Spotted Redshank, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, and a sneaky Red Fox
As we enter the calm after the storm, the birds have finally come back out from hiding.
This week, the Grounds and Reserve teams have been kept busy clearing up the damage caused by storm Darragh!
Wildlife Sightings at WWT Llanelli from 2nd – 15th December 2024
Highlights: Spotted Redshank, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Red Fox
Our featured photo for today is of an elegant Spotted Redshank, taking flight over the Saline Lagoon. In the winter, these birds can be difficult to tell apart from Redshank, but their prominent eye stripe and lack of white wing stripes are easy features you can use to distinguish the two. In the summer, these species are more starkly contrasted, as the Spotted Redshank’s summer plumage is almost entirely black, apart from their white spots (hence their name!).
For the past two weeks, birds of prey have been spotted all over the wetlands! Perhaps they are the only birds daring enough to brave the storms? The Saltmarsh in particular has seen an abundance of different species, including a male Hen Harrier, a female and juvenile Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine Falcon. Out on the Millennium Wetlands, a female Sparrowhawk was also spotted this Monday, perching on a gate. Though much smaller than the others, the Sparrowhawk is still a deadly predator, attacking it’s their prey with the element of surprise. Fun fact – a Sparrowhawks eyes change colour as they age, from a lime green to yellow then finally orange!
Our final highlight of the week is the Red Fox, the only species of the Vulpes genus native to the UK. Caught slinking around near the Heron’s Wing Hide bridge, it was a lovely surprise to see a fox in the daylight as, like Rabbits, Foxes are crepuscular – meaning they are mostly active during dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, the UK’s population of Foxes has decreased by almost 50% since 1995, particularly in rural areas. Road accidents are a large contributor to this, so sites like our wetland act as a key refuge.
Featured Photo Credit: Billymill60
