Wonderful waders....

A look back at  the second half of  August which is ending with a wonderful variety of waders being seen and photographed from Curlew hide on the Teifi Marshes. More details on the waders later in the post.

Waders in flight - Jason Medcraft

From the 11th we had daily estuary sightings from Benjamin Bond, most observations from boats..  On the 12th and 13th there was a Spoonbill on a sandbank off from the Teifi Waterside. Also 11 Sandwich Terns, a Great Egret and a Common Tern off Patch. An Arctic Skua passed Cardigan Island on the eve of the 12th too. On the 13th Aug there were 21 Sandwich Terns, a Great Egret from The Moorings St Dogmaels and 18 Mediterranean Gulls. On the 22nd, 4 juvenile Knot were the highlight.

Out at sea, Ocean Sunfish have been recorded on several occasions along with daily Bottlenosed Dolphins 

On the 9th August there were 11 Barnacle Geese and 7 Greylag Geese by Swallow boats. One of the Barnacle Geese had a yellow colour ring N79. Hannah reported the ring and it was found to have been ringed as a chick in Derwentwater, Cumbria in 2024. It was seen at Ynyshir in August and November of that year but not last year. Greylag Geese numbers peaked at 27 on the 19th, Barnacle Geese peaked with 39 on the 23rd.

Several birders watched the partial eclipse of the sun from the Teifi Marshes on the 12th August. As it turned darker there was a flurry of birds going to roost early, notably Starlings and Swallows. A Spoonbill flew upstream through the marshes on this evening too. Those watching at the estuary noticed a significant temperature drop and the gulls all flew out to sea.

Starlings going to roost early - Diane Williams

Swallow roosts have been spectacular on many evenings with a Hobby watched chasing them on several occasions. It is hard to estimate numbers of the swirling birds but a minimum of 3,000 on the night of the eclipse, less for the following week then another peak of around 2,000 on the 26th with a Hobby recorded that night too. 

13th August...A juvenile Little Ringed Plover landed briefly landed on the slipway between the bridges

Little Ringed Plover - Hannah Cook

An Osprey over the river through the marshes and over the estuary on the 18th too.. 

Osprey -Jason Medcraft

To illustrate the wide variety of waders seen from Curlew hide a selection are included here. 

Waders started to increase on the 5th when 7 Common Sandpipers were seen from Curlew hide and this Wood Sandpiper on August 12th.

 

Wood Sandpiper - Diane Williams

The first of several Green Sandpiper on the 20th 

Green Sandpiper - Diane Williams

Two Curlew Sandpipers arrived on the 25th..

Curlew Sandpipers- Diane Williams

They have been seen on most days since with three on the 29th

The first Ruff arrived on the 24th...with at least two present on the 29th.

Ruff - Diane Williams

A Turnstone was first seen on the 28th. In Jason's flight photo at the top of the blog, three can be seen.

Turnstone with Ringed Plover - Diane Williams

Greenshank can be heard at most tide heights calling as they move around the marsh and river. A peak count of 12 flying in to roost at dusk on the 28th.

Greenshank with Dunlin - Diane Williams

Local Peregrines raised 3 young successfully, on the 15th August this young bird had ventured over the Reserve.. 

Juvenile Peregrine - Diane Williams

The numbers if  Grey Herons and Little Egrets were impressive with a peak of 38  Grey Herons and 28 Little Egrets. A Great Egret on the 18th too..

Great Egret - Diane Williams

Just before posting this blog another species of wader has been seen from Curlew hide. Some Sanderling dropped in today (30th). A species more usually seen down at the estuary.

Sanderling - Diane Williams

Two Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on the 28th (Jon Green)

Yellow-legged Gull - Jason Medcraft

Migrant warblers .. the peak of Sedge Warbler movement is over now and Chiffchaffs  are becoming more noticeable after a small Willow Warbler passage.

Chiffchaff - Diane Williams

Not only birds are being recorded. Diane captured this excellent image of  a Migrant Hawker

(Wendy J and Rich D)