WelshFalcon
Well-known member
Widfowl & Wetlands Centre, Wales. Penclacwydd, Llanelli.
Opened in 1991, now covers over 500 acres. As well as the captve species, there are numerous hides, some looking out onto the saltwater scrapes and out onto the Loughor estuary, 4 hides on an inner lagoon, and further hides on the new Millennium wetland.
A good variety of habitats for duck, waders, raptors, warblers and garden/field birds.
The highlights are the little egrets, who number close to 200 at the summer roost on the site, spoonbills are regular visitors, and it is a good spot for passing migant waders, and some rarities.
Spring - wintering ducks leave. Passage waders, including whimbrel, common sandpiper, redshank, as well as early migrating sand martins, wheatears etc.
Summer – relatively quiet time, but early autumn migrant waders can start to show as early as the end of July. Worth checking the gulls for Mediterranean gulls, and some passage terns.
Autumn – migrating waders, curlew sandpipers, dunlin, black tailed and bar tailed godwits, whimbrel. Wintering ducks stat to arrive.
Winter – wintering ducks, - teal, pochard, wigeon. Wintering raptors, peregrine, merlin, goshawk, occasional hen harrier, short eared owl. Water rails, kingfishers give regular good views at close quarters. Wintering whooper swans.
Recent highlights. Long billed dowitcher in late October – November 2002. During 2002, up to 4 spoonbills visited, at present time, 2 still overwintering. 3 goshawks wintering in the vicinity. Drake smew present all winter. Great Northern Diver on the estuary. 6 whooper swans arrived to join the resident family on the main lagoon.
Best to take out membership when you arrive if not already a member. This gives access to all the WWT’s centres – if you make 4-5 visits in a year, you cover your cost of membership.
Opened in 1991, now covers over 500 acres. As well as the captve species, there are numerous hides, some looking out onto the saltwater scrapes and out onto the Loughor estuary, 4 hides on an inner lagoon, and further hides on the new Millennium wetland.
A good variety of habitats for duck, waders, raptors, warblers and garden/field birds.
The highlights are the little egrets, who number close to 200 at the summer roost on the site, spoonbills are regular visitors, and it is a good spot for passing migant waders, and some rarities.
Spring - wintering ducks leave. Passage waders, including whimbrel, common sandpiper, redshank, as well as early migrating sand martins, wheatears etc.
Summer – relatively quiet time, but early autumn migrant waders can start to show as early as the end of July. Worth checking the gulls for Mediterranean gulls, and some passage terns.
Autumn – migrating waders, curlew sandpipers, dunlin, black tailed and bar tailed godwits, whimbrel. Wintering ducks stat to arrive.
Winter – wintering ducks, - teal, pochard, wigeon. Wintering raptors, peregrine, merlin, goshawk, occasional hen harrier, short eared owl. Water rails, kingfishers give regular good views at close quarters. Wintering whooper swans.
Recent highlights. Long billed dowitcher in late October – November 2002. During 2002, up to 4 spoonbills visited, at present time, 2 still overwintering. 3 goshawks wintering in the vicinity. Drake smew present all winter. Great Northern Diver on the estuary. 6 whooper swans arrived to join the resident family on the main lagoon.
Best to take out membership when you arrive if not already a member. This gives access to all the WWT’s centres – if you make 4-5 visits in a year, you cover your cost of membership.