Sunday, 14 November 2021

Amroth this afternoon; Frainslake & Bluckspool beaches yesterday afternoon

A brief visit to Amroth this afternoon gave us tantalising, but distant, views of several hundred Common Scoters in numerous small flocks resting and feeding offshore. Most of these were well to the east and mostly off the Carmarthenshire coast. They would probably have been better seen from Telpyn Point or Pendine. 

There was quite a large swell which made it difficult to observe anything offshore. However, we managed to confirm five Red-throated Divers, a few Great Crested Grebes and a probable Black-throated Diver, but it was just too far out, and often hidden in troughs, to confirm its diagnostic features. At least a couple of Mediterranean Gulls (probably more) were resting offshore with small numbers of Black-headed Gulls.

Yesterday afternoon, a visit to Frainslake and Bluckspool beaches produced 40+ Ringed Plovers, similar numbers of Oystercatchers and Curlews, two Sanderlings and 10 Grey Plovers. Most were managing to roost in usual expected spots, despite disturbance from some permitted activities, including two MOD staff on trials motorbikes racing around on the beach. There were not many gulls around, just 10 GBB Gulls and similar number of Herring Gulls - none were ringed. 

Noting David's large Pintail count at Angle Bay yesterday, most recent high counts have included 64 on the Daugleddau section of the Cleddau estuary on 18 Jan 2003 and 59 at Sprinkle Pill on 13 January 2011. The winter of 2010/11 produced a max. of 76 based on counts from all Pembs WeBS sites.