September - autumn variety begins..

On the 22nd September there were an unprecedented 15 Mandarin Duck from the river viewpoint on the Teifi Marshes. 

An unusual sight with mixed sexes lined up along a couple of fallen trees. It is known that Mandarin bred upriver at Henllan this year. As this species can lay 8 to 12, occasionally 15 eggs these could be one brood from a very successful nest (Russell Jones)

Mandarin on the 24th - Jason Medcraft

Record shot across the river when first seen- Hannah Cook

They are a non-native species that has established a thriving wild population across parts of the UK after escaping from captivity in the early 20th century. 

They were still present later in the afternoon on the 22nd. Also on that visit to the marshes Josh found that there had been an increase in large waders from Curlew hide compared with recent weeks - 13 Bar-tailed Godwit and 8 Black-tailed Godwit. Still a similar number of Dunlin, 51 but only 1 Ringed Plover. There was also a single Wigeon. This was photographed by Jason on the 24th.

Wigeon with Mallard - Jason Medcraft

After the surprise of multiple Mandarins the next unexpected count was 9 Cattle Egrets! On the 24th, Dave Simmons photographed them in the horse field across the river from the Teifi Marshes

5 of the 9 Cattle Egret - Dave Simmons

The group of 9 moved on but Diane took a lovely image of one in flight on the 26th and still 2 on the 28th.

Cattle Egret - Diane Williams

Down at the estuary, the first Wigeon have been seen. Jax counted 8 on the 24th and up to at least 15 on the 25th September.

Wigeon - Jax Wing

Bar-tailed Godwit counts have also been increasing.  38 in the estuary on the 28th (Jax) and 10 from Curlew hide.

Bar-tailed Godwit showing the barring on the tail - Diane Williams

Redshank numbers are increasing too

Redshank from Curlew hide - Diane Williams

The first thrushes of autumn are arriving with a few Song Thrushes seen. Redwing are usually another couple of weeks before being seen. A Firecrest was near Mallard hide on the 26th and a different Firecrest at the river viewpoint on the 28th. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are moving through too. One other new species for the end of the month was a Coot on Mallard pond on the 29th.

An interesting strong wind from the south south east is currently blowing hard, rain to come - more late autumn species too...

(Wendy J and Rich D)