Clouded Yellow, Spoonbill, Garganey, and an aptly named Elephant Hawk-Moth Caterpillar
Three more for the cutlery drawer!
One trunk, three spoons, and a splash of yellow
Wildlife Sightings at WWT Llanelli from 11th – 17th August 2025
Highlights: Clouded Yellow, Spoonbill, Garganey, Elephant Hawk-Moth Caterpillar
The Clouded Yellow is a strikingly beautiful butterfly with green spotted underwings with pretty pink accents, and brightly contrasting yellow and black upperwings. It may come as a surprise that this species is migratory, performing mass immigrations to the UK from mainland Europe, after which they stay and breed. They are most commonly seen in the south of the UK and feed primarily on clovers and alfalfa. Our first sighting of the year was spotted out on the Saltmarsh during yesterday’s butterfly survey, and we have had plenty more since!
The water is back at the Saline Lagoon, and three Spoonbills have washed in with the tide! Named for their fabulous bill, these birds use their oversized salad tongs to snaffle up crustaceans, amphibians, insects, and fish with ease.
Additionally, a juvenile Garganey has been spotted from the British Steel Hide this week. A rare visitor to the site as it is, the presence of a juvenile brings hope that a pair may have bred here over the spring. Ala, we can only speculate! Regardless, if you wish to spot this secretive species, this is your chance to come on down and try your luck!
Our final highlight of the week is the Elephant Hawk-Moth Caterpillar which was saved from a squishy demise by our Reserve team on Friday as it so carelessly crossed the path without looking. This moth is named for its appearance as a caterpillar, looking a lot like an elephant's trunk! As an adult, the moth is bright pink, green, and yellow, with super fuzzy scales (talk about a glow-up!). Even the most avid insect hater couldn’t help but find them cute!
To conclude this week's sightings, we have also had a Ruff and Great White Egret visit the site alongside a Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret, and Green Sandpiper, all visible from the British Steel Hide this past Friday.
Featured Photo Credit: Fran King
This marks my final blog post as part of my placement at WWT Llanelli, it’s a sad day for sure! I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our weird and wonderful wildlife sightings this past year, and I really that hope my posts have sparked a curiosity and appreciation for nature in both new and long-time visitors. I've learned so much during my time here and am incredibly grateful to the team for their support, and to all the visitors who’ve contributed sightings and stories. Thank you for following along – it's been a joy to write these updates and be part of such a lovely community. Abbie Jordan, Reserve Intern 2025
