Joining the dots

Female Dotterel.

There are moments in birding that are pure joy. This week, Cwm Cadlan offered just that. On Friday morning, I had been up since the crack of dawn at my usual patch of Goldcliff Lagoons in Newport. I had been braving the twitcher crowd who had gathered, hopeful of a sighting of the rare Broad-billed Sandpiper that had been frequenting the reserve. I had no luck and the hides were getting rather claustrophobic for my tastes, so I decided to head North to the mountains beyond Merthyr Tydfil to see four Dotterels that had been found and were continuing to show well.

Limestone Pavement

Nestled within the limestone heart of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Cwm Cadlan is a landscape of sweeping moorland, scattered rocks, and whispering grasslands. It feels ancient, and the wind carries the stories of centuries. And sometimes, it carries birds, too—rare ones.

Four Eurasian Dotterel were confirmed on April 30th, 2025, at Cwm Cadlan NNR. These charismatic waders, known for their striking plumage and unusual breeding roles, are a rare treat in South Wales. While Cwm Cadlan has been a reliable spot for Dotterel during spring passage in the past, these are the first sightings here since 2013.

For those unfamiliar, the Eurasian Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus) is a small plover with a distinctive appearance. Males take on the primary role of incubating eggs and rearing chicks, a reversal of typical avian gender roles. Their migration routes are long, and stopovers like Cwm Cadlan are crucial for rest and refuelling.

The word Dotterel has an interesting etymology and connotation. It is derived from an old English word which had a derogatory meaning and translates roughly as "fool or stupid". It is thought that the birds earned this name because they are very tame and easily approached and caught by people. In modern times, birders and photographers would use words such as "very accommodating or confiding" to describe them and rather than eat the birds, all that people want to do now is take photographs of these wonderful waders.

When I arrived at Cwm Cadlans limestone pavement, it was midday and the weather was scorching hot, and there was a heat haze. Several birders with scopes and binoculars were watching the birds at a distance. Heat haze is a nightmare for photographers as any images taken at a distance of the birds are very likely to end up being "off" - out of focus and soft. I was a little uneasy about getting any closer as there had been a few back-handed comments aimed at photographers getting too close to the birds, by some present. I honestly think that these were unwarranted and a little overzealous, considering that these were Dotterels and are almost always very approachable without causing them disturbance.

Distant and hazy view of a Dotterel.

I decided to head home as my neck was burning from the sun, and my images would not get any better due to the haze and distance.

When I reviewed my pictures later that day, I was bitterly disappointed in their quality, but thinking on the bright side of things, the images I did have were much better than those when I first saw Dotterels in Norfolk several years ago, so I would have to settle for what I had.

The following Saturday morning, I was up early again, and my good friend Paul Joy pulled up outside my house at 5.40 am  - a good twenty minutes early for a day out we had planned to RSPB Gwenffrwyd Dinas. Paul is always very excited about the Dinas trip, but I was a little surprised at his arrival. I loaded his car up with my kit, and he could not wait to leave. I assumed he was eager to get to Dinas, but en route during a pit stop at a  Greggs for breakfast in Merthyr, he announced we were going on a diversion and instead of heading straight to Dinas, he wanted to visit Cwm Cadlan and see the Dotterels as he had never seen one ( I was really pleased as I would get a second chance to get better pictures).

Paul walking en route to join the Dotterel. The fittest and most determined person of his age that I know!

So about twenty minutes later, I was walking across the Cwm Cadlan heathland, up a gentle incline, with Paul puffing away behind me to join the Dotterel.

When we arrived at the limestone pavement where the Dotterel were located, a small group of photographers had already gathered and were focussing their attention on these rare birds. On this occasion everyone was closer to the Dotterels but remained at a very respectful distance. The birds were quite settled and not at all bothered by our presence.

Male Dotterel

Paul and I settled down and became entranced by these rare visitors to the UK. The Dotterels are really pretty waders and are kind of like a combination of a Lapwing, Garganey and Golden Plover.

Female Dotterel

The birds were quite content and spent a bit of their time preening.

Dotterel sat on top of a clint

The Technical Bit

On both visits to Cwm Cadlan, I used the Olympus OM-1 (Mk1) Mirrorless Camera with the Zuiko 300mm pro lens and 1.4 Converter.

In camera, I enabled the digital converter to give me that little bit extra reach.

All the pictures were taken hand-held without the use of a tripod.

Picture of me in my element  - courtesy of © Paul Joy

Limestone Pavements.

Whilst watching the Dotterel, there was quite a bit of discussion about the origins of the Limestone Pavements and how they are formed -

Deposition of Limestone:

Millions of years ago, marine organisms (like corals and shellfish) died and settled on the seabed. Over time, their calcium-rich shells compacted into limestone rock, often in horizontal layers.

Glacial Scouring (during Ice Ages):

During the last Ice Age, glaciers stripped away the overlying soil, exposing the bare limestone beneath. The glacier's weight and movement smoothed and flattened the surface, creating the basic pavement-like structure.

Chemical Weathering (Solution Weathering):

Once exposed, rainwater, naturally slightly acidic due to dissolved carbon dioxide, dissolves the calcium carbonate in the limestone. The widened cracks are called grikes, and the raised blocks are called clints.