Good afternoon out with Paul G. We were dodging the heavy early showers before a stunning evening, perfectly timed around waterfowl and raptors. Started off with a Firecrest in the boat yard at an otherwise quiet Porthclais. The family group of 6 Whoopers (the other adult nowhere to be seen) were still on Trefeiddan. They flew across to the little pool at Treleddyd-Fawr for 30 minutes before returning. 3 Shoveler dropped in during the heaviest downpour. Quite a few winter thrushes, with 8+ Blackbirds in the scrub towards Rhosson and what looked like a flock of 20 distant Redwing flying over. Arriving at the Dowrog the track was awash after the rain showers but the rain soon passed and skies cleared for another raptor-filled evening. Early views of a Marsh harrier and a Short-eared owl were brief. A kestrel flew over before 2 Merlin chasing each other around proved more entertaining. A very brief view of the ringtail that appeared and immediately dropped to roost. But this time it was the turn of the male Hen Harrier to put on a show as it did circuits for over an hour between 5:30 and 6:30, giving some of the best views I've ever had. Super evening and nice to have the company of Paul Williams.
Monday: Dale airfield 180 Golden plover, 30 Lapwing and a Dunlin. 2 Grey wagtail, otherwise lots of Skylark and Starlings in the surrounding fields. The 3 Cattle egret were picking through the high tide seaweed deposits above the marsh stalking and stabbing out at whatever they revealed. A tentative total of 13 Little egret and a Kingfisher flashed by.