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)