The National Wetland Centre Wales (NWCW) in Llanelli was opened in 1991 and is one of the nine UK visitor centres run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) the UK's largest wetland conservation charity.

WWT was founded in 1946 by the naturalist and artist, the late Sir Peter Scott, with the aim of  saving  wetland biodiversity, of  raising awareness of the issues that affect the survival of wetlands and to enhance people's lives through learning about and being close to nature.

The Centre is located on the Burry Inlet/Loughor Estuary – a wetland declared to be of international importance for its bird populations – a RAMSAR site – see www.ramsar.org – and also part of SSSI, SAC and SPA. The saltmarsh and  intertidal mudflats are key habitats here – see

Mudflats

http://www.sirgaerfyrddin.gov.uk/attached_files/Emily%20–%20Planning/Biodiversity/Mudflats.pdf  and

Saltmarsh http://www.sirgaerfyrddin.gov.uk/attached_files/biodiversity/Coastal_Saltmarsh.pdf

The Centre works in a variety of ways to raise awareness of and promoting wetlands including

• offering opportunities for visitors to experience in a hands–on way some of the wonders of these wetlands
• a series of school programmes (Wise up to Wetlands) exploring different aspects of wetlands
• creation, in partnership with Welsh Water, and management of the new Millennium Wetlands reserve which support populations of amongst other things watervole, lapwing, and over 20 odonata species, along with grass snakes, butterflies, and moths These Millennium Wetlands contain a wide range of habitats including ponds, ditches, extensive reed bed, wet meadow, woodland and scrubby areas.
• management and enhancement of saltmarsh habitats adjacent to the centre. The creation of a series of scrapes on the saltmarsh creating saline lagoons has offered excellent roosting and feeding for birds and opportunities for birdwatchers.
• monitoring of bird populations – monthly bird counts and WeBS counts
• water voles surveys and monitoring
• partnership with Higher Education researchers investigating the ecology and behaviour of wetland species.

Bird numbers and species obviously vary according with the seasons. Latest sightings can be seen at http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/203/sightings.html .

Winter sightings (11 November 2007)

A Black Necked Grebe appeared on the NRA scrapes (from 9th) which coincided with the arrival of a Merlin and Hen Harrier in the Millennium Wetlands. At least 72 Little Egrets came in to roost (10th) and the long staying Spoonbill remained on the Lagoon. Three Green Woodpecker, two Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Siskin and up to 5 Cetti's Warbler have also been recorded.

Other sightings are – 6 Little Grebe 8 Great Crested Grebe 3 Grey Heron 7 Mute Swan 94 Greylag Goose 32 Brent Goose 188 Shelduck 493 Wigeon 49 Gadwall 117 Teal 153 Mallard  243 Pintail 80 Shoveler 51 Pochard 68 Tufted Duck 2 Red Breasted Merganser  2 Barn Owl Sparrowhawk Buzzard Kestrel Peregrine

8 Water Rail 1620 Oystercatcher 460 Lapwing 9 Snipe 168 Black Tailed Godwit 298 Curlew 6 Spotted Redshank 81 Redshank 13 Greenshank

Spring Sightings

In April at  the start of the breeding season – the most obvious species are Shelduck and Lapwing with their noisy aerial courtship displays. Spring tides and the passage of waders moving through can be spectacular – large numbers of Whimbrel stop off before moving to their northern breeding grounds. During high tides especially many Redshank, Knot, Bar–tailed Godwit and Black–tailed Godwits can usually be seen on the salt marsh scrapes. Small numbers of Eiders can frequently be seen feeding over the mussel scars on the estuary at high tide.

Many common migrants such as Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin and Whitethroat begin to arrive early in the month with Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat arriving later in the month.

For further information about events, visits, school or higher education programmes, group visits, volunteering or monitoring please contact:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or look at our website www.wwt.org.uk and follow the links to National Wetland  Centre Wales.