in East Glam.
Agree with Dave about the course of the river, which is visible as a very thin line through the reeds, meaning anything on the open marsh south of this is in East Glam.
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