An Osprey, autumn waders and a Grey Seal rescue

Once a month, all of the water birds in the estuary and up through the Teifi Marshes are counted for the BTO Wetland Bird Survey "WeBS" A good number and variety of waders for the count this weekend. With news of an Osprey seen on the evening of the 10th from The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels, the count was interrupted by looking for the Osprey again and putting the news out. Tommy and Jen soon arrived and took some excellent photos. 

Osprey at St Dogmaels - Tommy Evans

Several locals were thrilled to have the chance to view it through the scope. It is an unringed juvenile. Thanks to Carly Holmes and Howard James for the initial sighting.

With a very high tide the waders only have a small area of the spit at Patch to roost on.

Highlights included 17 Knot which is a very good count for the Teifi. Looking back at WeBS data it is the highest ever, the second highest being 13 in 1996.

An adult Knot in fading breeding plumage with some of the 119 Dunlin

Juvenile Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit with Ringed Plovers 

Later in the morning on the 11th, Jon Green found 3 Curlew Sandpipers on Patch. No Little Stints yet this autumn but worth a look at the wader flock with every tide change.

Another distraction from counting waders was a live Grey Seal stranded on Patch beach. 

Because of its location away from the open sea and with cars and dogs using the area it couldn't be left. A phone call to Welsh Marine Life Rescue was quickly acted on and it was soon collected. It was a very healthy-looking pup so hopefully will soon be returned to the sea. 

Mwnt seawatching

With the wind moving round to the northwest on Friday 9th, Arfon Williams spotted the possibility of good seabird passage at Mwnt.  

Between 6.30 and 12.30 the highlights were 12 Arctic and 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Bonxie, 1 juv Sabine’s and 5 Med Gulls, 14 Black, 140 Sandwich, 37 Arctic, 383 Common and 140 Commic Terns, 13 Balearic Shearwaters, 170 Common Scoter, 17 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plovers and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. 

Birds are never easy to photograph on a seawatch as they pass so quickly but Karen Leah took this photo of an Arctic Skua while out on a Bay to Remember boat trip.

Arctic Skua - Karen Leah

On to some news from the Teifi Marshes reserve...

Coot - Mallard pond

Coot is annual on the Teifi, with 1-3 birds recorded most years. The present Coot on Mallard pond has now been there for a week.

Dragonflies are easy to see on the reserve at the moment, both on the ponds and resting on the warmth of the wooden handrails and boardwalks

Common Darter - Dyfed James

Common Darter - the usual reddish Darter seen around the reserve late in the season.

Common Darter - Dyfed James

This Common Hawker was photographed at Mallard pond by Jen Evans

Common Hawker - Jen Evans

(Wendy J and Rich D)