A smart guide to WWT Llanelli

We want people to love wetlands as much as we do and to see their enriching beauty with fresh eyes. That’s why we’re delighted to work with award-winning young wildlife photographer Jamie Smart to show you how our wetlands are great for nature lovers of all ages. Take it away, Jamie…

Nine-year-old Jamie Smart is passionate about nature. From as early as she can remember, she’s been fascinated by creatures of all kinds. Regular visits to WWT Llanelli’s wetlands with her parents Eleri and James have deepened her sense of connection to nature – and provided plenty of opportunities to hone her skills as a wildlife photographer.

“WWT Llanelli is special because there’s so much to see and do,” says Jamie. “You’ve got the duck ponds that are full of all sorts of ducks (I love the colourful mandarins), the hides where you can watch all the wild wetland species, and there’s loads to see and photograph in between. I just love coming here because it’s a very fun place and it’s different every time. I like spotting species I’ve never seen here before, such as little grebes – if you love nature, it’s very exciting.

Whatever the season, come rain or shine, Jamie loves to wander Llanelli’s trails, looking for wildlife and exploring.

“Even if it’s raining, it’s a great place to come. The hides are always nice and dry, and you get to see and appreciate different things, such as the rain bouncing off the lakes or the water droplets on a duck’s back.

“Nature matters to me because it makes me so happy. With my photos, I like to show people animals they might not be able to go out and see. I really like doing macro photography of bugs, and I love photographing reptiles. When I share my photos, I hope people will be inspired to love and protect nature because it’s very precious. The world is a delicate balance. We need to look after it and all the animals in it. Nature is amazing in every single way – sometimes all you need to do is put down your phone, camera or binoculars and just look out and enjoy it.

For a Jamie’s-eye-view of WWT Llanelli’s wetlands and wildlife, read on…

Pond dipping

I really enjoy pond dipping to see what mini-beasts I can catch. The dipping ponds at Llanelli are home to loads of aquatic insects that you can’t see in ponds that are overgrown with grass and weeds. I like looking at stickleback fish and the water spiders that can go underwater. I also always look for tiny damselfly nymphs, little pea clams and giant pond snails like the ramshorn – it’s very cool.

Bug hotel

There are lots of homes for mini-beasts at all WWT sites. In summer, the bug hotel is amazing with lots of bees and other insects flying around. It’s interesting to see the different nest sites for insects and how different species can all live in one habitat.

Dragonflies

The dragonflies are really good here. I love taking photos of them. They’re the hardest creatures to photograph in flight – they’re so fast! I just about managed to pull off one frame for my winning entry in the 2024 Waterlife Photography competition, but it was very tricky.

Know your dragonflies? See our ID guide to the species.

Water vole city

I love the amazing nature play areas at WWT sites. Water vole city has different tunnels you can go in and out of. It’s fun to see what life in a burrow is like for animals.

Sir Peter Scott and Heron's Wing hides

There’s a very good variety of hides here for photographers, people with binoculars and birders. I love the Sir Peter Scott hide because you can see loads of different birds from there: herons, mallards, coots. It’s a good place for young people to learn about different species because there are so many different waterbirds in one place. I also like the Heron’s Wing hide. It’s all glass so children, birders, people with wheelchairs… everyone can have access and look out at the beautiful view.

Duck ponds

The duck ponds are always fun because you can get up close and personal with the birds without spooking them. You can interact with nature and connect with it. It’s a good place for taking photos, too. For a start, you know the wigeons, mandarins and wood ducks are actually going to be there.

Jamie’s top tips for photographing kingfishers

Kingfishers are really tricky to photograph in the countryside because they’re so hard to see. The kingfisher bank at WWT Llanelli is a great place to spot them – especially in summer when you know they’ll be nesting here.

Identify their favourite perch as they go back and forth from their nest when breeding in summer. Predicting where they are likely to land will help you get the shot.

Wait and be patient but be ready to shoot when the kingfisher comes.

Be as still as possible. The kingfisher will be gone at the slightest movement.

Bring up the shutter speed on a bright day if you want to get the bird in flight. To get a crisper shot you’ll need a shutter speed of 2,000 to 2,500, and an f-stop of around 6.7.

Go for a low shutter speed of 800 to 400 on a dull day for a shot of a kingfisher on a perch – the lowest your lens can go on the f-stop.

Practice panning (tracking at the same speed as the bird) on a slower species, such as a swan landing on water, then build up to a kingfisher. To get a shot of a kingfisher in flight on a dull day, pan with a shutter speed of at least 160 and a similarly low f-stop.