Teifi Birding and Wildlife

On the 28th May in the evening there was still some Whimbrel passage with 6 on Cardigan Island. A Kestrel hovering near the Cliff Hotel and the pair of local Peregrines  were hunting near the Island. Also on the 28th, the Cemaes Head flock of 18  Chough  going to roost is likely to contain both breeders and non breeders now the chicks are fairly well grown.  On the 29th, a  Lesser Whitethroat  was singing and showing in scrub very near Creek Hide on Teifi Marshes..an historical site.  A look at the sea that day,  Manx Shearwaters  were passing the Teifi, at 100 per min flying west. The first juvenile Kingfisher was seen on 30th May. Since then they have been observed regularly at Kingfisher and Mallard hides, sometimes two together Juvenile Kingfisher - Diane Williams Mute Swans have successfully bred on Kingfisher pond. Cygnets were first seen on the 3rd June from Kingfisher hide after leaving the nest before the adults took them to the ...

Osprey sightings have been minimal so far this spring. One was seen over the Teifi Marshes then the estuary at the beginning of April and also on the 18th. Another on May 3rd from the river view point and the May 18th from Curlew hide, well captured fishing by Diane. Osprey - Diane Williams Resident birds have been getting on with breeding. Chicks of Mallard, Moorhen and Canada Goose have been seen. The  Mute Swans on Mallard Pond should have cygnets anyday. Moorhen chick - Diane Williams Up to 10 Whimbrel daily around the estuary at the beginning of the May after the peak of 70 on the 25th April. A flock of 12 vocal Ringed Plover with 25 Dunlin , the first spring passage small wader flock on the 3rd May - Yet again a poor wader passage, both in terms of variety and larger numbers of the more common waders. Sanderling at Gwbert - Diane Williams Warblers continue to arrive. The peak passage of Sedge Warblers was over by the beginning of the month with Reed Warblers becoming ...

We start April with an Osprey seen from Creek Hide by Tommy and Jen. Osprey - Tommy Evans Before we concentrate on the excitement of April arrivals, a look back at some  March observations. Down at the Teifi estuary, a Light-bellied Brent Goose was on  Poppit on the 14th. On the 21st, opposite St Dogmaels Quay there was a  Grey Plover, unusual as one wasn't recorded last year. Also the 2 Black-tailed Godwit  changing into breeding plumage, on occasions 3 birds. On the 18th the first Wheatears were seen briefly at Gwbert at The Cliff Hotel before flying to the Cardigan Island Farm Park. Wheatear- Dyfed James On the Teifi Marshes, migration was evident as the month went on. After a slowing of  Sand Martin  migration with cold NE winds there were up to 100 at dusk over the pond and reed beds at Mallard hide on the 19th. The first 2 Swallows and 2 House Martins were both recorded in the afternoon of the 23rd. At least 300 were overhead there on the 31s...

Chiffchaffs  are singing as we start the second week of March - at least 3 birds, though we had at least a couple of Chiffchaffs over wintering too. Chiffchaff by Mallard pond - Tommy Evans The first returning Sand Martins were two on the 27th Feb. At least 20 on the 7th March (Josh Pedley) Sand Martin - Josh Pedley Looking back at February on the Teifi Marshes   .....a Willow Tit singing on the 20th and a Firecrest on 21st were good passerine records. A different Firecrest was found by Jen Evans at the Mallard pond on the 23rd and still present on the 9th March at  Kingfisher pond. Firecrest - Jen Evans Around the estuary Gulls were present in good numbers, 300  Common Gulls was a good count on the 2nd Feb and an occasional adult Mediterranean Gull could be found.  A Cattle Egret  - maybe one of the two which spent early 2024 around Parc Teifi fields was irregularly seen around the estuary or on the Teifi Marshes.  The latest sighting on th...

Snow and rain... the freezing conditions at the Reserve ponds...  Mallard Pond thawing before another overnight freeze. During weather systems like this we are on the look out for waterfowl - forced to move. A pair of  Gadwall on the 5th on Mallard Pond, with a female still present in the Creek on the 15th. The female was seen prior to the above date too (Joshua B ) Gadwall - Diane Williams Six Goosanders were on the river from the view point on the Reserve during the afternoon of the 10th, four males and two females. One pair of the Goosanders were displaying (Andy Simms ) The monthly WeBS count of the estuary and river through the Teifi Marshes was done on the 12th.    A regular wintering Common Sandpiper was seen in the usual stretch of the river from Quay Street car park. Common Sandpiper - Dyfed James During the count, a Cattle Egret was seen flying away from the estuary. Later that day, Diane Williams took a photo of it as flew past Curlew Hide Cattle Egret ...

 A Great Northern Diver was on the river in front of Curlew hide on the 9th December. Great Northern Diver  Presumably a result of Storm Darragh.  Aberporth recorded wind gusts of 80mph or more for 9 consecutive hours -  " a remarkable weather event for the UK"" Apart from trees down and power cuts, not sure that our wildlife was too affected. Goosanders (male and 2+ female) and Goldeneye (2 male and 2 female) are the current diving ducks on the river. Sixty Teal and 120 Wigeon are passed their peak winter counts, and returning Shelduck are now in double figures - 14 on the 30th A flock of 250 Lapwing drops in on the falling tide from surrounding farmland and 40 Curlew and 40 Redshank in the estuary. Two Black-tailed Godwit s are wintering on the reserve . Black-tailed Godwit with a Curlew - Tommy Evans At least 100 Snipe are often rather showy at lower tides.  Snipe from Curlew hide - Diane Williams 1 Greenshank appears to be the only wader of note in ...

A Marsh Harrier  with a colour ring,VBA, was seen regularly over the Teifi Marshes from the beginning of November for about a week Marsh Harrier - Tommy Evans Here are the details of Marsh Harrier VBA sent from the ringer to Diane and Tommy "Ringed as a nestling on the 11 June 2024. One of a brood of 3 at Frodsham Cheshire. From this colour ringing project at Frodsham there have also been sightings of colour ringed Marsh Harriers in Cheshire, Lancashire, Humber, Greater Manchester, Somerset and Scotland" On the 3rd, one of the two Great Crested Grebe  was still on river, and two Goldeneye on Mallard pond on the  4th - an unusual piece of water for them to choose.. Goldeneye - Jen Evans Up to 4 Goldeneye on the 3rd December including a drake usually on the river- their favoured haunt and feeding location. A count of 4 being exceptional in recent years... Goldeneye - Diane Williams A male Shoveler on kingfisher lagoon and the Marsh Harrier over reed beds on the 5th Nove...