Iolo is surprised by adders living on an old colliery site next to Tonmawr rugby pitch, up the valley from Port Talbot. The uplands at the head of the Afan valley are a surprising place to find water voles that have become increasingly rare elsewhere. Here, they have taken up residence in pools next to the wind turbines.

And in the Ogmore valley, Iolo’s patience is rewarded with the chance to watch a barn owl’s ghostly flight as it hunts over the heather. Even more haunting is the astonishing sound called churring made by nightjars as they call at dusk. These birds have flown all the way from Africa to raise their chicks. Iolo is thrilled to hear them calling until finally the midges force him to head for home. Show less