At least 2 Firecrests are on the reserve and at least 2 more Firecrests and a Chiffchaff are in Poppit Wood or the valley behind. Good to hear Cetti's singing - they seem to suffer here when have very cold spells more than at other sites in west Wales. On the river from the view point, 5 Goosander (2m) and a male Goldeneye though sometimes a pair. The wintering Common Sandpiper is usually below St. Dogmael's car park on the river and the Quay at St Dogmael's is the best viewing for the larger waders. c1000 Lapwing but few Golden Plover, up to 3 Grey Plover, 2 Greenshank, 85 Redshank, 60 Curlew with 50 Shelduck. The Webley is best for the small waders, a steady 140-160 Dunlin, c30 Ringed Plover.
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| Lapwing |
The number of Lapwing and Golden Plover we see each winter are dependant on the arable land around us. Often if birds are happy on unfrozen stubble etc then we rarely see them down on the estuarine mud. Sometimes we can host over 1000 of each..
Nothing in the river mouth though Gull numbers are building up in the estuary, 1600 Herring Gulls and 600 Common Gulls of interest. No white-winged Gulls from further north have appeared yet, but an adult Mediterranean Gull on the 17th was the 1st this year, also a Red-throated Diver flying across the bay.
Geese have been missing, presumably further up the flooded Teifi valley. 60 Barnacle and 300 Canada Geese have returned, more to arrive ... The valley is nicely saturated or flooded and the Little Egrets have mainly left the estuary too and are happily feeding up river at Abercych. (near breeding sites ??)
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| 8 Little Egrets in a tree at Abercych |
Driving from Llechryd to Cenarth, the Egrets can usually be found in this muddy horse field just before the sawmills
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| Field favoured by Little Egrets and Grey Herons |
A couple of fields further along there were 14 Goosander on this flooded field on the 16th. These were seen from the path that goes from the sawmills car park to Newbridge where the three counties meet.
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| Flood with Goosander |
Back towards Llechryd Bridge there were large numbers of water birds on the flood and adjacent fields
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| Flooded fields by Manordeifi Church |
Counts included
300 Lapwing, 220 Canada Geese,
180 Wigeon and 110 Herring Gulls.
Other interesting birds which could still appear in January include diving ducks like Tufted Duck, the odd Grebe, the odd Goose and quite likely an Iceland or Glaucous Gull.
Mallard Pond, frozen again today, around the pond though our Reed Buntings are returning having been feeding elsewhere..
Any photos of our colour-ringed Reed Buntings are valuable...often near Mallard Hide or in the main car park.
(Rich D and Wendy J)
