Winters return - doesn't stop the summer migrants Sunday 18th March 2018

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Today was the monthly water-bird survey or WeBS which I'm sharing with Simeon.

In bitterly cold weather, with a stiff NE wind I was joined by Ed from WWT to survey the section of Cefn Sidan from CE59 to Tywyn Point.

Despite the change in the weather there were a fair smattering of birds on the beach with total counts of the following:

COMMON GULL c1000, OYSTERCATHER 1637. SANDERLING 792, KNOT 160, REDSHANK 12, CULREW 30, BAR-TAILED GODWIT 3, GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL 24, HERRING GULL 75, COMMON SCOTER 100'S, GANNET 1, SHELDUCK 18, CORMORANT 7.


Sanderling, winter plumage (Colin Dalton)

Knot winter plumage (Colin Dalton)

There was also one Northern Wheatear, (a few reported in the county today), and a movement of Meadow Pipits to the south, (in response to the cold snap?)


Northern Wheatear male


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