Monday 16 February 2009

Llys-y-fran

Managed to get back to check the roost on the way home from work this evening: no sign of the Pacific Diver, in fact it appears it hasn't been seen since Paul, Richard & I left it at around 8am this morning, slowly heading up the reservoir towards the hide. I am not surprised that Richard was a little thrown by the diver last night in the poor light - it looked very odd with a black chin/throat and upper forneck, some obvious white spots on the scapulars, and some flecks of grey on the crown/hindneck! It also had a few white feathers underneath the right eye, and the paler base to the bill, when surrounded by black, gave it the impression of a fledgling's gape!

The Black-necked Grebe still present, and a single, relatively hefty, juvenile Iceland Gull in the field above the benches and then on the water with the roost. The number of gulls was initially low, but by dusk numbered 2,000 plus, with more arriving in the gathering gloom.