Tuesday 18th October 2016

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Guided Event....High tide sea watch


This morning at 07:30 a group of nine joined me for our first "guided" Sea Watch event, Including sea watch legend Adam who made sure we didn't miss any of the action.

With high tide due for 08:24hrs we were in position at first light and immediately the birds began to appear.
Sanderling, just dropping in in front of the group, (credit Veronica Haines VH)


Flocks of Sanderling landed feet away to be scared away by a piece of plastic blowing along the beach in the stiff WSW breeze

After a long spell of settled weather the change in conditions were perfect and soon rafts of Common Scoter were visible off shore with many more flying out to sea.

Our marker points on the opposite side of the Burry Inlet (the Gower) (VH)

Gannets numbered 100+, a good count for the estuary, the pick of the morning came with Peregrine, the first great Northern Diver of the autumn, Red-throated Diver, two Kittiwake, three Sandwich Tern, in the 100+auks seen , at least five Razorbill and 20 Guillemot were identified.


Its there somewhere, am I really that short and round, (VH)

Yep it's a Great Northern Diver, (VH)

The usual assemblage of gulls included, Black-headed, Herring and Common.

For me the best bird, and a new one for the reserve/SSSI site list for 2016, a GREAT SKUA, a scarce bird recorded in the county with less than 5 in the past eight years


Great Skua, (photo from Wikipedia)


A great bird to see at any time almost as if I had arranged it.



Comments

  1. Unknown10 November 2016 at 13:17

    Thanks for the link Paul. This is an impressive blog, demonstrating such dedication and expertise in relation to the local wildlife. I'm very glad that you take such an interest in Pembrey Burrows. It was a really good morning on Cefn Sidan beach the other week. I've sent the link to a friend of mine who is a bit of a bird expert himself and I'm sure he will be interested to see it.

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