I got caught in a blizzard on the limestone pavements this morning - quite an experience. It felt more like the Arctic Tundra rather than the Orme! A single Chiff-chaff was in the Hawthorns - my first of the year here. Five Fieldfare were grounded in the snow storm, but soon took off high to the north as the sky cleared. A single Black Guillemot, again my first of the year was close inshore below the lighthouse. Later, during a run around the Marine Drive I was accompanied by flive superb Bottle nosed Dolphins just offshore and a little while later a couple of Porpoise by the pier.
One Purple Sandpiper remains at Rhos on Sea with 100+ Turnstones and as I walked back home from a family walk a scan of the breakwater produced a fine drake Eider. I popped down in the car but failed to find the Eider again. However, three lovely Common Scoter were on the breakwater along with 20+ Wigeon. Ten Red breasted Merganser and 3 Red throated Diver were also offhsore. 3 Grey Plover were nice to see roosting at high tide.
Unfortunately on closer inspection the female Common Scoter seemed to have fishing wire wrapped around it; perhaps the reason it was so close inshore?
You can see the fishing wire wrapped around the breast of the female. The last Common Scoter I had on sitting on the breakwater had a plastic drink bottle wrapped around its neck!
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