Wintering Blackcaps, majestic Marsh and Hen Harriers, and a Short-eared Owl
December nature notes from the wetlands
On a chill winter's day, the Saline Lagoon becomes a stage for nature's most spectacular aerial displays.
Wildlife sightings at WWT Llanelli up to Thursday 11th December 2025
Highlights: Hen Harrier (male and female), Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, Grey Plover.
Winter at the wetlands is anything but quiet.
A flock of 300-400 Lapwing rises as one, their black-and-white wings flashing like a living kaleidoscope against the pale December sky. Each twist and turn seems choreographed, a graceful dance of survival.
From the British Steel Hide, raptors continue to rule the skies. A Peregrine Falcon has been seen stalking the waders with lethal intent, and Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier (both male and female birds have been spotted!) cruise above the low vegetation with deceptively languid movements. These hunters remind us that even in the calmest and coldest moments, life here is a balancing act.
In the hedgerows, big flocks of Redwing chatter as they feast on berries. These thrushes have travelled many hundreds of miles from Scandinavia and northern Europe to escape the Arctic cold. For them, Hawthorn and other winter berries are a lifeline, fuel to survive short days and freezing nights. Adding a little surprise, wintering Blackcap are also spotted filling up on these beautiful seasonal fruits.
We tend to think of Blackcaps as spring and summer birds, yet more are overwintering here thanks to milder winters and garden feeders. This shift gives them an advantage: they can claim the best breeding territories earlier in spring! Another species making use of this tactic is the Chiffchaff, an increasingly more common winter guest and one that we've seen regularly in recent days.
Elsewhere, the wetlands brim with variety. Six Spoonbill are regular visitors, their sweeping bills sweeping the shallows of the Saline Lagoon. A Common Sandpiper has been seen on the Dafen Scrapes, where last weekend a Short-eared Owl ghosted low over the marsh, a fleeting glimpse of wild magic. Grey Wagtail can still be seen flitting around the grounds, their tails bobbing like a telegraph tapper key when they briefly land by the ponds.
Speaking of ponds, there's a lot of extra water on site at the moment, so we apologise for the temporary ford that greets visitors heading to the Peter Scott Hide, as the path is partially submerged. We hope it will subside soon.
For those brave enough to press on (or blessed with appropriate footwear!), you'll be rewarded with Snipe in front of the hide, with these wonderfully camouflaged birds just a tad easier to spot now the vegetation has been cut back. Also out in the Millennium Wetlands, lucky visitors may be blessed by an elusive Otter sighting, a secretive presence that speaks of healthy, thriving habitat.
Take time to notice the smaller things as you explore, and look for fungi such as the electric blue Cobalt Crust that dusts rotting wood. A brilliantly bright surprise on a grey day!
Featured Photo Credit: Abbie Jordan
