pre-Christmas Birding

First light saw Alan and I at Rhyl Marine Lake and searching through many hundreds of gulls. The pre-dawn roost soon dispersed before we could pick out a goody. The Great Northern Diver was in the SE 'ern corner and showing well, along with a handful of Megsansers, a Great crested Grebe and 2 Goldeye. The Snow Buntings didn't show but some cracking 'argentatus' Herring Gulls showing on the beach here. The River Clwyd held one each of Black tailed Godwit, Bar tailed Godiwt and a Grey plover while a male Merlin flew through. A stomp around Kinmel Bay Industrial Estate revealed one superb Short-eared Owl giving a fly-by; good to know their still aound this winter. The rest of the morning was a bit of an anti-climax - searching through the gulls at the recycling depot btn Rhuddlan and Abergele and a Firecrest dip at Conwy. Still beats Christmas shopping though!