Waders, Kingfishers and a White Wagtail
On the 5th May we still had 33 Whimbrel, and the first passage Sanderlings with Ringed Plovers and Dunlin. These Sanderlings wil be followed later in May with much larger numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers - the Arctic breeding birds.
A nice surprise from the river view point on the 18th was a fine breeding plumage male Tufted Duck- complete with tuft.
Reed Warblers are returning to breed
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| Reed Warbler - Tommy Evans |
Though the return of our Reed Warblers appears to be slow - hopefully more birds are still to arrive....
Breeding success on the Teifi Marshes already noticeable with initially two Mute Swan cygnets on Mallard pond, now down to one and juvenile Kingfishers at Kingfisher pond
Kingfisher photos by Colin Dalton on the 31st May.
While bird sightings have been quiet during May and the start of June, there has been plenty of other wildlife to see. A nice selection here from Karen Leah
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| Grass Snake |
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| Four-spotted Chaser |
Earlier this month we monitored the passage of White Wagtails on their way to breeding grounds in Iceland. 44 were ringed over a few evenings near Mallard hide One of these landed on a fishing vessel off the southwest coast of Iceland. Sadly it was found dead 3 days later.
On the 26th May an arrival of small waders and by the 29th the much larger passage had started.
In the morning Howard Thomas counted 50 Sanderling, 250 Ringed Plover and 250 Dunlin. On the falling evening tide a lovely sight... a very large count of 580 Ringed Plover, also 70 Sanderling, 250 Dunlin. (Rich D and Howard T) The following morning's falling tide produced 40 Sanderling, 200 Ringed Plover 100 Dunlin, many had taken the opportunity to continue north whilst the tide was high. The waders prefer to roost on Poppit and by The Webley, but are very mobile, feeding throughout the estuary..
By the 31st, the first brood of Shelducklings... as we enter a warm and very sunny June.
(Rich D and Wendy J)