Assurance on Burry Estuary
The Burry Estuary is proving to be in it healthiest state for many years with record varieties and quantities of molluscs being found on Cefn Sidan.
The cockle and vast variety of mollusc fest has been attracting record numbers of birds ranging from Ospreys to Sanderling.
Pembrey Country Park ranger David Hughes who checks the eight-mile long beach out twice daily said in France and other parts of Europe restaurants would charge a fortune for the variety of seafood platters that could be collected after every tide at Cefn Sidan.
The edible shells range from four kinds of Razor Shells to Common Whelk, Spiny Cockle to Common European Oyster - which is not found living on Pembrey Sands but whose shells are washed up from rocky or stony grounds off shore.
Other delights found are the Common Otter, eggshell or Brittle Razor. Pod Razors, banded wedges, Rayed Troughs, Tellins and Striped Venus shells.
Many of the birds feasting on the molluscs have their particular favourites. Birdwatchers in scores have been flocking to the beach to see the massing flocks of Sanderling, Not, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Dunlin and Ospreys feeding on the shellfish. Ironically birds of prey have been capitalising on the situation with Merlin, Marsh and Hen Harriers as ell as Peregrine Falcon attacking the birds.
Cefn Sidan is a vital feeding station for large number of migratory birds who break their journeys of thousands of miles to feed on the sands worms and molluscs. Tides can range over more than a mile of beach between low and high water twice daily. The outer circumference of Cefn Sidan at Low tide makes the beach and incredible 14-miles long and it is jammed with birds of all kinds.
It is this incredible filtration of water over sand that caused the high levels of purification allowing the breeding of molluscs and three sand lug worm variety in huge and healthy numbers.
The Environment Agency have confirmed that Cefn Sidan waters are among the healthiest in Europe with water sampling carried out every fortnight over the summer reflecting some of the highest possible results recorded anywhere.
It means that Pembrey Country Park manager Neil Perry can apply for the Blue Flag to be flown over the beach next year as long as all other stringent needs are met. Cefn Sidan has held the Blue Flag more than any other UK beach a record 18 times.
County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Everyone seems keen to knock the Burry Estuary for pollution when nature itself is proving them all wrong.
“Cefn Sidan lost its Blue Flag last year with one freak result of water testing from the previous year last in September after heavy storms had polluted sea waters with nigh concentrations of nitrates washed down the Three Rivers into the estuary between Cefn Sidan and Pendine.
“We were always confident the Blue Flag would be back. It is interesting to note the shellfish have never gone away and are there now in greater numbers than ever before.”
Cefn Sidan shell-fest - Top row left to right: Common Whelk, Spiny Cockle, Common European Oyster. Large shell on left, Common Otter; Razor at bottom, Eggshell or Brittle Razor; Razor in middle above Common Cockles, Pod Razor; Gastropod in middle: Common Necklace shell, Bi-valves surrounding Necklace, Banded Wedges, Rayed Trough, Tellins and Striped Venus. The pinhole in bi-valve next to Necklace shell is drilled by Necklace shells ‘tongue’ and the inside drawn out and digested by Necklace shell. The Necklace shell is one of many gastropods which prey on bi-valve molluscs.
The cockle and vast variety of mollusc fest has been attracting record numbers of birds ranging from Ospreys to Sanderling.
Pembrey Country Park ranger David Hughes who checks the eight-mile long beach out twice daily said in France and other parts of Europe restaurants would charge a fortune for the variety of seafood platters that could be collected after every tide at Cefn Sidan.
The edible shells range from four kinds of Razor Shells to Common Whelk, Spiny Cockle to Common European Oyster - which is not found living on Pembrey Sands but whose shells are washed up from rocky or stony grounds off shore.
Other delights found are the Common Otter, eggshell or Brittle Razor. Pod Razors, banded wedges, Rayed Troughs, Tellins and Striped Venus shells.
Many of the birds feasting on the molluscs have their particular favourites. Birdwatchers in scores have been flocking to the beach to see the massing flocks of Sanderling, Not, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Dunlin and Ospreys feeding on the shellfish. Ironically birds of prey have been capitalising on the situation with Merlin, Marsh and Hen Harriers as ell as Peregrine Falcon attacking the birds.
Cefn Sidan is a vital feeding station for large number of migratory birds who break their journeys of thousands of miles to feed on the sands worms and molluscs. Tides can range over more than a mile of beach between low and high water twice daily. The outer circumference of Cefn Sidan at Low tide makes the beach and incredible 14-miles long and it is jammed with birds of all kinds.
It is this incredible filtration of water over sand that caused the high levels of purification allowing the breeding of molluscs and three sand lug worm variety in huge and healthy numbers.
The Environment Agency have confirmed that Cefn Sidan waters are among the healthiest in Europe with water sampling carried out every fortnight over the summer reflecting some of the highest possible results recorded anywhere.
It means that Pembrey Country Park manager Neil Perry can apply for the Blue Flag to be flown over the beach next year as long as all other stringent needs are met. Cefn Sidan has held the Blue Flag more than any other UK beach a record 18 times.
County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Everyone seems keen to knock the Burry Estuary for pollution when nature itself is proving them all wrong.
“Cefn Sidan lost its Blue Flag last year with one freak result of water testing from the previous year last in September after heavy storms had polluted sea waters with nigh concentrations of nitrates washed down the Three Rivers into the estuary between Cefn Sidan and Pendine.
“We were always confident the Blue Flag would be back. It is interesting to note the shellfish have never gone away and are there now in greater numbers than ever before.”
Cefn Sidan shell-fest - Top row left to right: Common Whelk, Spiny Cockle, Common European Oyster. Large shell on left, Common Otter; Razor at bottom, Eggshell or Brittle Razor; Razor in middle above Common Cockles, Pod Razor; Gastropod in middle: Common Necklace shell, Bi-valves surrounding Necklace, Banded Wedges, Rayed Trough, Tellins and Striped Venus. The pinhole in bi-valve next to Necklace shell is drilled by Necklace shells ‘tongue’ and the inside drawn out and digested by Necklace shell. The Necklace shell is one of many gastropods which prey on bi-valve molluscs.
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