A rare visit for us over to Broad
Haven was quite rewarding, despite a freshening westerly wind with
increasingly low cloud and some drizzle. We had nice if slightly distant views of at least 6 Purple
Sandpipers in the Emmet Rock area. They were initially bathing in rock-pools that
were increasingly being washed by a strong surf swell on the rising tide. We could
eventually see 6 resting on the cliff, although we suspected that others could
have been present but out of sight on the seaward side.
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| They appeared to be enjoying the surging surf that started to cover their bathing pools - proper surfbirds! |
Offshore, we quite quickly
spotted 9 Eiders, all regularly diving in unison to feed in quite a tight
group. These were a couple of hundred metres out between Shag Rock and Emmet
Rock.
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| At least two young drake Eiders appeared to be in this group |
There was a scattering of Common
Scoters (mixed drakes and ducks) in small groups varying from two to 30+
(probably at least 100+ in total). We were fortunate to see the immature Surf
Scoter too. Initially it was near two Common Scoter drakes, but it gradually
drifted further out into the bay from around the Shag Rock zone.
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| Not close enough really for anything other than a couple of record photos, but it was quite easy to spot |
We also noted a Great
Crested Grebe, close in at first, and at least five Red-throated Divers. These
were scattered and were feeding a bit further out than most of the ducks.
About a dozen Common Gulls (mostly 1CY birds) were noted to be coasting north. They seemed to get closer to the coast during a five-minute period as a squall approached. A dozen Oystercatchers were resting (argumentatively) on the shore. None were ringed.
It is always nice
to see Choughs anywhere, and 4 (probably 2 pairs) were regularly cavorting in
the air along with other corvids.