Emperor Dragonfly, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, and a pair of dancing Great Crested Grebes
The Emperor has emerged, ready to reign over the Dragonfly Festival next month!
There’s chaos at the gull colony…
Wildlife Sightings at WWT Llanelli from 19th – 25th May 2025
Highlights: Emperor Dragonfly, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Great Crested Grebe
Our most recent dragonfly to emerge this spring has been the Emperor Dragonfly, the largest species of dragonfly found in the UK. Males are highly territorial, and both sexes are excellent predators, often eating their prey mid-flight as they rarely settle. Fun fact: Emperors have the largest mitochondrial genome of all dragonflies, with 16,087 base pairs, which is almost as long as the 16,569 of us humans! Joining them this week was the first Black-Tailed Skimmer of the year, spotted on Monday sunning itself on the bridge towards the Heron’s Wing Hide.
The male Garganey has been sticking around the Dafen Scrapes for the past few weeks, occasionally slinking into view before disappearing again into the vegetation. For anyone trying to spot this elusive duck, head on down to the British Steel Hide to try your luck!
The nesting Black-Headed Gulls on the Stone Islands of Deep Water Lake haven’t been able to catch a break, and a Marsh Harrier is their most recent enemy. As it swooped down on Wednesday to raid a few nests, the colony was sent into a frenzy. It was fast food for the Marsh Harrier, but the gulls were having none of it upon its return on Saturday, mobbing the ransacker until it left. And it’s not just the Marsh Harrier – the Otter couldn’t even get close before being divebombed on Friday!
Our final highlight of the week has been seeing the pair of Great Crested Grebes performing their courtship dance once again, but surely all of their headshaking must cause a headache! As we have yet to see any chicks, which may be a sign that their first nesting attempt had failed, but that they are trying again! Hopefully it won’t be long until we see little humbugs hitching a ride under their parent’s wings!
Still singing around the Millennium Wetlands, the Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler have been hanging around near the Lily Pond this week. Meanwhile, over on the Freshwater Lagoon, a Common Sandpiper has been probing the mud for its favourite invertebrate prey. And last but not least, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls have been flying over the site; however, there don’t seem to be any nesting on Deep Water Lake this year.
