Otter fest

Today down on the Teifi took over three hundred images of otters - in about 2 hours! This blog is in danger of becoming my otter blog. First saw the two otters in front of the Curlew Hide then followed them down to the bridge (Pont y Priordy). Here are some of the images:

All taken with a Canon 7D with Canon 500mm lens with 1.4 converter ISO 500. This one f8 @ 1/400sec.

This one f8 @ 1/640sec.

This one f8 @ 1/500sec.

This one f8 @ 1/640sec.



This one f8 @ 1/640sec. Looking back at the images there must have been three otters - a mother and two cubs, but we only saw two at any one time.

Ring-billed Gull

On Wed. 21st. September, while in the Curlew Hide at Teifi Marshes Reserve a group of (presumably) bird watchers joined us in the hide. When they left, one of the members casually mentioned that they had seen a ring-billed gull between the bridges in Cardigan. On the way home for lunch we decided to have a look.  These are some of the images that I managed:

I am no expert on gulls so I had to consult Richard & Wendy on whether or not this was actually a ringed-bill gull. After much discussion and consulting with further experts like Dave Astins the Pembrokeshire Gull expert it was finally agreed that it was in fact a genuine 2nd. winter ringed-bill gull



Osprey Nest building crew

Given the spectacular success of the Dyfi Osprey Project the Teifi Marshes Reserve is making an effort to set up its own Osprey Nest project. An old electricity pole has been donated by Western Power and the usual Tuesday working party at the Teifi Marshes Reserve has set about to build a nest. When complete Western Power will return and install the pole in an appropriate position on the marsh. Here are, reading from left to right: John Thomas (the group leader), Tommy, Geraint, Gerry and Nick.

Any suggestions on changes / improvements to the osprey nest are welcome, as are suggestions on the way to add the twigs for the nest itself.

Friday 16th. September on the Teifi

These photographs were all taken on the Teifi - from the 'Pont y Priordy' to the Curlew Hide on the Teifi Marshes. The first image is of a little egret taken from the path near the sluice gate:

Taken with Canon 7d, Canon 500mm f4 lens with 1.4 converter - ISO500 f8 @ 1/3200sec.

The next image is of a cormorant perched on a stone:

Taken with the same kit but f8 @ 1/640sec.

And the last image is of one of the four black tailed godwit I saw wandering in front of the Curlew Hide:

Again same kit but f8 @ 1/1600sec.

A distant Osprey at last

There has been - at least one - osprey on the Teifi since the 23rd. August and I have missed it several times. Today - Sunday 11th. September I managed to catch up with it eventually - but at a cost - I missed the second half of Wales' rugby match with South Africa. Half time I received a text from Richard that there was an osprey perched opposite the moorings in St. Dogmaels. After some thought we decided to go to St. Dogmaels. When we got there Richard and Wendy were already there but the osprey was not - it had flown down river some minutes before. Richard decided to go down to the Webley to see if the osprey was down there. I decided to stay put - set up my tripod and waited while Jen sat in the car. The osprey did eventually come up river - on the opposite side to us but at least I managed some distant shots:

Taken with my Canon 500mm lens with 1.4 converter, ISO500 f8 @ 1/1250sec.

Taken with the same kit f8 @ 1/2000sec. - both shots overexposed by one stop to compensate for the back lighting.

When Richard returned he mentioned that in front of the Webley Hotel there was a group of 5 knot and one curlew sandpiper:

Again same kit f8 @ 1/1600sec.

Creek and Curlew Hide at Teifi Marshes 4th. Sept

Cormorant are nearly always perched on dead trees in the river but usually too far away to get decent photographs, this one was perched fairly close to the curlew hide:

Taken with my Canon 500mm lens with 1.4 converter, ISO500 f8 @ 1/1000sec

When we got to the Creek Hide we noticed that there were two snipe foraging around the creek - at a fair distance. The tide was coming in so as they moved with the tide they also came closer to the hide, but the light was quite difficult - we were looking directly into the sun:

This was f8 @ 1/320 sec. - over exposing the image by one and a half stops to allow for backlighting.



Curlew Hide at Teifi Marshes on 5th. Sept

This time the Curlew Hide lived up to its name, I would like the Kingfisher Hide to do the same! This is one of my images of a curlew just in front of the hide:

Taken with the 500mm lens, 1.4 converter ISO500 f8 @ 1/800sec. Note that I have changed from my usual ISO1000 to ISO500 for a period to see if I notice an improvement in quality.

I had read that there were up to 12 little egrets on the Teifi, but had not seen more than 4 at a time. Managed  a couple of shots of egrets in front of the hide:

 Taken with the same kit and ISO settings, f8 @ 1/3200sec.

This was f8 @ 1/2000sec. Notice that the bird furthest away seems larger and is the same one as in the previous photograph. I was hoping for a fight but they seem to be getting on all right.



Visit to St. Brides Bay on the 1st. September

We went originally to the Gann but walked around and did not find any birds - except for the usual gulls. Called back in St. Brides and managed a few birds. The first was a linnet - I assume a female:

Taken with my usual kit f8 @ 1/3200sec.

The swallows were gathering on the wires and flying around but they were far too fast for me with the 500mm lens, but two goldfinch did land in front of me. I guess an adult with one young - still begging for food?

Again usual kit f8 @ 1/2500sec.







Creek and Curlew Hide on 26th. August

Not much happening at the Creek Hide but noticed this chiffchaff on some reeds to the right of the hide:

Taken with my usual kit f8 @ 1/400sec.

Calling back at the Curlew Hide was a good idea - first of all a kingfisher:

Usual kit f8 @ 1/1600sec.

Then a cooperative heron:

Again same kit f8 @ 1/1250sec.

And then a Little Egret it flight:





Same kit f8 @ 1.3200sec.

Another very good day on the Teifi.