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A new blog for sightings and history in the Teifi Valley

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Starting in 2022 we will be posting regular bird and other wildlife sightings from the Lower Teifi Valley, the headlands and the sea. From Cemaes Head in the west along the coast to Mwnt via Cardigan Island and around the estuary, the Teifi Marshes reserve and upriver to Abercych on the Carmarthenshire border. This is an historical patch which is centred on Cardigan Castle. From this point it is 6km to Cemaes Head, 6km to Mwnt and includes 8 km up the Teifi Valley.  Prior to this blog there have been several publications covering both recent sightings and historical records. Mick Baines publication is probably the most complete record up to the mid 80's.  Mick Baines 1985 Jon Green published annual reports for several years. The Teifi straddles county borders, which have changed over the years. County reports and Avifaunas cover all records as appropriate to each county at the time and will continue to do so. The area includes the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales reserves; Ce
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Mid September - a new season

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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
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Into September

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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
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Mid August...

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"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) 
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July....

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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)
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June...Osprey to Dolphins

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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.
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May - brings variety..

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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
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Purple Heron, Yellow Wagtail - Spring !

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A walk this evening (30th) through the Teifi Marshes was full of bird activity typical of late April. As the insects appeared after a very wet day Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers were singing. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling unseen near Creek hide. Hirundines were feeding low over the river, ponds, reeds and even the car park.  Swallow over the Teifi Marshes - Stuart Hall Watching the sun go down with at least 150 House Martins , 100 Sand Martins and 50 Swallows over the Water Buffalo was a quite spectacular sight. Water Buffalo at dusk Some more unusual birds have been recorded over the last couple of weeks A visitor to the Teifi Marshes photographed a Purple Heron taking off from Mallard pond on the morning of the 20th April. It flew in the direction of Heron pond. Thanks to the Lidgett family from Chepstow for the news and record shot.  It was seen again that evening flying towards Heron pond low over the reeds at Mallard pond. A Great Crested Grebe is an unusual record
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