Waders, warblers and breeding birds

The highlight of the last couple of weeks was a Great Egret which briefly dropped into Mallard Pond on the 25th April

Great Egret - Diane Williams

The second half of April started well with the recording of some more passage migrants on the 14th. Down at the estuary the first Whimbrel was calling, a Sandwich Tern flew into the estuary briefly and 2 Common Terns were feeding in the strong wind off Patch.

17th April.. the most interesting species was a Grey Plover with the high tide roost on Patch. Found just before the shingle spit covered and it flew over to Poppit. It was with 1 Whimbrel, 32 Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin.

Patch just being covered by the high tide

20th April, on a chilly, windy morning there was a noticeable increase in the number of  migrant Sedge Warblers singing and flying around the reeds allowing some excellent photos. Most of these will be just be resting and feeding before continuing their migration.

Sedge Warbler - Diane Williams

21st April.. the 1st Swift over the Teifi Marshes (Jon Green) and the first 4 migrant Bar-tailed Godwits

On the 22nd, two Sanderling,  and on the 23rd the Patch high tide roost contained 27 Ringed Plover, 42 Dunlin and 1 Grey Plover. 

Dunlin and Ringed Plover on Patch - Dyfed James

Early on the 23rd a Swift feeding over the reedbed. Whimbrel passage increasing with their calls heard over the marshes and estuary

Whimbrel at Gwbert - Lynette Huntington

23rd... The next passerine to arrive, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing near Swallow boats. Numerous Whitethroats can now be heard singing in any coastal scrub. This one was on Towyn Warren by the golf club.

Whitethroat - Dyfed James

Around the ponds on the marshes chicks can be seen, both Mallard and Moorhen.

Moorhen chicks - Jen Evans

Early mornings on the Marshes - a chorus of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, Reed Buntings jangling song too. A Grasshopper  Warbler was heard on the 25th (Silke and Liz) Water Rails can be heard squealing in the day, and singing in the dark..

It sounds as if there are an above usual number of Blackcaps singing. Will be interesting how the breeding season goes...

(Wendy J and Rich D)