SS510980

The Burry Inlet is a Special Protection Area

Description and habitats

The golf course which now occupies most of the Machynys peninsula separates this strip of coast from urban Llanelli. It has a variety of habitats - fresh water ponds derived from flooded clay pits, reed-filled ditches and scrubland. On the east of the peninsula the coast is saltmarsh and on its west side are a series of sandy bays.

The former rifle-range at the tip of the peninsula is overgrown with gorse and scrub. The beach here is shingle and slag - a relic of the area’s industrial past. This is Penrhyngwyn, one of the best viewpoints from which to appreciate the extent of the Burry inlet.

Directions

Sustrans cycle route 4 provides good access for the walker or cyclist and can be accessed at Penclacwydd or at the Copperhouse roundabout on the B4034 Llanelli coast road. At Penclacwydd, vehicles can be parked at the National Wetlands Centre Wales (NWCW). At Copperhouse, there is parking for four cars just west of the roundabout and a large pay-and-display car park at Llanelli North Dock . There is a bus service from Llanelli bus station to Marine Street, near Copperhouse.

Facilities for visitors

There are toilets and cafes at NWCW (WWT non-members pay an entrance fee) and at the Millennium Coast Park Visitors Centre near Llanelli beach. Picnic sites and information boards are provided. The cycle track is surfaced and is suitable for access by disabled people but the distance is considerable, about 5 miles (7 Km) end-to-end.

Tips for birding the site

Check ditches for Kingfisher and scrub for passerines such as Skylark, Stonechat and Reed Bunting. Look in the belt of trees along the boundary of the NWCW site for tits and finches. Make use of the observation places which provide views over the saltmarsh where geese and raptors may be seen. The main area of freshwater, Penrhyngwyn Pond, has grebes and ducks. Other ponds are surrounded by the golf course but can be seen from the path. The scrub at Penrhyngwyn should be checked for migrants. The sandy bays on the west side have Ringed Plover and other waders. At Copperhouse, check the river channel for Pintail, Teal, Merganser, Redshank, Dunlin.

Best seasons

Best in winter but worth visiting at all times of year.

Regular birds

Little Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Peregrine, Brent Goose, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank, Kingfisher, Skylark, Reed Bunting. Wheatear on passage.

Scarce and rare birds

Purple Heron, Garganey, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Goshawk, Long-tailed Duck, Little Stint, Yellow-legged Gull, Twite, Snow Bunting. A Gull-billed Tern was here in July 1996. A Wryneck and three Black Terns were recorded in September 1998.