Kittiwake was the main species on the move today. More than 2,000 were recorded in several waves of bird movements heading SW. A further 1,000+ were feeding several km offshore to the NW (on the edge of the misty-haze) and several hundred more were feeding at the same time off Careg Trai to the west. In all we estimated up to 4,000 kittiwakes in the area.
We noted very similar kittiwake feeding activity and movements off St David's Head in late November last year.
Other species moving SW included some 1,500 auks (plus dozens more feeding offshore). Some of the guillemots were already sporting smart breeding plumage and quite a few others were almost in summer plumage.
At least 100 gannets (95% adults) were heading SW, hundreds of black-headed gulls, c. 50 common gulls, 30 common scoters (no velvets seen today), 6 red-throated divers flew SW and a great northern diver fed briefly within 200 metres of the cliffs.
It was nice to see good numbers of fulmars back in the area and a single swallow coming in off the sea. Sadly though, no signs of the Blyth's Pipit today.