I really like the description "unbirdable" and think it pretty apt, although the Skokholm crew have taught us all lessons today about birding in hostile conditions.
We drove by Wisemans Bridge just before lunch, and found very large numbers of Scoter in the strong swell and surf. It is possible that they had been pushed into this corner of the bay by the ESE wind; I counted well over 200 birds in the very narrow arc that the wind and the relative shelter of the car would allow.
The Scoter were very active (even for Scoter; I love watching these duck): groups of 10 or more would fly around in tight groups before landing close to where they had taken off. Other groups were surfing the waves very dynamically: lots of wing flapping and neck bobbing.
I looked for the Long-tailed Duck without joy, but found 3 Mergansers (2M, 1F) and a Great-crested Grebe before incipient hypothermia drove me into the car.
