White Wagtails slowing down but Reed Warblers are back..

In the last blog, two weeks ago, we were watching around 100 White Wagtails come in to roost every evening on the Teifi Marsh. A return visit to the marsh last night found, as we expected, the numbers to have reduced to just 13.
This is the view from Mallard hide watching them perch on the tree, the net and the net loops but only one in the net! The new green reed growth has shot up in two weeks.

The structure to the left is the new Sand Martin bank - unused as yet.
Sedge Warblers were singing, so no surprise that we caught two new and one returning from last year.

The first two returning Reed warblers from last year were a good start to our RAS project for the BTO and a Cetti's Warbler, ringed in 2012 and retrapped once in 2013 and 14.
Four new species for Sam, a trainee with Pembs RG but also ringing with us, on her first visit to our Mallard reed bed nets. Our other new group member, Sam's daughter, was very excited to experience the privileged close view of birds that ringers have and the chance to help release the birds after ringing.

The group hope that their activities on the Teifi Marsh are helping to inspire future generations to watch, learn about and enjoy wildlife

Thanks to Sam for the pictures.
During a short session this morning we ringed another 8 birds in the reed bed, 7 Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler.
Meanwhile at Long Point Bird Observatory in Canada, Richard has had a slow start with cold, windy weather, even some snow on one day. With no internet there we will look forward to pictures on his return. Big migration is forecast by Ebird after the weekend with warmer air from the south so he will be in for some busy days with Warblers flooding in.