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| Carmarthenshire Bird Watching Sites |
Birding in and around Carmarthenshire
This a by no means exhaustive list of place to see birds in Carmarthenshire. It is a free resource. We also acknowledge and are grateful to the many sources of information provided by the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, the County Council and numerous bird watching individuals. We will update it from time to time and also show their locations on our special Google Maps overlaid with birding info. Please be patient with us as this task has only just begun.
Carmarthenshire is a wonderful place for birds, so enjoy it. We also suggest you visit the Carmarthenshire Bird Club website for more information.
BISHOP�S POND, ABERGWILI, CARMARTHEN
Bishop�s Pond is the best example in W Wales of an oxbow lake and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Bishop�s Pond is replenished in winter by the flood waters of the river Towy. Mallard, coot, moorhen, and mute swans breed here. They are joined in winter by Little Grebe, Bewick�s Swan and a range of ducks. Other regular visitors include Heron and Kingfisher.
Bishop�s Pond is home to frogs, toads, dragonflies and damselflies.
BLACK MOUNTAIN
This is an important upland site of special interest for its vegetation, open water and birdlife. It forms an interesting comparison with Brecon Beacons SSSI to the east in having a more varied geology. In addition to the Old Red Sandstone there are significant outcrops of Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit.
The summit ridges are notable for their extensive grassland, dominated in the main by mat-grass Nardus stricta, frequently seen developing on mineral soil exposed by the total erosion of the once widespread blanket bog peat. Heavy grazing, burning and the possible past and present effects of soot and sulphur dioxide pollution are believed to have caused the decline of blanket bog vegetation and dwarf-shrub heath here and elsewhere. However, small areas (notably Drysgol) still support heather Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus.
The north and east facing cliffs of Bannau Sir Gaer and Bannau Brycheiniog support an interesting arctic-alpine flora, with such species as northern bedstraw Galium boreale, dwarf willow Salix herbacea, lesser meadow-rue Thalictrum minus and roseroot Sedum rosea, together with a rich moss and liverwort flora.
Nutrient-rich flushes are frequent throughout the site, with herb, sedge and moss-rich examples. Limestone grassland and low limestone pavement support lime-loving plants such as limestone bedstraw Galium sterneri, limestone fern Gymnocarpium robertianum and common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium.Of the several mountain lakes present, Llyn y Fan Fach is of special note as one of the most southerly examples of a corried lake in Britain. It has the uncommon quillwort Isoetes lacustris growing on its sandy bed, and also there is a diverse benthic insect fauna which includes five species of stonefly.
The northern cliffs support an important population of ring ouzels and the site is hunted over by raptors, particularly in winter by the red kite.
BURRY INLET & LOUGHOR ESTUARY
Comprising extensive areas of grazed saltmarsh, sand and mud flats, the area is internationally significant for its wader and wildfowl populations with overwintering totals averaging in excess of 46,000 birds.
The international importance of the estuary is marked by the regular overwintering of wader populations in excess of 20,000 birds among which the average totals for oystercatcher (17,300), wigeon (5,351), knot (5,288), pintail (1,885) and turnstone (622) all exceeded 1% of the total European population over the winters of 1982/83 to 1986/87 inclusive. The site is also nationally important in respect of golden plover (2,148), teal (1,920), curlew (1,285), shelduck (1,175), grey plover (687) and shoveler (143).
Populations of sanderling, ringed plover, dunlin, bar tailed godwit and redshank are all substantial in the local context. In addition, nationally important numbers of whimbrel, greenshank, sandwich tern, common tern, arctic tern, little tern and black tern all occur on passage.
The whole range of coastal habitats from the shoreline at the seaward end of the Inlet to the brackish swamps above Loughor are important for the maintenance of the present ornithological diversity exhibited by the site. Brent geese are particularly associated with the grazed saltmarshes and are occasionally joined by white fronted, bean and barnacle geese. A small number of resident eider duck, primarily feeding close to Whiteford Point, move widely within the estuary as do many of the more numerous species of waders and wildfowl. The upper Loughor saltmarshes while valuable as a roost for species such as snipe and curlew also provide suitable breeding habitat for both lapwing and redshank. In addition the extensive reed beds at Llangennech support breeding reed and sedge warblers as well as reed buntings.
CEFN BLAENAU
Distinctive wet flushes descend the dry slopes and, where there is a deeper accumulation of soil, bracken Pteridium aquilinum is dominant, interspersed with grass heath areas and hawthorn scrub. These �ffridd� areas are of importance for birds, particularly nesting whinchat, tree pipit, yellowhammer and linnet.
COEDYDD Y GARN
A wide variety of woodland birds occur at this site, including nesting pied flycatchers and redstarts.
COTHI VALLEY
Mid Cothi valley from Abergorlech to south of Brechfa:
A variety of birds including tree creeper, woodpecker, kingfisher, red kite, buzzard.
CRAIG-DDU TO WHARLEY POINT CLIFFS
There is a long-established heronry of about twenty pairs and the peregrine falcon is a regular nester at one cliff-top site.
