Treecreeper, Spoonbill, and a herd of Wood Pigeon

The duck flocks continue to grow, with plenty of vocal Shelduck making themselves very much at home for the winter.

Wildlife Sightings at WWT Llanelli from 1st to 8th November 2025

Highlights: Shelduck, Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Teal, Wigeon, Snipe, Knot, Curlew Sandpiper.

Five Spoonbill have been feeding and preening on the saltmarsh, sweeping their bills through the shallows in search of aquatic invertebrates and small fishes. With their snowy white plumage, these iconic birds have really been brightening up the marsh on dull days.

One of the more colourful sightings from the past few days has been a Firecrest spotted in bare branches from the British Steel Hide. A very tiny bird, with a bright flash of red and yellow fire on its crown, and a bold eye stripe. Blink and you might miss these birds as they flit through the shrubbery like elusive feathered sprites! If you're very keen to see one, we'd recommend using a birdsong ID app such as Merlin, so if you're not familiar with their calls, you can get a heads-up if one is nearby — and keep your eyes peeled!

Another small bird highlight to look for is the aptly named Treecreeper. Look for them creeping and up and down tree trunks as they probe for insects in any gaps or crannies with their wonderfully curved beaks. The right tool for the job!

Featured Photo Credit: Treecreeper by Brummie In Cymru

The Saline Lagoon has been bustling with activity as usual. Regular sightings include Little Egret and Mute Swan, Greenshank and Redshank probing the mud, Ruff, Curlew, Knot, and Black-tailed Godwit showing off their varied bill shapes and feeding styles, and the resident Black-headed Gull population looking fresh-faced in their eclipse plumage (but their cries and screams remain as unmistakable as ever!).

With arguably a much more pleasant call to add to the wetland soundscape, the whistling Wigeon flocks continue to swell, joined by more Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, and even Pintail. Walk through any part of our site and you'll also notice the great numbers of Shelduck that have started to settle in for the winter, and these beautiful large ducks are always a somewhat comical pleasure to watch — and listen to! 

From the British Steel Hide, two Marsh Harrier have been sighted over recent days, with slow, deliberate flights as they survey the flocks for a meal. A true masterclass in stealth — until the resident corvids draw attention to them with a mobbing.

Among the wader flocks, four Curlew Sandpiper are still present, look for their long legs and slightly down-curved bills as you scan the masses.

On the Dafen Scrapes, a diverse mix of species including the usual variety of gulls, Greylag, Lapwing, Redshank, Teal and Shoveler, as well as a large flock of 48 Wood Pigeon grazing together like small grey cows — a surprisingly charming sight as they foraged in unison.

On the reserve side, the regular faces such as Gadwall, Wigeon and Shoveler have been reported from the Peter Scott Hide, with Snipe and Water Rail making welcome appearances, and the Coot mafia adding their familiar calls and territorial squabbles to the mix.

Out of season and rightfully confused by the mild temperatures, lone Wasps and other flying insects are still being seen across the site, with freshly emerging wildflowers also spotted along the paths. Please let us know if you notice anything unusual on your visits.

With so much to see and hear, now is a fantastic time to explore the wetlands. Whether you're a seasoned birder or simply looking for a peaceful walk among nature, WWT Llanelli offers a front-row seat to the changing seasons.

Don’t forget: Our next Walk with a Warden guided walk is on Saturday 15th November – perfect for spotting winter arrivals and learning more about wetland wildlife from our expert team.

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