Whilst we are always interested to hear about sightings of any rare species there are some we are particularly interested in. The following lists fifteen very scarce plants, animals and birds in the county borough and the reasons why they are in decline. Please contact the Biodiversity Team if you have seen any of them.
Barn Owl
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Lack of places to nest like old barns and loss of places to hunt.
Bee Orchid (single flower detail)
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Lack of records. Found on limestone grasslands, occasionally on road and railway verges, quarries and woods.
Brown Hare
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Changes in the way crops are grown.
Common Dormouse
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Changes in the way we look after our woodlands.
Cowslip
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Lack of records. Usually found in old meadows and on field banks, roadside verges and beside railway tracks.
Grass Snake
Status in Caerphilly - Threatened
Reason - Loss of old grasslands. Killed through our fear. Don't be afraid they are NOT poisonous!
Great Crested Newt
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Loss of ponds and surrounding wetland plants.
High Brown Fritillary
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Changes in the way we look after our woodlands. Our most endangered butterfly.
Lapwing
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Changing use of farmland. Caerphilly has largest population in the South Wales valleys.
Marsh Fritillary
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Loss of marshy grassland where it grows. Caerphilly has the largest population in the South Wales valleys.
Nightjar
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Loss of young woodland and changes in the way we look after our woods.
Otter
Status in Caerphilly - Threatened
Reason - Polluted rivers and few places to make their homes (holts).
Skylark
Status in Caerphilly - Threatened
Reason - Changes in the way we farm. Still found on common land.
Water Vole
Status in Caerphilly - Rare
Reason - Polluted rivers and loss of riverside habitat.
Yellow Rattle (single flower detail)
Status in Caerphilly - Scarce
Reason - Loss of old meadows.
Contact Information
The Biodiversity Team, Bargoed House, 1 Gladys Way, Bargoed, CF81 8AB
Tel: 01443 866615
