Storm Petrels and early breeding results

Mid June saw the start of our Storm Petrel ringing at Strumble. Over two nights we handled 18 birds, one of which had been ringed on Skokholm last August.

Storm Petrel - Anna W

Around 20 children and their parents from the The Marine Biology club run by The Sea Trust joined us on the 20th. All enjoyed learning about Storm Petrels and seeing them in the hand. Thanks to Anna Webberley for arranging the visit.

We were once again joined by Stephen Hyam who is documenting our ringing activities with photos

We had news via Social Media this week that one of the Storm Petrels ringed last August at Strumble had been re-encountered in Portugal. This bird was caught last week by Dr Rob Thomas on the annual storm-petrels in Portugal project (established in 1990) that he runs.

Rob Thomas on BSKY 

On the Teifi Marshes, juveniles of several species have now been ringed including the first 5 Reed and 3 Cetti's Warblers. Adult Reed Warblers were still migrating through the reserve at the beginning of the month including one that had been ringed in N Ireland in 2024.

Reed Warbler

BRD9567 Belfast Harbour, N Ireland 31/08/2024 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 02/06/2025 275 days 292km S Cossey

Returning Reed Warblers from previous years for our RAS project are now up to 31 which is lower than the usual expected number for late June.

Six CES sessions have now been completed in Llechryd. The Garden CES there has been running since 2020. 

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

So far this season it is apparent that there are more juveniles of resident species. Comparing a couple of species with the same stage last year..

                                                          2024            2025

Great Spotted Woodpecker                  1                  6

Great Tit                                               10               40

Blue Tit                                                16               53

Of the migrant Warblers, Blackcaps and Garden Warbler are down but Chiffchaffs are up.

The other major work continuing is the Whoosh netting of Linnets for a RAS project.

Over the next few weeks major effort in the reedbed sites (Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting RAS), migration monitoring as the Sedge Warblers in particular start moving.

CES continuing at Cors Caron and Llechryd.

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Recoveries and Reedbed arrivals

Sedge Warblers, are mostly on migration not local breeders, and numbers peaked in the third week of April. Because of the good weather, frequent migration monitoring sessions were possible this year with 266 new ringed, with retraps - 1 from 2023, 1 from 2024. No large falls occurred so not a spring for big days in the reed beds. Controls with rings from France (2), Guernsey and UK.

Reed Warbler  RAS. Our returning birds were-  1 from 2019,  2 from 2022, 4 from 2023 and 11 from 2024. Also 34 new Reed Warblers up to the 26th. We would expect at least 30 from previous years but a good start. We usually find a second wave of arrivals in early June.

Ringed Reed Warbler at Mallard pond - Stuart Hall

Always an eye opener to our new ringers and followers - the difference in the numbers as shown above, breeders and migrants between the two acro species. 

Reed Bunting RAS starts on 1st April. Since then, 12 Reed Buntings have been re-encountered, either caught or identified by colour rings. The oldest was ringed in 2018. We have re-encountered a further 25 this year pre the RAS period.

Most ringing sites are now up and running for this year's monitoring, some early results in the next blogs...

Recent movements.....

Bullfinch  BXA1283

Ringed Llangorse Lake   31/10/2024

Re-encountered Llanfair Clydogau  18/04/2025 178 days 55km WNW Llangorse Lake RG

Two Sedge Warblers re-encountered 2 days apart at Mallard reed bed had been ringed 5 days apart on the same reserve in France last August

9556160 Réserve du Massereau, Loire-Atlantique 06/08/2024 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 22/04/2024 259 days 572km NNW

9520121 Reserve du Migron, Loire-Atlantique 01/08/2024 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 20/04/2024 262 days 570km NNW

Sedge Warbler  AE88797

Ringed La Rochelle, Guernsey 06/05/2024

Re-encountered Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 01/05/2025 360 days 326km NNW

Woodcock EV02084

Ringed Ffarmers, Carmarthenshire 21/02/2025

Hunted  Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation 13/04/2025 51 days 2657km E

Pied Flycatcher AJX6071

Ringed in the nest Sunnyhill Wood, Tregaron 1/06/2023  

Adult female on the nest Cwm Clettwr, Tre'r Ddol 04/05/2025 703 days 32km N Mid Wales RG

May started with a dry warm two weeks which should have helped our breeding species. Since then we have had windy weather with some heavy rain - no doubt unhelpful to some species.

Juveniles of eight species have already been ringed... Robin, Siskin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch and Chaffinch. Dippers have fledged from boxes and Pied Flycatchers won't be long.

Recently fledged House Sparrow

A busy couple of weeks ahead for those of the group with nest box projects.

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Mid April migration....

Mid April has historically been the peak of White Wagtail migration through the Teifi Marshes. Roosts have been small this year with a maximum of 50 seen but 62 have been ringed. This is the second highest number since we started targeting them in 2014.

White Wagtail

While waiting for the Wagtails to roost we have enjoyed the spectacle of a few hundred hirundines, mostly Sand Martins at dusk. These usually flock together then spiral higher and higher and leave before it is dark. However one evening they dropped into the marsh and an unprecedented 30 Sand Martins were ringed.

