Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - December 1982
Ian Morgan - November 1982
The Coastal Areas at Machynys, Llwynhendy and Bynea
This area is adjacent to one of the most important estuaries for wintering birds in Britain, the Burry Inlet. Many of the waders, gulls and duck can be observed by the suitably-attired observer from good vantage points at S3519982 and 55 54.5968 (Penrhyn Gwyn and Morfa Bacas). Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew, Ringed Plover; and Dunlin arc regularly seen with parties of Pintail Duck offshore, whilst Red-breasted Mergansers - those attractive sawbill ducks which are now colonising Wales as breeding birds - fish the deeper waters. For the sharp-eyed and patient ornithologist there is often the chance to see, in winter, Hen Harriers, Merlins and Peregrine falcons hunting the marsh. Greenshank may be seen feeding at the water’s edge and lucky observers have included Redneck Phalarope and Osprey amongst their lists from these sites. It is best to pick a day with the tides suitable - between half and fully in -or the birds will be mere dots in the distance.
In summer the coastal plain south of Llwynhendy holds sedge warblers and lesser whitethroats in the overgrown hedgerows whilst in June 1982 Barn Owls were regularly seen hunting during the warm summer evenings in sufficient light to render good views. That rare breeding bird the Yellow wagtail breeds in small numbers along the coast - its rather similar relative the Grey wagtail (again with a yellow breast!) nests commonly along the fast-flowing rivers of Llanelli’s woodlands.
Still on the subject of Wagtails, Trostre Tinplate Works has a substantial Pied Wagtail roost in winter and a band of dedicated Swansea ornithologists have been ringing them. A recovery in Scotland during the summer shows that it is not only local birds that are involved. Another bird, a male found dead in a glasshouse at the Graig Comprehensive School, Phil, this summer was obviously a “local” bird. Mr Clive Jones — Trostre’s resident ornithologist - recently told me of a short-eared Owl which was seen one evening flying about inside the Works!
The Ponds at Machynys hold several rare plants such as the Spiked Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and a duckweed called Lemna trisulcar. Until this, year the latter had not been seen since 1850 when it was recorded by James Motley - a botanist who was very active in the Llanelli area during the middle of the last century. Some of his records without localities remain to be refound; his herbarium - with with a new card index — is housed in the Royal Institute at Swansea. Motley was born in the Isle of Man but was murdered in 1859 at Bangkal in Borneo by Mohammedan settlers. His collection of Malayan plants is housed at Kew.
The same area - around the ponds near the unofficial gipsy camp - holds Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), Variegated Horsetail (Eguisetum variegatum) Marestail (Hippuris vulgaris). Nearby on rough ground, amongst a rich weed flora, Seaside Thistle (Carduus teneuflems) and Opium Poppies (Papaver somniferim) can be seen.
The lowlands near Llwynhendy have the Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) and the rarer White Willow (Salix alba) in its hedgerows with Sea Wormwood (Artemesia maritima) common along sea banks by the shore.
Finally, this area is the home of a rather rare moth, the Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula). This black, red, orange and white moth is confined in Britain to the South-west of Wales and Devon and Cornwall. In our area it can also be seen at Pwll, Towyn Burrows and Laugharne Burrows, all places where its food plant, Comfrey, grows.
