Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Summer 1997 - No 62
Dave Powell
The record 25 Little Egrets near Laugharne on the 7th February must have many of us wondering whether we were in the Camargue rather than Carmarthenshire! An Osprey lingered on the Gwendraeth Estuary on its journey south from the 3rd to 7th whilst the now almost annual autumn Spotted Crake put in an appearance at Penclacwydd on the 8th and 9th. The huge influx of Curlew Sandpipers into the British Isles was reflected in the record peak of 72 at Penclacwydd, with a further six on Cydweli Marsh on the 28th. However, we did not see such a westerly drift of Little Stint for despite thousands being reported further east the only September record was of two at Morfa Uchaf, Ferryside on the 22nd. Dotterel were recorded on two dates at Garreglwyd with seven there or the 9th and three on the 12th. There were coastal passage records of Whinchat at Morfa Bychan on the 8th and Pembrey Airfield on the 28th (one and three birds respectively). The month’s star bird almost went unnoticed, the county’s second only Great White Egret making a very fleeting appearance at Penclacwydd on the 30th where it was seen by only a couple of fortunate birders.
October produced an early record of four Snow Buntings at Pembrey Harbour on the 7th. They remained there until at least the 30th when they were joined by two Water Pipits. A Ring Ouzel was reported from Cynghordy on the 9th. A flock of 23 of the now sadly decreasing Eider were off Salmon Scar Point, St Ishmael, on the 6th whilst the winter’s first diver, a Great Northern was at Burry Port Harbour on the 30th. Little Egret numbers continued to impress at Penclacwydd with 23 on the scrapes on the 1st and 24 on the estuary on the 26th. There were three yellow-legged Herring Gulls (a characteristic of the Eastern European and Mediterranean sub-species) there on the 6th and a Mediterranean Gull on the 9th. Raptor numbers were excellent with two Barn Owls, 3 Peregrines a female Merlin and regular Kestrels, Sparrow Hawks and Buzzards all showing at various dates. The first Redwings arrived there on the 23rd. Wildfowl counts were impressive with an October record of 747 Pintail on the 21st and there were over 1000 Wigeon, 182 Shoveller, 237 Teal and good numbers of other duck species also recorded on various dates. Not to be outdone, waders also produced high counts with a record 239 Black-tailed Godwits on the 4th when there were also three Little Stints and up to 30 Curlew Sandpipers present. Spotted Redshanks peaked at 22 and Greenshank at 28.
A Firecrest at Cydweli Quay from the 3rd to 9th November was followed by an unprecedented “flock” of three at Pembrey Country Park on the 9th. Four early winter Bramblings were reported from Abergwili on the 7th. One of three Whooper Swans at Dryslwyn on the 17th proved to be the Icelandic neck-collared bird returning for its third winter. With at least 20 Little Egrets remaining on the Northern Burry early in the month it is now very evident that this species’ status can no longer be considered simply a spring / autumn migrant. The winter’s first Short-eared Owl record came from Machynys on the 16th, whilst there were Black Redstarts at Llandeilo and Cefn Padrig, Burry Port on the 16th with a further bird at Pembrey Harbour on the 30th. Two Crossbills were reported from Llyn Llech Owain on the 22nd and Pendine’s second Waxwing of the year was seen on the 26th.
If accepted, the record of an lcterine Warbler at Abergwili from the 2nd to 6th December would be a remarkable first for the county. This large, stocky warbler which breeds in the eastern half of Europe should have been sunning itself on the Savannahs of Southern Africa at this time of year. The Bean Goose at Ffairfach from 24th was the first in the county for almost a decade whilst the Tywi Valley swan numbers increased to nine Bewicks and three Whoopers at Dryslwyn with a further six Whoopers at Ffair fach. Another Black Redstart was reported from Pembrey Harbour on the 8th with probably the same bird there on the 25th. A female Hen Harrier was trapped and ringed at Ffrwd Fen on the 8th and was possibly the bird seen regularly at Pembrey Saltings. There was a Great Northern Diver off Burry Port on the 1st with a further three off Cefn Sidan on the 29th. Other good off-shore records were of a Red-necked Grebe at Burry Port Harbour on the 27th and 28th and two Slavonian Grebe on the Gwendraeth Estuary on the 29th. A Great Grey Shrike was on the Carmarthenshire side of the Usk Reservoir on the 26th and 27th as were seven Crossbills. Further interesting sightings were of Bitterns at Witchett Pool and Ffrwd Fen, whilst there were Merlins at Pembrey Airfield and Machynys and also a Short-eared Owl at the latter site. The Snow Bunting flock at Cefn Sidan increased to 13.
A “redhead” Smew at Dryslwyn on the 7th January was the fore-runner of a mini influx during the month with a further three at Penclacwydd on the 12th increasing to four (possibly including a juvenile male) on the 20th and to five on 26th. The Bean Goose remained in residence at Ffairfach until 7th and there were two Mandarins at nearby Llandeilo, whilst Bewicks Swan numbers increased to 34 at Abergwili on the 14th. Four Eiders were off Burry Port on the 23rd with 12 Scaup at Penrhyngwyn on the same day. There were also up to four Short-eared Owls present at the latter location during the month. Another Great Northern Diver was reported from Burry Port on the 19th. The Water Pipit seen at Cydweli Quay may have been the same bird sighted at Commissioners Bridge on the 13th, the same day that there were three Green Sandpipers there. Up to four Little Egret were at Penclacwydd during the month where were also a record 1100 Teal. Pintail also increased to 1440.
A unique “treble” was recorded off Telpyn Point on the 3rd January with Black-throated, Red-throated, and Great Northern Diver all present whilst there was a further Great Northern at Burry Port on the 12th Kittiwake were seen off-shore at Burry Port and one on the Gwendraeth. The Great Grey Shrike was still at the Usk Reservoir on the 24th.
STOP PRESS: Sightings in early October included a Yellow-browed Warbler at Pembrey Country Park, a first record for Carmarthenshire, and a Corncrake at an inland site.