Teifi Birding and Wildlife

October started quietly with the highlight being a Red-breasted Merganser on the 1st, feeding along the tideline by the boat club at Patch. Sightings of Great White Egrets around the Teifi have become more common. This one was photographed by Colin Dalton on the 2nd October Great White Egret - Colin Dalton A Passage of Meadow Pipits  was noted on the 6th around the estuary, a brief increase in Rock Pipits too.  Two juvenile Great Crested Grebes were on the river from Curlew Hide on the 12th  Great Crested Grebes - Diane Williams By the 17th at least 1 of the juvenile Great crested Grebes still present on the outer part of the estuary, by now 170 Wigeon had now arrived. On the 19th, 3 Firecrests near the River View Point on the Reserve. Three in October, perhaps a sign of breeding closer than we are aware... Also one was a returning bird - recorded both sides of the new year last winter. Since the 19th 2 further different individuals too.. Sightings of 2 and 3 Whooper Swans on  2

With the strong winds bringing seabirds closer to the shore, attention of some birders turns to the sea at this time of year. Joshua Brown visited Mwnt on the 11th and in 3 hours recorded a wide range of species including a Leach's Storm Petrel , 2 Sooty Shearwater , 2 Sabine's Gulls , 106 Kittiwake , 32 Manx Shearwater and a selection of Terns 3 Arctic , 5 Common and 2 Sandwich. On the 14th, a big Thresher Shark was seen (around 12ft) between Mwnt and Pen Peles from a Bay to Remember boat (Maddie Barber). Possibly seen again on the 15th, east of Cardigan Island. On the 13th, Joshua Brown watched and heard 3 Yellow Wagtail s fly from Patch towards Poppit. These are the only ones seen in the area this year.  On the 21st, 3 Great White Egret s landed on Teifi Marshes but didn't stay long. There are an increasing number of sightings of this species in West Wales now. On the same day, 24 were counted in the north of the county at Ynyshir, previous high counts had all been s

With the blog authors away for the start of September, we are grateful for other's sightings to be able to compile a round up of the last couple of weeks. The most notable sighting was at sea. Paul Taylor photographed a pod of 6 Risso's Dolphins during a Dolphin watch at Mwnt on the 3rd September. Also seen from the Bay Explorer on the 7th September when at least 10 were recorded in the bay off the Teifi.. Also from the boat, on the 26th August an Arctic Skua was seen between Cardigan Island and Mwnt.  Risso's Dolphin - Paul Taylor Coot are infrequent visitors to the Teifi Marshes so news of one on the 4th September from Karen was welcome.  Coot at Mallard pond - Karen Leah It was still on Mallard pond on the 9th Up to three  Greenshank are being recorded daily, mostly from Curlew or Creek hides. Snipe are also being seen here and flying over the marshes especially at high tide when they are pushed off the river. Greenshank and Snipe - Karen Leah A Great Crested Grebe

"OUR Osprey" 7H6 seems to be enjoying the Teifi. Fishing and feeding well from the Marshes to the estuary mouth...seen almost daily. (photo Tommy Evans) Osprey Blue 7H6 - see post below for the history of this Scottish ringed bird. Knot and Green Sandpipers are examples of wader species on the move. (photo Karen Leah) Surprisngly this juvenile Knot was in front of Curlew  hide on the Teifi Marshes, a wader we usually associate with the outer estuary. (photo Dianne Williams) Other sightings mainly from Benj Bond.. On Tues 13th,......  Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Whimbrel close at the moorings. Also the Great Crested Grebe still. .. Flock of 7 Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns in the middle of the bay On Saturday the 17th, the  Osprey again from St Dogmael's moorings and on the 20th the Osprey still from the Webley. A juvenile Goshawk over the reserve on the 18th.. (Rich D and Wendy J) 

Mediterranean Gulls ...6 - 30 seen in July, best viewing from The Webley. 3 Black-tailed Godwits with 41 Curlew from 2nd Black-tailed Godwit - Jeff Slocombe After a quiet early summer for butterflies, more species have been recorded over the last week. At Coed Maidie B Goddard reserve in Llechryd in the warm sun on the 23rd there were abundant Small Skippers and Meadow Browns , also the first Silver-washed Fritillaries of the summer. Silver-washed Fritillary - Dyfed James Paul Taylor recorded the first Purple Hairstreaks there on the 22nd. (Rich D and Wendy J)

The blue colour ringed  Osprey was present until the 6th June.. Osprey with Bass - Stuart Hall Many thanks to several photographers for reporting this bird from Curlew Hide on the Teifi Marshes. It was one of a brood of three ringed 10km south of Inverness, on a platform that the nest was moved to after a couple of years of having the original nest site robbed in the mid 90’s.  The birds have since been successful in all except one year and usually manage to fledge three chicks as they did in 2022 when Jon Brain ringed this one on 1 July. The nest has had a spectacular success rate for subsequent sightings including a bird seen in Guinea Bissau. Thanks to Jon Brain for the news and photos... Osprey 7H6 in the nest - Jon Brain Continuing with raptors, a  Marsh Harrier on the 3rd flying down the river opposite St Dogmael's Quay.  Now July has arrived juvenile Common Buzzards are taking to the air, and a mix of moulting adults and fresh winged young  Red Kites  are to be seen too.

The month ended and the new one started with a couple of sightings of an Osprey over the Teifi. One was seen at St Dogmael's on the 30th May and one was photographed over the Teifi Marshes on the 1st June, assuming the same bird roosting at St Dogmael's on June 3rd. Seen again this morning (4th) at St Dogmaels then opposite Curlew Hide on the Teifi Marshes. Osprey - Neil Grant This drake  Tufted Duck was seen on the 27th May. Tufted Duck - Stuart Hall Where are the waders..?  As we write this, we should be recording flocks of north bound waders....but very few so far. On the 26th May last year these numbers were recorded quickly moving through with lower numbers the following morning... " In the morning Howard Thomas counted 50 Sanderling, 250 Ringed Plover and  250 Dunlin.  On the falling evening tide a lovely sight... a very large count of 580 Ringed Plover,  also 70 Sanderling, 250 Dunlin." Following the colourful start to May  - see previous blog, the month has