Teifi Birding and Wildlife

At the Webley on the 26th June, 2 adult Sandwich Terns were likely the first failed breeders on their way south.  Sandwich Tern with Black-headed Gulls Three Mediterranean Gull s with them and c150 Black-headed Gulls including 3 juveniles.   High tide roost at Webley salt marsh 400 Manx Shearwaters passing close in 20 minutes on the 25th and 8 Chough were seen to fly across to their Cemaes Head roost. Passing seabirds can be viewed from the Gwbert  viewpoint car park Manx Shearwaters like most passing seabirds round Cardigan Island and often sweep well into the bay before heading back west out past Cemaes Head.  In the late evenings of the  27th and 28th nice to see 6/8 Swifts feeding over the marshes. It was surprising to see around 500 Starlings go to roost in the reeds... A Common Tern at the Webley roost on the 28th and 29th. Common Tern Early July over the last few years has produced the following, in 2020 up to 70 Mediterranean Gulls at the Webl...

Sighting of the week was an Osprey over the Teifi Marshes with a fish, late evening on the 15th June.  Osprey - Simon James Many thanks to Simon James for the sighting and photo. He said that it was harassed by a Herring Gull and managed to capture the action. The sight of a  female Goosander with 2 flightless juveniles on the river on the 7th is interesting. In recent years we have seen family parties of Goosander on the river but presumed they arrived from further up the river systems. Never before have we seen flightless young, they must be breeding locally. On the 19th, the first returning Common Gull - and surprisingly an adult. The first returning birds are usually second year birds that have not attempted to breed. Also an adult Mediterranean Gull and the 1st juvenile Black-headed Gull , again an early bird. Near a couple of the hides on the marshes juvenile Reed Warblers have been showing.  Juvenile Reed Warbler - Tommy Evans Like the one above sighted by Tom...

A usual and pleasant early summer sight on the Teifi Marshes, juvenile Kingfishers , all learning to feed. Many photographers have visited the reserve and taken stunning images with up to three juveniles together Juvenile Kingfishers - Stuart Hall Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Moorhen, and Mallard all have bred successfully and have young on the various ponds. The first Shelducklings have been seen the the estuary down river of St Dogmael's Quay. Cygnets at Mallard Pond - Tommy Evans A small pond at Gwbert is a regular site for breeding Little Grebe. An adult with 3 young was seen this week. One of the chicks was watched climbing under the parents wings... Little Grebe with chick - Dyfed James Dunlin , Ringed Plover and Sanderling are feeding and roosting in the estuary, and on Sat 4th we picked out a very smart reddish Curlew Sandpiper.   No photo of the Curlew Sandpiper but this short video gives an idea of evening wader watching on Patch as the tide comes in At least 8 Cu...