Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Summer 1991
R.P. Prys-Jones, R.J. Howells and J.S. Kirby

A Report from the British Trust for Ornithology to the Nature Conservancy Council.

In the last issue of the Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter (Winter 1990-91) the Report on the Wildfowl and Waders of the Gwendraeth Estuary was reviewed; this time we shall examine the Report on the Burry Inlet, a site of international importance for wintering waders and wildfowl.

The Burry Inlet Report was based on information from the long-term 'Birds of Estuaries Enquiry' (BOEE) and from special low-tide studies carried out in the winter of 1987-8. Twelve species of waterfowl are shown to have wintering populations exceeding the relevant qualifying levels for National Importance; indeed four species of wildfowl (shelduck, wigeon, teal and pintail) and four waders (oystercatcher, know, sanderling and turnstone) reach numbers

of International Importance; four other species may well have numbers reaching National Importance, whilst the redshank also may qualify as having internationally important populations in the Inlet. There are also notable passage populations of some species eg whimbrel.

It is estimated that some 50,000 waders and wildfowl winter in the Burry Inlet which accordingly, is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (actually three SSSI's cover the area - Pembrey Coast SSSI, the Burry Inlet SSSI and the more recently-designated Upper Loughor SSSI).

The Carmarthenshire (northern) side is part urbanized, though areas of semi-natural habitat (Pembrey Burrows) or agricultural land (the Llwynhendy-Bynea area) abut onto the estuary. The fine Mallard - about 300 individuals constitute the peak monthly county of this species, with highest numbers usually present in mid-autumn.

Pintail - numbers of this attractive duck in the Burry have 'almost tripled' in recent years, with more than 2,000 birds being the average wintering population. Small snails Hydrobia sp. are said to be a favoured food of this duck which can be seen, at times, off the North Dock-Machynys-Penclacwydd areas of the Inlet.

Shoveler - another species which has increased, with some 150 birds wintering; peaks usually occur in December, the birds mostly occurring on the south side of the Inlet.

Eider - similar numbers of the preceeding species occur, of this exclusively coastal mostly mussel-feeding sea duck; normally the birds are confined to around the Whiteford spit at the mouth of the Inlet, but they sometimes occur as far up-estuary as Penclacwydd.

Oystercatcher - the most numerous wader in the Inlet, this distinctive species was culled in the mid-1970's, as it was alleged to have over-predated the local cockle stocks; 11,000 birds were killed (probably including the strong numbers of tamer birds that used to frequent local playing fields prior to the cull - a habit that has not yet re-asserted itself). Now, some 20,000 birds winter yin the Burry Inlet; some non-breeders occur through the summer.

Ringed Plover - some hundred or so birds occur, mostly on the north side, though larger numbers can occur on passage in May and August.

Golden Plover - a peak winter population of some 1,000 birds occurs, usually in November-December; hard weather influxes can boost numbers. The saltmarsh grasslands on the Inlet's south side (below Weobley Castle) are favoured.

Grey Plover - perhaps up to 500 birds peak in the Inlet, unlike the previous species, this wader usually occurs as individuals or small groups, feeding around mussel scars.

Lapwing - a species whose numbers are markedly influenced by weather patterns, some 1,000 birds regularly occur on the Burry Inlet, like the golden plover preferring the saltmarsh grasslands on the south side of the Inlet.

Knot - currently, some 5,000 or more knot winter in the area, peaking in mid-winter, occurring almost anywhere on the intertidal flats at low water.

Sanderling - there is probably movement of birds into the Inlet of the flocks which winter on the sandy shores of Cefn Sidan; larger numbers can occur on passage.

Dunlin - there has been a decline in recent years in the numbers of this species wintering in the Inlet, with under 4,000 peaking- reflecting a national trend. They feed throughout the Inlet at low tide, with some small roosts occuring at Burry Port and the Upper Loughor, but mostly on the south side of the Inlet saltmarsh at Tir Morfa (21/525980) is now under the protection of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust who have established interpretive facilities at their Penclacwydd Centre.

Species with Populations of National or International Importance on The Burry Inlet

N.B. Status of species in brackets require further confirmation. (Table copied direct from p53 of Report)

Brent Goose - the numbers of brent geese wintering in the Burry Inlet have increased substantially in the last two decades, with about 700 birds currently wintering. Most of the geese belong to the dark-bellied race Branta bernicla bernical which nests in the Taimyr Peninsula of northern Siberia. Most of the birds occur on the south side of the Estuary, but there are records (including good numbers) from the Llanelli side also - at Pembrey, Penclacwydd and off Llangennech.

Shelduck - approximately 1,500 birds are present during peak counts in mid-winter, with only a few remaining in August when birds are away at their moulting grounds in the Wadden Sea (off Holland/Germany), though some birds now moult in British estuaries. The intertidal pills in the Penclacwydd-Machynys areas hold important concentrations of this species.

Wiqeon - some 4,000 or more wigeon regularly winter in the Burry Inlet, feeding on grasses, algae and eel-grass, though numbers after influxes can be considerably higher. The vast majority of birds occur on the south side.

Teal - numbers of teal wintering on the Burry have increased in recent years, with the peak monthly count averaging over 1,500 birds; surges in numbers occur in cold weather (eg up to 5,000 birds). On the Llanelli side, important aggregations of this diminutive duck occur in the saltmarsh creeks east of the Machynys Peninsula.

Snipe - a species which, because of its camouflage and habits is difficult to count accurately; most birds occur in the winter months.

Black-tailed godwit - only a few birds (max. 100) have been recently recorded as wintering in the Burry Inlet.

Bar-tailed godwit - some 400 or so birds occur, peaking in mid-winter; the most regular winter high tide roost is found at Wernffrwd on the south side.

Whimbrel - a passage bird on the Inlet, distinctive with their calls, in spring and autumn. Flocks of up to about 200 birds occur in the Bynea-Llwynhendy area, occupying fields as well as the Estuary proper.

Curlew - peak numbers occur in August (up to 1,750 birds) declining to about half this total in mid-winter. There is an appreciable roost below Penclacwydd.

Redshank - a decline has been noted since the mid-1970's, highest numbers (regularly c.600 birds, but sometimes more) occur in autumn. Important roosts occur off the North Dock and Penclacwydd.

Greenshank - peak numbers occur in the autumn passage (up to 30 birds), with smaller numbers in spring; less than five birds normally winer.

Turnstone - the current average population is about 600 birds, with October-November being the peak period for this species of rocky shores and mussel beds; with the important roosts at the Machynys and Burry Port sectors of the Estuary.

The above account gives brief summaries for the regularly-noted species on the Burry Inlet and it will be realised that other species also occur. Red-breasted mergansers for example, are present in numbers up to about 30 birds between October and April; and scaup may be present.

It is apparent that much effort and time has gone into the preparation of the above Report and the authors (and those who assisted them) deserve our praise, for without such well-prepared and objective data it would be difficult to counter any proposed adverse development (eg barrage or marina) in the Burry Inlet. Many birdwatchers may shun the apparently tedious acquisition of data, but it is these committed ornithologists who provide conservationists with important data such as the afore-mentioned Report, that have contributed the most to the safeguarding and effective conservation of important bird habitats, in order that future generations may enjoy the spectacle of our important bird-thronged estuaries.