DINAS & THE UPPER TYWI VALLEY
Species include red kite, buzzard, merlin, kestrel, sparrowhawk, peregrine, goshawk, raven, woodcock, redstart, pied flycatcher (one of the highest densities in Britain), wood warbler, mistle thrush, garden warbler, blackcap, marsh tit, willow tit, nuthatch, red poll, lesser spotted woodpecker, tree pipit, dipper, grey wagtail, sand martin, common sandpiper, kingfisher (late summer), wheatear, whinchat, goosander.
CWM DOETHIE - MYNYDD MALLAEN
The site is noted for its variety of upland and woodland birds. It is especially important for its strong populations of carrion-feeding species, such as buzzard and raven; the rare red kite also occurs. Among the other upland birds are peregrine falcon, merlin, red grouse and ring ouzel, while golden plover has bred in the past. Typical bird communities of Welsh native woodland, including redstart, pied flycatcher, wood warbler and tree pipit are very well represented. The rivers and streams hold dipper, grey wagtail and common sandpiper, with the goosander as a very recent colonist. Farmland in the Gwenffrwd valley and elsewhere is included in the site because it forms part of the habitat of some of these birds or their prey.
DINEFWR ESTATE
Oxbow lakes occur in the flood plain of the Afon Tywi. Numerous waterfowl use these waterbodies throughout the year.
DOLAUCOTHI GOLD MINES
The woods provide a valuable and varied habitat for small birds such as pied flycatcher and redstart.
EASTERN CLEDDAU RIVER
Although not of special interest in their own right, the site supports a range of breeding birds including dipper Cinclus cinclus, grey heron Ardea cinerea, kingfisher Alcedo atthis, grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, moorhen Gallinula chloropus, mute swan Cygnus olor, sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus and grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia. Associated wetlands provide valuable feeding habitats for snipe Gallinago gallinago, curlew Numenius arquata, lapwing Vanellus vanellus, and barn owls Tyto alba.
FFRWD FARM MIRE, PEMBREY
is something of a haven for birds. Species that are regularly observed include the magpie, carrion crow, jackdaw, reed bunting, chaffinch, skylark, wren, woodpigeon, cuckoo, meadow pipit, tawny owl, grasshopper, reed, sedge and willow warbler, and long tailed, great and blue tits. Water birds include moorhen, mallard, snipe and teal in winter, while rarer sights you might be able to see, if you�re patient and lucky, include Cetti�s warbler. much of the core area of Gwernydd Penbre has been rapidly colonized by reed in the last 25 years or so. It is now one of the largest reed beds in Carmarthenshire and represents a habitat resource which is rare and very localized in Wales. Dependent on the reed bed and other complementary wetland habitats are significant breeding populations of reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, reed bunting Emberiza schoeniculus and water rail Rallus aquaticus. Cetti�s warblers occupy the peripheral rusty willow Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia scrub and several pairs are believed to breed. Bitterns Botaurus stellaris are irregular visitors to the reed bed in winter.
KIDWELLY QUAY
Estuary where the river Gwendraeth meets the sea. Very good for wading birds in winter. Kingfisher, heron, marsh harrier, curlew, water rail are all here.
LAUGHARNE/PENDINE BURROWS
Common scoter Melanitta nigra, for which Carmarthen Bay as a whole is of national importance, sometimes utilise areas close to shore.
The Witchett Pool has breeding pochard Aythya ferina, tufted duck Aythya fuligula, mute swan Cygnus olor, coot Fulica atra, grey-lag goose Anser anser, little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis and great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus. Substantial populations of reed Acrocephalus scirpaceus and sedge warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus nest in the reed-beds and marshes. Marsh harriers Circus aeruginosus have occurred throughout the year, whilst bitterns Botaurus stellaris visit in winter. Important local aggregations of gadwall Anas strepera also occur on the Witchett Pool in winter. During passage periods and in winter Pendine Sands and Ginst Point hold notable populations of wading birds, including oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and sanderling Calidris alba. The driftline debris on the sandy beach has the rare strandline beetle, Nebria complanata, and the littoral pillbug Armadillium album, which belong to the dune invertebrate assemblage.
The level fields behind the sand dunes have been reclaimed from areas of former saltmarsh with parcels of improved grassland intersected by a mostly rectilinear network of drainage ditches. The fields are utilised by a large number of golden plover in winter, the population being of national importance. At the same time regionally important numbers of lapwings Vanellus vanellus also occur here.
The greater part of the site is owned by the Ministry of Defence.
LLYN LLECH OWAIN Country Park, near Gorslas
Peripheral grey willow Salix cinerea scrub around parts of the lake and the boggy areas shelters many nesting birds, including redpoll and willow tit but, due to the lake�s nutrient status, its resident avifauna is rather poor, though dabchick regularly breeds.
