The Trust was set up by the late, Sir Peter Scott and Llanelli is the their most recent reserve. There are a number of ponds full of captive (and some wild) wildfowl from all over the world and they have a good captive breeding and re-introduction problem. All the reserves in the UK are located on the edge of estuaries and/or marshes, with bird hides overlooking, and the whole place acts like a magnet for wild birds.

The first hide we I visited was crammed full of excited birdwatchers and I couldn't even get through the entrance. Apparently a suspected Long-Billed Dowitcher had been sighted. I didn't have much idea what one of these looked like until I saw it later from another hide. The winter sun was shining low in the sky all day and directly into my eyes as I tried to identify the many waders and wildfowl on the estuary. The result of which was that most of the birds were just silhouettes, including the 'suspected' dowitcher. So I never did find out it's true identity.

There were a large number of Lapwings on the scrapes as well as Bar-Tailed Godwits, a few Greenshank, three Snipe probing the earth like little road drills, many Wigeon, Curlews, half a dozen Little Grebes and a single Little Egret. The latter were considered a rarity in the area, and indeed the UK, not so long ago but they are almost permanent at Llanelli these days. As numbers of these visitors to the UK increase every year I think it is only a matter of time before they breed here.

The stroll back to the reserve center produced my closest ever views of Britain's smallest bird, the Goldcrest. It's yellow/gold mantle and disproportonately large eyes were clearly visible as it flitted amongst the shrubs that lined a stream. I also saw two Common Buzzards flying over the reserve. Common Buzzards are exactly that in Wales but I always enjoy seeing them and they will always be a noteworthy bird for me.

All in all, it wasn't a tremendously exciting day but it was nice to get out and do some birdwatching after a long break.

Update

Two weeks after writing this entry, the RSPB reported that Little Egrets are now breeding in the UK. A pair bred in Devon in 1997 (this was kept under wraps until now) and again 1998.