Teifi Birding and Wildlife

Just before the weekend WeBS count two Mandarin on Kingfisher pond - maybe the first multiple sighting of this duck on the Teifi Marshes.. Two Mandarin, the second hiding in the vegetation behind the Mallard - Mike The monthly WeBS count ( Wetland Bird Survey ) for the BTO was done on the 7th. A Coot at the river viewpoint on the Teifi Marshes was unusual ( 2 here on the 9th).  A juvenile, unringed Osprey was in a dead tree there. 3 Common Sandpipers were here too and another one at Mallard pond and one on the river at St Dogmaels. On the sandbanks by the Teifi Waterside there were 7 Ringed Plover and a Knot before being flushed by a Peregine - no doubt one of our local young.   The total count of Mallard was 154 which was high compared with recent years but historically the numbers for September were far greater including an exceptional count of 400 in 1979.  The decrease in Mute Swans is noticeable too with 5 this month and a peak of 60 as recently as 2010....

To end August..... A juvenile Little Stint and an adult Long-tailed Skua - details below.            Both on the Reserve .. !!   On the 31st August, a juvenile Little Stint was in front of Creek Hide. It was with 4 Greenshank and aggressive Snipe . Usually, these minute waders are on Patch or Poppit in the main  outer estuary. Little Stint showing size comparison with a Snipe - Tommy Evans Greenshank have been seen regularly from Creek hide. The maximum count has been ten on the 3rd September. This doesn't match the record count of 36 at the Teifi marshes on 1st September 1984! Greenshank - Diane Williams Two Ruff were present from the 3rd and still present on the 4th September Ruff - Jen Evans Storms and gale force winds at the end of August brought some unusual birds Long-tailed Skua - Sue Müller Sue Müller was visiting the Teifi Marshes on the 31st August in the hope of seeing an Osprey. What she photographed over the river from Creek Hid...