LLYN PENCARREG SSSI
An oligotrophic lake of kettle-hole origin. Such unproductive lakes are rare in Wales in lowland areas. The lake has no inflow or outflow streams and is assumed to have an artesian water supply. Apart from a pronounced wave-cut platform, the sides shelve steeply down to an average depth of about 7 metres (23 feet). The maximum recorded depth is about 10 metres (33 feet). The site is notable for its extremely low alkalinity (under 5 ppm of calcium carbonate), which results in a paucity of aquatic plant and animal life; a feature which is more typical of lakes at higher altitudes. The wave-cut platform supports a little emergent vegetation, principally of soft rush Juncus effusus. Aquatic vegetation is limited to shoreweed Littorella uniflora, which grows on the gravelly marginal shelf down to about 3 metres (10 feet). The few invertebrates that do occur are present in large numbers.
The lake is locally important for the diversity of wintering waterfowl and for the breeding of pochard.
MACHYNYS PONDS
Beds of bulrush Typha latifolia, common reed Phragmites australis, sea club-rush Scirpus maritimus and grey club-rush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani provide shelter and nest sites for waterfowl, with mute swan, tufted duck, coot and dabchick among the breeding species. The site also regularly supports significant numbers (in a county context) of passage and wintering coot, and the regionally uncommon gadwall has increased of late. Water rail, reed and sedge warbler, reed bunting and other passerines also nest in the rank fen vegetation.
MYNYDD FIGYN
Skylark
MYNYDD LLANGYNDEYRN
The site as a whole provides breeding habitat for a variety of birds, notably curlew, stonechat and grasshopper warbler.
MYNYDD YSTYFFLAU-CARN
An extensive area of wet heathy grassland occupying a plateau-like depression at an altitude of almost 300 metres (985 feet) on the watershed ridge between the rivers Gwili and Tywi. Its semi-natural vegetation contrasts sharply with that of the surrounding agricultural and afforested land, and is one of the largest areas of its kind in Carmarthen.
Whinchat nest in the limited areas of scrub and curlew breed on the open heath itself which, in winter, is hunted over by visiting hen harriers and merlins.
PEMBREY COAST
Nationally important numbers of oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and sanderlings Calidris alba occur
PWLL LAGOON
Reed buntings and sedge warblers breed in the reedswamp whilst locally noteworthy gatherings of snipe (and a few jack snipe) make use of the more open fen areas in winter.
RH�S PWLLYGAWNEN
Grasshopper warblers breed in the grey willow Salix cinerea carr that has invaded the wetter areas, and whinchats are frequent.
TAF ESTUARY
Extensive areas of intertidal mud and sand also occur within the Taf Estuary. The general sequence runs from fine muds in the upper reaches of the estuary, through to muddy sands in the middle reaches and clean sands towards the mouth of the estuary. These sediments support an abundant macroinvertebrate fauna and provide feeding grounds for a range of wintering and migratory wildfowl and waders which inhabit the Three Rivers complex.
TALLEY LAKES
Lower and Upper Talley Lakes are natural mineral-rich pools extending in total to about 15 hectares (44 acres). Three springs and four streams drain into the lakes, which are said to occupy hollows in glacial deposits. Lower Talley Lake in particular exhibits a well marked vegetational sequence from open water, through reedswamp, to mature alder carr. This type of vegetation succession is rare in Dinefwr and these lakes provide the best example of such a hydrosere. The lakes support over 140 different flowering plants, including many uncommon species. This wealth of plant life attracts wildfowl which use the lakes for breeding, feeding and roosting.
TYWI VALLEY
The Afon Tywi, downstream of Llandovery, meanders through a wide gravel-based flood plain, with generally sparse bankside tree cover and this supports an important breeding bird community. A particular feature is its extensive areas of shingle banks providing suitable breeding habitat for little ringed plover Charadrius dubius. The Afon Tywi is the most important river in the UK for this species and holds approximately 4-5% of its total population (in 1997). Active bank erosion is another feature of the river providing nesting sites for kingfishers Alcedo atthis and a significant population of sand martins Riparia riparia, the Afon Tywi catchment holds between 1 and 2% of its British breeding population. Common sandpiper Actitus hypoleucs also breeds along the Afon Tywi. Mute swan Cygnus olor breeds along the slow flowing reaches whilst occasional reaches of faster flowing riffles with bankside tree cover, provide habitat for dipper Cinclus cinclus and grey wagtail M6tacilla cinerea, but these species are generally scarce along the Afon Tywi.
Small numbers of overwintering white-fronted geese Anser albifrons have been recorded on adjacent flood plains. The tidal reaches provide important feeding grounds for a diverse assemblage of estuarine birds including black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and curlew Numenius arquata.
Allt y Gaer SSSI near Dryslwyn is a conifer plantation containing the largest known heronry in south-west Wales, and one of the largest in Wales. The total number of pairs using the site varies from year to year, but the figure is in the region of 45 50. This is 7 10% of the Welsh population of herons, which is believed to be 500 700 pairs.
Latest bird sighting
Sunday 23rd April, greenshank at Penclacwydd Wetlands.
Photo taken with Samsung digiscoping kit camera by Wendy Powell Jones.
To see a MAP showing the sites to see birds in Carmarthenshire ... Click Here
For more information about birdwatching sites in and around Carmarthenshire ... Click here
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Created on 2026-06-18 20:39:11 by admin
Updated on 2026-06-19 12:22:38 by admin
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