Osprey Blue 7H6 returns - Teifi Marshes, Cardigan : 5th August 2024

Having returned to our caravan during the last week of July I was thrilled to hear that an Osprey had returned to the Afon Teifi at Teifi Marshes and was fishing at the same location that had been used by the visiting Osprey in the first week of June, was this the same bird I asked myself ?

I spoke with a visiting birder/togger during my first visit of 2nd August who had managed to photograph the bird and upon examination of his photos you could just about make out the characters of the left leg Blue ring which indeed were 7H6 meaning the bird from early June had returned !

This was great news which I reported to Wendy James of the Teifi Ringing Group for onwards transmission to the Osprey Foundation.

I then made several visits over the ensuing week on the 5th, 7th and 10th August at various times but generally at high tide which the bird seemed to favour getting some great views and pleasing photographs.

Having posted on Facebook my posts were picked up by the Keilder Osprey Group in Northumberland and I was advised that Blue 7H6 had intruded at Nest No 4 at Keilder back on 15th June after he had departed from his first short stay on the Teifi on the 6th.

Here are a few images from my visits including some diving/fishing shots although I am yet to photograph him with a catch, perhaps I'll get lucky when we return to the caravan shortly..........

Birding Gwbert : 31st July 2024

We returned from a brief spell at home to our caravan at Poppit Sands, Cardigan towards the end of July and on Wednesday 31st July I decided to visit Gwbert on the opposite side of the estuary hoping to catch up with some returning passage waders. I first visited the headland the other side of The Cliff Hotel only managing to pick up a single Rock Pipit.

On my way back to the caravan on a dropping tide I stopped at the seawall where four Black-tailed Godwits retaining some summer plumage were feeding in the mud.

As I watched and photographed them a single Whimbrel flew in and started feeding, a nice end to an otherwise quiet afternoon.......

Celtic Deep Pelagics : 26th July + 17th August 2024

I absolutely love a pelagic and although I was booked on one of West Coast Birdwatching's trips on 17th August a drop-out by someone gave me the opportunity of taking a spare place on the first of the season on 26th July.

The weather and sea state were perfect and we quickly steamed out about 35 miles SSW of St Ann's Head to a position where we recorded 3 Wilson's Petrels in 2022.

On the way out we encountered 100's of Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars, Gannets and the usual Auks.

Upon reaching our destination Dave Astins our trip leader started chumming which quickly brought birds into the boat and it wasn't too long before the first of several European Storm Petrels arrived.

When we were thinking that we were going to be out of luck after 90 minutes of chumming the first Wilson's Petrel arrived and in the next 40 minutes four separate Wilson's were identified which has become a new record for Welsh waters.

I managed to get some reasonable images but not as good as I'd achieved in 2022, not complaining though !!

Lots of Common Dolphins were also seen but no whales on this occasion.

Whilst conditions were similarly excellent on my second trip on 17th August no Wilson's were seen amongst several European Storm Petrels, no large Shearwaters either.

Never mind, there's always next year to look forward to........