Thresher Shark, Storm Petrels .. and Butterflies

The highlight of the month so far was non-avian. A Thresher Shark was seen c1km west of Cemaes Head on the 11th. Seen and videoed from a regular boat trip by  A Bay to Remember. Bottlenose Dolphins are also being sighted very regularly from land and sea 

Thresher Shark - Tony Barber

Report of the Thresher Shark on the BBC website including a video. 

Also on the 11th and 12th 2 Black Swans were seen on the Teifi Marshes from the river viewpoint.

The first returning Green Sandpiper on the 30th June, otherwise early July is proving quiet for bird sightings. Many adults have finished breeding and are moulting, a time when they become more discreet, and may even become flightless like Auks and Waterfowl.

Excellent viewing of Storm Petrels at Mwnt on the nights of the 5th and 11th and 16th. These were observed with a combination of a Thermal Image camera and by ringing as part of our study into their movements around Cardigan Bay - now in it's 10th year.

Storm Petrel at Mwnt - Benjamin Bond

As well as Storm Petrels at Mwnt other species are active after dark too. Bottlenose Dolphins and Seals are often heard and Common Sandpipers regularly call from the rocks below. Manx Shearwaters pass over calling, some even away from the cliffs over the church and car park. 

With the Big Butterfly Count this weekend we paid a bit of extra attention to Butterflies. Coed Maidie B Goddard reserve on the north bank of the Teifi is a good site to see Silver-washed Fritillaries. In two glades near the Water Treatment Works there were 6. They were very active but one rested just long enough for a picture.

Silver-washed Fritillary - Dyfed James

A reminder that the the County Recorders are always very pleased to receive records  

Butterfly County recorders contact details 

Paul Taylor for Ceredigion will also pick up records from iRecord and Ceredigion Birds and Wildlife Facebook page.

We are gradually adding to the photographic library of Birds of the Teifi and plan to compile a library for other taxa starting with Buttterflies. We are very grateful to photographers who allow us to share their images.

(Rich D and Wendy J)