Llanelli is Heathrow for birds!
Record numbers of birds are flocking to the Burry Estuary driven west by even colder conditions in the east.
It has become the Heathrow of the feathered world with thousands of flights of birds dropping in daily on the Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal Park.
Even the normally shy and secretive bittern has been spotted at a Llanelli Town centre pond.
Manager of the WWT National Wetland Centre Wales at Penclackwydd, Llwynhendy, Nigel Williams, said he had never seen such numbers of birds at the centre and in the estuary as he had over the last month.
He said: “There are many thousands arriving daily. They are all struggling because of the exceptionally cold conditions. Migratory lost flights of birds are calling in and using the centre as a feeding station before feeding uo and gaining strength, renavigating and moving on.
“The tidally flooding estuary is also a valuable feeding ground for waders and many other kinds of birds.
“We have even had spoonbills coming in but they don’t like the cold conditions and have not stayed long taking off and seeking warmer climes.
“In cold weather birds are letting down their defences becoming tamer in the cold weather with is causing a lot of casualties.
“We have had a bittern resident in the centre for several months but amazingly one has been seen regularly at Old Castle Pond in Llanelli. This normally reclusive bird must be making the most of feeding opportunities there.”
Mr Williams said he would ask everyone to think of the birds and where possible provide them with feed and water in these difficult weather conditions.
The visitors’ centre gift shop has a range of feeders and feed for various kinds of birds if anyone is any doubt about how to help feathered friends.
From the centre’s restaurant windows the comical antics of ducks on the icy ponds have been entertaining visitors.
County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “The Wetland Centre is one of the county’s finest all year round visitor attractions. It would appear that this might be a bonus opportunity to go see some unusual arrivals in the many and diverse hides looking out over the estuary there.”
It has become the Heathrow of the feathered world with thousands of flights of birds dropping in daily on the Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal Park.
Even the normally shy and secretive bittern has been spotted at a Llanelli Town centre pond.
Manager of the WWT National Wetland Centre Wales at Penclackwydd, Llwynhendy, Nigel Williams, said he had never seen such numbers of birds at the centre and in the estuary as he had over the last month.
He said: “There are many thousands arriving daily. They are all struggling because of the exceptionally cold conditions. Migratory lost flights of birds are calling in and using the centre as a feeding station before feeding uo and gaining strength, renavigating and moving on.
“The tidally flooding estuary is also a valuable feeding ground for waders and many other kinds of birds.
“We have even had spoonbills coming in but they don’t like the cold conditions and have not stayed long taking off and seeking warmer climes.
“In cold weather birds are letting down their defences becoming tamer in the cold weather with is causing a lot of casualties.
“We have had a bittern resident in the centre for several months but amazingly one has been seen regularly at Old Castle Pond in Llanelli. This normally reclusive bird must be making the most of feeding opportunities there.”
Mr Williams said he would ask everyone to think of the birds and where possible provide them with feed and water in these difficult weather conditions.
The visitors’ centre gift shop has a range of feeders and feed for various kinds of birds if anyone is any doubt about how to help feathered friends.
From the centre’s restaurant windows the comical antics of ducks on the icy ponds have been entertaining visitors.
County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “The Wetland Centre is one of the county’s finest all year round visitor attractions. It would appear that this might be a bonus opportunity to go see some unusual arrivals in the many and diverse hides looking out over the estuary there.”
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