September squalls ....

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. 

The  two Ruff were still being seen from Creek hide until the 8th 

Ruff - Diane Williams

Across the country there have been multiple sightings of Glossy Ibis as young disperse from their breeding grounds on the continent. On the 6th, Brennig Huws found a a single Glossy Ibis in the Teifi Estuary briefly before flying north. Also a Merlin on a sandbank with the gulls.

Glossy Ibis - Brennig Huws

Osprey sightings continue. Tommy found a different ringed bird at the river viewpoint, Blue 1A5 on the 11th. It was ringed in a nest near Dornoch, Scotland in 2023.

This 2 year old Osprey with an impressively large fish!- Tommy Evans

Later the same day down at the estuary, the German ringed Osprey was fishing just off the caravans. Details of this Osprey are awaited. It was originally seen by Tommy on the 17th August,

Sea watchers along the coast were watching a significant movement of Terns. Locally, at Mwnt,  Josh Brown saw a Little Tern with a flock of Sandwich Terns on the 11th.

Aside from birds there have been close sightings of Grass Snakes in Kingfisher pond

Grass Snake - Stuart Hall

Autumn Dragonflies are on the wing. This female Southern Hawker egg laying was beautifully photographed by Jen Evans

Southern Hawker

The forecast remains unsettled with strong winds so a good week to brave the weather and check the pools, estuary and sea.

(Wendy J and Rich D)