Waiting for Wagtails -photo MH

The reed beds are getting busier at dawn too. Since the first Sedge Warbler on the 17th, 135 have been caught (up to the 24th) including one with a French ring and one ringed in Wiltshire. An unprecedented number this early, we usually see peak migration early May - and still expect too.

Sedge Warbler - WJ

Sedge Warbler  AFZ6861

Ringed  Langford Lakes 15/08/2022

Re-encountered  Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 11/04/2025 981 days 214km WNW West Wilts RG

The first returning Reed Warblers too with six up to the 24th. The oldest was ringed in 2019.

With ringing at three sites across the Teifi Marshes this April  we encounter variety, not just reed bed species. The Pentood marsh site with reed bed and woodland edge is back in action with a good number of Sedge Warblers, Cetti's Warblers  and Chiffchaffs on the first session. At the drier river viewpoint site also passage Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and returning Chiffchaffs last week. Both sites complement the wetter Mallard reedbed site.   Interesting that all three sites ringed Whitethroats, not a regular species on the Marshes.

Whitethroat - photo JDB

Following a trial run of a CES at Cors Caron last year, the site is ready for the season ahead.

The nesting season for Dippers starts early. The group monitors boxes at various locations in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. The first chicks have been ringed, a couple of adult re-encounters from last year and new adults. 

Ellyn monitoring Dipper nests - photo JDB

A typical movement and reason for recovery for one of the 221 Woodcock handled by us in 2024

Woodcock     EM78703

Ringed  Ffarmers, Carms 02/02/2024

Shot  Gnezdilvo, Ivanovo O, Russian Federation 17/04/2025 439 days 2961km E

A good start to our migration monitoring on the Marshes, the next couple of weeks up to c 10th May should produce more migrant ringing.

Then we focus on the monitoring of  breeding species, CES, RAS studies and nestboxes...

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Waders to warblers - Spring

The annual commercial reed cut for thatching on the Teifi Marshes gives us an opportunity for wader catching. As the tide pushes birds off the river edges they move to the cut area to feed and roost.

The reed cut mud is covered in tracks of Snipe, Curlew, ducks and geese

On the 18th March, an adult female islandica race Black-tailed Godwit was ringed. With only 2 Black-tailed Godwits around at the moment it has been possible to watch the gradual change into breeding plumage of this ringed bird. It is still present on the 30th.

A Curlew that we ringed with a metal ring in April 2022 was caught and colour rings added. It has since been seen regularly from various hides on the Teifi Marshes.

Curlew J0 - Tommy Evans

Two Jack Snipe were also caught in the wader net.

While still quiet on our drier sites there has been a notable arrival of Willow Warblers this week. After a very early Willow Warbler ringed on the 20th March, on the 24th a catch of 11 Willow Warblers outnumbering the 5 Chiffchaffs. Over the winter period, the majority of Reed Buntings seen were colour ringed but currently more unringed birds are turning up and being added to the pool of colour ringed birds for our RAS.

Dipper nest checks have started but no chicks yet. Sometimes Grey Wagtail nests are encountered when looking for Dippers. Andrew monitored some in the Gwendraeth valley which resulted in an interesting movement of one of the Grey Wagtail chicks.

Grey Wagtail nest site and pulli - Andrew Hughes

Grey Wagtail  AVZ2443 was ringed as a pullus in a nest under a bridge in Pont Henri, Carmarthenshire. On the 18th April this year it was found dead by the roadside in Hartland, Devon

331 days 95km SSW

On the 22nd, the first visit to Lleine, our Linnet RAS site. It was pleasing to catch 52 Linnets as only two were seen on a visit the week before. 

The following visit on the 27th yielded 102 Linnets...

A new species for Emporium near Tregaron. Only the 6th to be ringed by the group.

A Rook

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Spring ringing and plans

During the first week of March we have returned to the Mallard reedbed. This follows the annual reed cut...

By the end of March, White Wagtails should be feeding and roosting in the reeds. We plan to position a couple of wader nets too, with colour- ringing Curlew the objective.

A new track has been built into the marsh to enable access for the reed cutting machine, this has also provided a feeding area where the reading of Reed Bunting colour rings has become easier. Hannah and Liz recording 24 individuals whilst some of us were away at Kartong Bird Observatory in The Gambia. The oldest resighted was a male ringed in December 2018.

Reed Buntings - Hannah and Liz

Since our return some early mist netting - including re positioning Railway net...

A couple of nets opened as we set the net rides for the Spring season, 2 new Reed Buntings colour ringed, new Chiffchaff and 3 new Pied Wagtails coming to roost. All looking good !

A 6 year old Reed Bunting - Hannah and Liz

We plan in the next fortnight to get the Pentood nets set too. The Teifi Marsh net set then ready for the migration season - White Wagtails and Sedge Warblers the main migrants, Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings both RAS studies here.

Cetti's Warbler at Mallard Pond - Jen Evans

Following 42 different individual Cetti's Warblers in 2024 - an interesting year ahead...

Near the river view point in the Pembrokeshire part of the reserve, the Teifi P site has been ringed a couple of times this year,  new Chiffchaffs and Firecrest the highlight this year so far.

