Teifi Birding and Wildlife

Always one or more Iceland Gulls to be found in mid / late March, often the time of year when adults pass through heading north -  - One in the estuary on the 20th March was no surprise. Garganey , a pair the first since 2016 and were found on the 21st March and photographed by Stuart Hall. They were on the river near Curlew Hide. Still present the following morning but had moved to Kingfisher Pond. Garganey - Stuart Hall   These Garganey are part of a major influx to the UK due the current weather system  Also a breeding plumage Great Crested Grebe was in the estuary off  St. Dogmael's Quay on the 21st March. Blackcaps and Willow Warblers are now singing on the Reserve, and it sounds like 3 territorial male Cetti's Warblers too. The headlands of Cemaes and Mwnt were fairly quiet for migrants this week. Just a trickle of Wheatear coming through with 3 around Cemaes Head this morning.   Wheatear - Dyfed James There was a noticeable passage of Meadow Pipit...

A round up of the last month now that we are back from The Gambia. Migrant birds out there were putting on fat ready to leave so it won't be long before we see them here.  Wheatears are back. This male was at Mwnt on the 13th March. Wheatear - Dyfed James A good place to look for them is the Cliff Hotel golf course. Three were near the Coastguard Station  this morning (20th March). Sand Martins were first seen over the Teifi Marshes reserve on the 10th March (Paul Taylor while counting Brown Hairstreak eggs- see below). Sand Martin - Toni Henwood This weekend is the last Wetland Bird Survey of the winter. As expected many species are decreasing in number as they leave for their breeding grounds The tide height at The Webley saltmarsh was perfect but just a few Wigeon and one Oystercatcher were there. Total Wigeon around the estuary was 37. At Pinog (at the back of St Dogmaels car par park) there was a Common Sandpiper and 37 Redshank. On the Teifi Marshes  2 Jack Snipe...