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)