Firecrest - Jen Evans

This ringed Firecrest present at Kingfisher hide on the 9th March, one of at least two wintering on the reserve

Lleine - Chris runs the Linnet RAS whoosh net site which we hope to have running in the next couple of weeks

The coastal habitat of the Linnet RAS site

Cors Caron (Arfon) and Dyfi Osprey site (Naomi) nets should be running too. 

Again the main nest box focus will be on Dippers and woodland boxes - mainly for Pied Flycatchers - over 200 Pied Flycatcher pulli ringed last year..

Pied Flycatcher pulli in Ffynone Wood

Other sites to get involved..

Ty Rhyg - coniferous plantation - see Alison or Karen

Clun Fach is a National Trust area of wet scrub situated just outside the village of St Nicholas in North Pembrokeshire next to a small sewage works - see Kevin

The Emporium at near Tregaron - only Autumn and Winter ringing so far, but good numbers and variety with 1,943 ringed including 52 Greenfinch, 104 Starlings, 233 Siskins and 40 each of Robin and Blackbird - see Jane

Garden CES in Llechryd was started in lockdown so is now in its 6th year  - see Wendy

An exciting time ahead....

For non Teifi RG members reading this, please feel free to get in touch if you wish to be involved in any way..

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Totals and movements of 2024

Last year was another full of various activities, CES, several RAS and a colour- ringing project. General migration monitoring at several sites to more precise activities like regular whoosh netting. A variety of nesting studies with 231 Nest Record returns.

From this remarkable occurrence in a mist net, an adult Peregrine Falcon

to the more common study species, one of our colour ringed Reed Buntings.  

A RAS project now in it's 12th year, the photo by one of the Teifi Marshes Reserve's regular photographers, a great example of our partnership with the WTSWW.

All the main activities and results are posted in an ongoing way - see the posts made during the year, but do ask us for any further details.

The Group AGM is on this Thursday 23rd  with (16 confirmed so far) members attending. Several of the Group will be eating in The Grosvenor, Cardigan, before the meeting if anyone else fancies pre meeting meal and chat.

A good  opportunity to meet members of the Group you don't regularly meet, to discuss further any activities both local studies and help provided elsewhere.. 

...helping West Oxon Farmland Project ..

Our 2024 species and totals are shown here

2024 Teifi Ringing Group Totals 

The figures are already available and will remain accessible from the link in the side bar along with previous years.

Highlights of movements...

29 of the 162 Storm Petrels captured  at Strumble Head were either encountered elsewhere during the season or has already been ringed at other coastal locations.

Details of these and movements of other species received in 2024 are listed here and have been written about in previous blogs.

2024 Teifi Ringing Group Recoveries and Controls

Recent highlights ...

Early surprise for the year another garden Firecrest in mid Pembs.

Two Brambling at The Emporium on the 7th and 10th

The moon helps lamping now, so hopefully nighttime activities may supplement the rather limited mist netting over the next few weeks..

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Recoveries and night time surveys

A quiet start following Storm Darragh and a cold spell under a bright moon...

Our long running studies continue with nocturnal surveys on farmland, ringing on the Teifi Marshes reserve and gardens.

Although new for this year, Jane's site at Llwyn-y -groes near Tregaron is producing good results. Following on from the Starling with a Finnish ring detailed in the last blog, another Starling ringed elsewhere was caught. This had been ringed at a RAS study site for Starlings in Biggleswade.

Starling LR62542

Ringed   Biggleswade, Beds 30/01/2022

Re-encountered  Llwynygroes, Ceredigion 24/12/2024 1059 days 259km W Derek Gruar

197 Goldfinches have been ringed there since the beginning of October. One was caught in Wiltshire 40 days later

Goldfinch  BJD2724

Ringed  Llwyn-y-groes, Ceredigion      13/11/2024

Re-encountered   Biss Wood, Wilts       23/12/2024 40 days 163km SE West Wilts RG

Siskins arrived on Christmas Eve and since then 80 have been ringed.

Female Siskin - Jane

At our garden sites further south and at lower altitudes, Siskins haven't arrived in  any number.

Plenty of Goldfinches though. News of one ringed in Wendy's garden last winter was in Hampshire this December.

Goldfinch    BKB2276

Ringed  Llechryd, Ceredigion 10/12/2023

Re-encountered   Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hants 31/12/2024 396 days 241km G C Evans

Arfon is continuing the study of upland farms at night. As well as Woodcock he has caught a Jack Snipe in the same muddy patch it was originally wintering in two years ago also one ringed last year.

One Woodcock that he ringed last winter was shot in Lincolnshire in December.

Woodcock   EM41129

Ringed  Tan-lan, nr Ffarmers Carms 02/12/2023

Shot    Market Rasen, Lincs 14/12/2024 347 days 286km ENE

Further south in North Pembs we saw an exceptionally high count of 17 Woodcock on our winter farmland study site near Boncath on the 30th. Half that number would be usual, and some low weight birds suggesting new arrivals.

Soon we will have our totals for 2024 and will post with previous years in a side bar. A small discussion in the main post too.

(Wendy J and Rich D)