Chiffchaff, Guillemots and freezing conditions...

Another new Chiffchaff on the reserve this winter, also one seen at Poppit yesterday.

Chiffchaff - January 11th

Guillemots were back on their breeding ledges on Cardigan Island yesterday -- one to look for during this calm weather. Our Skylarks disappear from the breeding sites around the Teifi headlands in winter. This sighting from Liz Snell adds to the local picture -- further up the coast in the coastal fields today between Mwnt and Aberporth c200 Skylarks and 45 Stock Doves feeding on the dunged stubble.

A walk out beyond the Cliff Hotel to look for Purple Sandpipers and Turnstone on the rocks was unsuccessful this afternoon but good views of the Barnacle Goose flock as they flew out to Cardigan Island followed by several hundred Canada Geese.

Canada Geese over Cardigan Farm Park

Five Rock Pipits were feeding on the Golf Course and 2 Stonechat were flycatching in the sun.

Stonechat

The freezing conditions haven't brought us any obvious new arrivals, 250 Lapwing, 150 Golden Plover 49 Dunlin, 39 Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit - the wader count from the Quay. A Grey Plover seen by Liz Snell yesterday was an excellent early year record for us,  it would appear to be our first Grey Plover in January since 2017.

 A dusk wander this eve....Mallard Pond frozen, Curlews roosting on the island.

Kingfisher Pond frozen, but Redwings calling on their way to roost, Cetti's Warblers and Wrens still competing with song at dusk.

 Back via Creek - c65 Teal on show, no doubt many more in the Reed fringed edges...

The Teifi timeline Jan 15th - 18th, a relatively quiet few days.. 

Counts of 510 Golden Plover, 450 Lapwing and 680 Common Gulls in 2021. A white-winged Gull could be picked amongst the roosting large gulls on Cardigan Island on the 18th in 2020. Jack Snipe and a hunting Barn Owl over the reserve were the pick of the sightings in 2019, and an immature Iceland Gull was seen on the 18th in 2018.

Rich D and Wendy J