Spring migration and floods
On the 25th March, the first Swallows and House Martins, joined the feeding Sand Martins over the Teifi Marshes. Increasing numbers of Sand Martins have been seen over the reserve since then with at least 100 on the 8th April.
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| Sand Martins - Diane Williams |
The pond at Mallard hide is usually the focus for feeding hirundines over the Teifi Marshes. The Mute Swans are again nesting there and also behind the car park pond. The first tiny Moorhen chicks were seen there on Mallard pond on the 9th April.
Gulls were on the move at the end of March and on the 26th some less common species were seen in the Teifi Estuary.
A 1st winter Bonaparte’s Gull was near The Webley Hotel..
The adult Iceland Gull, a 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull and 40 Med Gulls.
The Snow Bunting that flew towards Poppit Sands, was a very good record of this surprisingly rare species around the estuary and headlands. Records from Marc Hughes and Arfon Williams and useful pictures and videos on Marc's Tweet on 𝕏
Also down at the estuary near the Cliff Hotel, a Merlin was seen on the 28th March.
Kingfishers have been seen regularly particularly at Kingfisher pond. Diane was fortunate to catch an unusual picture of them mating.
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| Kingfishers - Diane Williams |
Photographers at Kingfisher hide were also treated to good views of an Otter there on the 29th March
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| Otter- Karen Leah |
April started with persistent wind and rain hampering birding. The first Sedge Warbler was heard on the Teifi Marshes on the 7th April. This patch of riverside reed bed near the bypass bridge has often been the place to hear the first one.
Early morning birding has been a wellies only walk with high tides over 5 metres and a lot of water coming down the river. The Willows along the track were alive with the song of newly arrived Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps on the 7th April.
The boardwalk to Creek hide
That afternoon down at the estuary, the first Whimbrel was seen from St Dogmael's Quay with a Sandwich Tern. The first Sandwich Terns had been seen by Andy James on the 31st March with 5 in the estuary.
A reminder to look out for Butterflies and record them to contribute to county records. On the 10th April, Paul Taylor, the Ceredigion recorder will be talking at The Studios. Theatr Mwldan about the status of butterflies in Ceredigion last year.
All Butterfly records, Dragonflies, Moths and Mammals too, can be recorded easily on iRecord. , directly to the recorders or via the Local Environment Records App (LERC) on your phone to record while out
With better weather forecast for the second half of the month there should be plenty of spring sightings to record.
Wendy J and Rich D