Late September

 An update on the origins of two of the Ospreys seen around the Teifi recently.

Osprey CR52 - Tommy Evans

Tommy, who first recorded the ring on the German ringed Osprey (black-CR52) has now had the ringing details. It was ringed as a nestling on 25th June this year in Ludwigslust-Parchim, Germany.  First seen over the Teifi Marshes on the 17th August them also seen on the Nevern Estuary on the 22nd and over the Teifi Estuary on the 11th September.

Another colour ringed Osprey, 1A5 also first recorded by Tommy on the was ringed near Dornoch, Scotland in 2023. This 2 year old bird was seen regularly until at least the 18th September

Osprey 1A5 - Tommy Evans

Unusually this year, Dunlin have been seen regularly from Creek hide. On the evening of the 16th, a Curlew Sandpiper was them and still present the following evening, this the latest species seen there - see previous posts.

Curlew Sandpiper on the left with a Dunlin - Diane Williams

On the 21st a look from Curlew Hide found the first two Wigeon of the autumn. They had increased to three on the 23rd, hopefully another few hundred on their way.

Diving ducks  unusual on the Teifi, a Tufted Duck on the 26th is a good record. 

Tufted Duck - Stuart Hall

On the same day, news from Malcolm Price of  two Cattle Egrets with cattle on Tregibby fields to the north of Gwbert Road.

On the 29th, John Ramm saw an unusual Pipit, possibly a Richard's Pipit, at Patch. His words from the Ceredigion blog

"A little after 9.30 am I was walking behind the static caravans at  Patch on the coastal path looking out across to Poppit and Cardigan Island.   There were huge numbers of Goldfinches about and plenty of meadow pipits.

Close to the bench that looks out cross the bay,  I suddenly caught sight of a large pipit  standing very upright close to some boulders.   It was a type of pipit I hadn't seen before  but everything about it,  from the long tail with white sides,  it's size and shout bill, and general appearance makes me believe it was a Richard's Pipit.   

I have not seen one before so there must be a degree of caution with my identification but I  thought it worth reporting. "

Sea birds - a summary of conditions on the 14th from Arfon Williams ....

"" For any would be seawatchers out there the next couple of days look interesting. Based on past experience Tuesday might be the most promising as birds pushed up into Cardigan Bay by tomorrow's strong south-westerly make their way back south again (with the w n/w wind blowing them onshore).  The 3 or 4  hrs after first light tend to be the best for passing seabirds in these conditions. Mwnt can be productive - but anywhere along the coast could produce something interesting.""

A seawatch from Brennig on the 15th..

... breezy three hours at Mwnt produced  

 17 Arctic skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 1 Pomarine Skua, 3 Sabine's Gulls, 26 Common Scoter, 1 Golden Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Canada Geese, 23 Greylag Geese.  A trickle of Manx Shearwaters and Kittiwakes , hardly any terns. 

Pembrokeshire plays a vital role in the lifecycle of Manx Shearwaters, hosting around 60% of the global breeding population, with Skomer Island alone home to an estimated 350,000 pairs. However, fledgling shearwaters often become disoriented particularly in stormy weather, by artificial lights on the mainland or boats. Leaving their burrows under the cover of darkness, they can be drawn inland, where they face serious threats from predators and traffic. Without human help, many will not make it back to the sea. The majority of stranded fledglings are found on beaches such as Newgale but some turned up in the Teifi area. One was found in a garden in Cilgerran and safely released that night at Gwbert.

Stranded Manx Shearwater - Liz Cook

With stormy weather again forecast for the coming weekend the sea will be worth watching again.

(Wendy J and Rich D)