Trip away from SS15 – Wales – May 2025 (part 5)

On 10th May 2025, I visited the following site: 

WWT Llanelli

After leaving Cosmos campsite, I drove on the road over Black Mountain down to Brynamman. I saw at least 8 Wheatears on the roadside during this part of my trip down to WWT Llanelli .

I arrived at WWT Llanelli at 9:45 a.m. Disappointingly, the site does not open until 9:30 a.m.

WWT Llanelli is a 500 acre reserve situated 1 mile east of Llanelli and 5 miles north of Swansea on the eastern side of Carmarthen Bay. It is part of the Burry Inlet estuary, which is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), an SPA (Special Protection Area) and a Ramsar site, and it enjoys unrivalled views out across the saltmarsh all the way to Penclawdd on the Gower peninsula. Habitats include a mosaic of lakes and lagoons, reedbeds and woods.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Kingfisher (1 seen several times including diving), Reed Warbler (at least 2 singing males, none seen), Common Whitethroat (4 singing males), Chiffchaff (5 singing males, 1 seen), Blackcap (2 singing males, none seen), Swallow (4), Cetti’s Warbler (3 singing males, none seen), Reed Bunting (1 singing male), Shelduck (c.100), Gadwall (c.30), Tufted Duck (10), Mallard (5), Shoveler (3), Black-tailed Godwit (8 summer plumaged birds), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (1), Greylag Goose (8), Canada Goose (4), Great Crested Grebe (1), Coot (6), Moorhen (3), Black-headed Gull (c.50 birds in the breeding colony), Lesser Black-backed Gull (6)

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: male Chiffchaff

WWT Llanelli was the last visit of my very successful trip to Wales. A 245 mile drive followed to return home.

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