The other night I had 2000+ Common Scoter pass Rhos Point in an hour. This prompted me to stop at the Hotel 70 degrees layby the afternoon to see if the schoter flock was building up. What I saw amazed me as the sea was black with Scoter and not too far out either (still distant but all features easily viwed through a telescope). The flock starts off Eirias Park and extends eastwards to Llanddulas and is several hundred birds wide. Impossible to guess a number really, but I tried to count in blocks of 100 and reached 15,000 with before I gave up.
A single drake Surf Scoter was reward for searching through the flock, possibly the 1st Welsh August record. 50+ Great Crested Grebes and a single Red throated Diver were also in the flock. Well worth a stop off if you get the chance.
Just got back from the Cliffs by Rainbow Bridge - well worth the walk from Old Colwyn Prom with the scope. Fantastic views of the Common Scoter - a couple of lovely Gannets flew close by as well. Thanks for the tip Marc!
ReplyDeleteGreat find. Now a White winged please!
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