Teifi Birding and Wildlife

A drake Tufted Duck found by Catrin Williams was on Kingfisher pond on the evening of the 14th April A Tufted Duck distantly on Kingfisher pond The Tufted Duck is an annual visitor to the Teifi, sometimes in small groups but this was the first this year. That same evening a Hobby also flew over. Plenty of food for an early Hobby with 200 Sand Martins and 100 White Wagtails . The evening before there were greater numbers with 300 Sand Martins and 200 White Wagtails. A few Swallows passing over during the day and a couple of small flocks of House Martins too.  A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling and at least 3 Snipe were calling and flying around at dusk. A calling Tawny Owl   finished the evening. Evenings have been very atmospheric watching these returning migrants to the backdrop of a sunset. Kingfisher pond, Teifi Marshes Some other firsts this week... A Cuckoo at Gwbert - Siwan Thomas on the 16th April A  Purple Sandpiper was on the dark rock in the picture under the Cliff Hotel

A strong south-easterly wind on the north coast often favours duck movements. It was nice on Wednesday 11th to not only have the first Sandwich Tern feeding in the bay but also 4 Shoveler. Whilst we await the arrival of more summer visitors, our winter visitors have almost gone, 6 Wigeon on the 10th may be the last, but pairs of Teal still can be found in various sites around the estuary, particularly on the Reserve. We await the first Whimbrel - any day now, and most Curlew have gone. A few still around and interesting to see 2 Curlew in an adjacent damp sheep pasture with plenty of areas of sedge growth, more interesting in that it was low tide and the birds were choosing to be in the field. The first House Martins   (3) of the year were feeding Sand Martins and Swallows on the 5th over the Reserve. On the 11th we saw the highest Sand Martin count with c100 feeding at dusk. A Great White Egret was seen by John Ramm feeding on Patch on the 7th, although this egret is becoming more

Dusk on the Teifi Marshes from Mallard hide is once again enhanced with the site and sounds of Hirundines, currently in small numbers. On the 2nd, a Barn Owl graced the reed cut at dusk. The first Swallows were seen on the 29th March, with the highest count of 12 on the 3rd, many more will arrive soon. Willow Warblers were heard singing from the 23rd March. The first Osprey of the Spring on the 1st of April was seen by Ruth of Coedmor Camping as it flew down the Teifi over Cilgerran towards the sea. An immature Iceland Gull on the evenings of the 2nd and 3rd was bathing in the river. The picture gives an idea of the location on the  River Teifi just upstream of the by-pass bridge near Curlew Hide Iceland Gull at dusk, Teifi Marshes Gulls often gather here in the evening to bathe before going down to the estuary and Cardigan Island. Easily viewed from the path through the reserve Recent history shows.....    In the first week of April last year, Reed Warbler, Osprey and Hobby. In 2