Holly Blue, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, and a meowing Mediterranean Gull
Tiny plovers and vibrant butterflies quietly flutter through the spring chaos
Longer days and warmer rays have been brightening up the wetlands
Wildlife Sightings at WWT Llanelli from 7th – 13th April 2025
Highlights: Holly Blue, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull
More and more butterfly species are emerging every week, and the Holly Blue is a striking example. They are one of nine species of blue butterflies resident to the UK, even though a few of these so-called “blues” are actually brown! The Holly Blue may easily be confused with the Common Blue, but lack the Common's distinct orange spots on the underside of their wings. Another member of the “blues” spotted recently is the Small Blue, distinguished by (you guessed it!) their size.
Returning to Freshwater Lagoon after a short absence, the Little Ringed Plover looks especially little next to a Pied Wagtail! For those who have never seen one, the photo below on our Facebook page makes an excellent size comparison, truly putting their small stature into perspective! Thanks to Huw Jones for the amazing picture!
The Ruff from last week returned this Wednesday to the delight of watchers from the British Steel Hide. Though not sporting the fabulous mane of the breeding male, the Ruff Is always in fashion – feather boa or not.
Infiltrating the ranks of Black-Headed Gulls on Deep Water Lake, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls have made themselves apparent with their strange cat-like call. In contrast to the screechy wail of the Black-Headed Gull, these guys produce a whiny “yeah” noise. Next to each other, you can clearly spot the Mediterranean Gull, as it appears more vibrant than the Black-Headed Gull, like its saturation was set to max!
A few extra sightings from this week include a Fox having a scratch near the Café bird feeders; a Common Sandpiper on the Saline Lagoon; a Willow Warbler, heard from the Bittern Reedbed; and a freshly emerged Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, ready for spring!
Featured Photo Credit: Jessica Crumpton
