Spring songsters arrive, large waders too

The 18th of April marked the mass arrival of birds. Grasshopper Warblers were heard and Sedge Warblers were once again singing from the reed beds on the Teifi Marshes. On the 26th the first Reed Warbler was heard.

Odd records  including a dark-bellied Brent Goose down at the Webley.

The first Bar-tailed Godwits were seen on the 19th. 

A group of 11 was feeding on the seaward side of Patch on the 29th April

On the 23rd April there were at  least 61 Whimbrel on the Teifi  (Siwan Thomas), and 50 to 70 until the 1st May 

At least 11 Sandwich Terns were also present around the estuary  (Dyfed James) on the 23rd. We see far more Terns post breeding, when colour ring reading shows that the return passage is from far and wide.

Sandwich Tern on a gloomy day - Dyfed James

 A group of 11 Whimbrel were photographed on the river though Cardigan town by Netpool on the 1st May.

On the 27th a Jack Snipe was a late bird flushed from the reeds near the reed cut, Common Snipe have been heard at dusk until the end of April. Surprising to see and hear the  1 or sometimes 2 Lapwing around the river banks near Curlew Hide.  

A Lesser Whitethroat on the 28th, always nice to see and a Garden Warbler on the 4th May, were two of the later arriving warblers.. 

Lesser Whitethroat - Teifi Marshes

Cuckoo  is quite a difficult bird to record on the reserve, Gareth from the WWC saw one in front of the Centre buildings in May 3rd. Cuckoos are heard in the surrounding farmlands and still breed on the nearest Preseli hills. Cuckoos that breed nearby presumably use Meadow Pipits and Dunnocks as hosts - they haven't and may never discover our recently arrived Reed Warblers to parasitize.

Ospreys  - was May 2nd bird seen near Rosebush Reservoir the same bird as one at Newport on the 29th ? Both sightings outside our recording area but are interesting with today's sighting.....

....from Kingfisher hide on the Teifi Marshes being mobbed by Corvids.

Osprey - Tommy Evans

We also have sightings from the Teifi Gorge area.

Most of our resident birds and early summer visitors have set up breeding territories, Mallards, Moorhens, Canada Geese nesting on every pond - but Mute Swans just on one.

Mallard pond, Teifi Marshes

The first ducklings and fledglings are now being seen..

Mallard duckling - Dyfed James

Small waders should appear any day, large flocks on their way to Arctic breeding grounds. A good time to watch the estuary as often as possible especially after high tide. 

(Rich D and Wendy J)