Hen Harrier and early winter

Great to be able to produce an update of sightings from the Teifi whilst we have been away.

On the 10th Nov, Tommy Evans saw this splendid male Hen Harrier over the Marshes.

Surprisingly, maybe only the 2nd or 3rd record for our Teifi area.

A single Whooper Swan  flew over the Teifi Marshes on the 21st seen by Jon Green, becoming a scarce species this far west. 

Dec 2nd...and the 1st Purple Sandpiper of the year, also 1 Turnstone, 30 Golden Plover and 15 Lapwing beyond the Cliff Hotel towards Cardigan Island.

We have no idea on the movements of our Barnacle Geese. We have looked at colour- ringing them with Kane Brides (Waterbird Colour-marking Group). Interesting to see 61 resting opposite St Dogmael's Quay on Dec 2nd and on the 7th Dec. 47+ Barnacle Geese were feeding with 660 Canada Geese in fields above the Cliff Hotel.

This Red-throated Diver was another surprise, not the species- 4 were present off Cemaes Head with a Great Northern Diver on the 4th, but on the 6th this Diver was off St Dogmael's Quay with Great Crested Grebe...

Red-throated Diver - Tommy Evans

Over on the Teifi Marshes, relatively quiet, but a female Firecrest and a Chiffchaff near the river view point on the 5th added some variety.

A female Red-breasted Merganser was again feeding around the pontoon of St Dogmael's Quay on the 9th, this bird has been seen irregularly for a while...

Winter thrushes are being seen. These pictures were taken on the Teifi Marshes ...

Redwing - Jen Evans

Fieldfare - Paul Taylor

A cold December can bring us some interesting birds....

(Rich D and Wendy J)