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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 reserve...
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Spring arrivals... and departures

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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...
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Snow, rain and waterfowl...

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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 ...
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December started with a Diver

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 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 ...
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Marsh Harrier to Goldeneye and Firecrests

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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...
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Whooper Swans to Waxcaps

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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 Whoope...
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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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