A Focus On Nature

Advent Calendar

Burry Inlet Conservation Work

Over the past couple of years, the work being done to conserve wildlife on the Burry Inlet has increased dramatically. The Inlet itself is sandwiched between Carmarthenshire and West Glamorgan with each side now doing vital work. The majority of the work has been done via grants from wildlife organisations or through strategically funding these projects. WWT Llanelli has also played a great part on the Carmarthenshire side having altered a lot of the reserve to suit certain species of birds and mammals that are currently visiting the site.

The main thing that has been erected on both sides of the estuary is an osprey platform; one has been built on the saltmarsh at WWT Llanelli and the other is on the saltmarsh at Whiteford Point, along with a viewing hide. Despite there not being many numbers of ospreys passing through the estuary, the breeding pairs up in North Wales have continued their extreme success and it’s only natural for the birds to disperse to suitable habitats. This year, there have been 3 sightings on the estuary with birds using both platforms for feeding – a promising sign!

One of the most photographed birds, and a continued tourist attraction at Llanelli, is the kingfisher. Whilst working at WWT Llanelli, you see a steady stream of people going straight down to the one hide where there are perches placed outside. On site there is a CES (Constant Effort Site) Ringing scheme with Gower Ringers and the BTO; this data has confirmed that kingfishers are breeding on site. It’s very hard to tell from a distance the exact nesting banks that the kingfishers are using, for there needs to be minimum disturbance during the breeding season. Instead, specially-built mud banks with crevices have been built along the lake with the most activity to try and support this species.

Monitoring of the Burry Inlet oystercatchers has continued into its second decade now. Each year, SCAN Ringing Group, along with local ringers and ornithologists team up to cannon net a portion of the roosting group of oystercatchers. The project began when oystercatchers were going extinct on the estuary because of a license authorised by the council to cull the species, as they were causing problems for local fishermen and the cockle pickers back in the 1980s/1990s. The scheme is done to monitor the population growth. At present, there is a figure of between 5,000-10,000 roosting and feeding on the Inlet. Being part of the catch is absolutely outstanding; it’s all planned to precision to minimise the danger to us and the birds. In 2016 we caught 501 birds, with a majority being re-traps from previous years and one dating back 19 years. There was also a visiting bird ringed in Sweden who got caught up in the catch. On the topic of roosting species, the Burry Inlet roost is still going strong with more and more great white egrets now coming to roost with the grey herons, little egrets, and a number of hen harriers, barn owls and short-eared owls continue to feed at dusk.

A smaller-scale project, but no less important, which has been done throughout the Inlet is that of erecting nest boxes. At WWT Llanelli, we have erected 60 holed boxes, 6 tawny owl boxes with one barn owl box, and an artificial house martin/swallow nest which are all currently being used, showing the need for the boxes on site! Pembrey Country Park in Burry Port, which is further south down the estuary, has also erected a number of boxes, and the Carmarthenshire Bird Club has donated 6 barn owl boxes to different sites along the estuary. It’s not just birds that are using the boxes, we have found a number of wood mice occupying the nest boxes during the winter, and also bats, which has resulted in bat boxes now being erected in more suitable habitats away from public access.

Despite it being a small estuary, the community spirit between the two counties is evident and the love and passion for conserving wildlife is refreshing. Team work is needed in this day and age where environmental cuts are ongoing and the lack of support from councils and governments is driving people closer together to protect wildlife. For its size, the Burry Inlet is an impressive place to visit, especially during a low-tide or to watch the birds come in to roost.

Dan Rouse is the Learning Assistant at WWT Llanelli and the BTO Assistant Regional Rep for Carmarthenshire. Check out her website  www.danrouse.org.uk