July into August
July was a quiet month for sightings but as we head towards mid August, birds are moving and there are some more notable records to report.
On the evening of the 10th August, a Mandarin in eclipse was on Kingfisher Pond. This was first photographed a couple of weeks ago. A Great White Egret which has been seen feeding along the river through the reserve for a couple of weeks was roosting between Creek and Kingfisher hides. Tommy and Jen managed some excellent photos on the 10th
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| Great Egret - Tommy Evans |
The eclipse type plumage Mandarin, usually with the Mallards...
The early autumn passage of warblers particularly Sedge and Reed Warblers is continuing in very good numbers...
Over the last 4 weeks over 480 Sedge and 190 Reed Warblers have been ringed. A minimum, but showing the scale and importance of the Teifi Marshes Reserve. Not only for breeding but also for feeding as they journey south th Africa.
Juvenile Kingfishers learning to fish have been entertaining viewing from the hides..
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| Kingfisher - Karen Leah |
Waders, Terns and Ospreys are starting to pass through the Teifi now...some recent sightings and totals...
12th Aug.. Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, Also a Whimbrel and Osprey still at St Dogmael's moorings.
11th Aug... 18 Sandwich Terns off Poppit and 14 Common Scoter past the island. Also thec female Tufted Duck at Mallard Hide again.
Up to 130 Curlew, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Common Terns have all been seen recently. Geese variety and numbers are interesting with up to 18 Greylag Geese ( record numbers for the Teifi) and the Barnacle Geese flock is growing - now up to 36 after an apparant v poor breeding season on Cardigan Island
It is turning out to be a much better year for Butterfly sightings than last year.
Brown Hairstreak eggs were counted in good numbers on the Teifi Marshes over the winter. The adults are harder to see so it was pleasing to hear of one along the main track between the car park and Kingfisher hide on the 7th and still present on the 9th
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| Brown Hairstreak - Jenny Rowlands |
A couple of days later on the 10th August it wasn't seen but a Silver Washed Fritillary was in the same place.
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| Silver-washed Fritilary - Dyfed James |
At sea...recent records..
12th Aug...15+ Bottlenosed Dolphin behind island heading E towards Mwnt, also Porpoise 1nauticle mile off Mwnt
11th Aug... and exceptional but now annual record of 20 Common Dolphins behind Cardigan Island
Many thanks to contributors, Benj Bond, Leo Barber in particular this month..
(Rich D and Wendy J)
For the record... both Peregrines and Chough have bred locally, the 3 juvenile Peregrines are seen and heard around the estuary..