Black guillemot

Decided to go up to Ynys Las this morning because of the height of the tide and the expectation of some good birds. There was nowhere to park on the sand at the end so went back and parked alongside the road and walked through the golf course and along the beach. The sea was spectacular - huge waves with white tops - but not many birds out to sea. I stopped to get a stone out of my boot, then got my scope up to look at a group of scoter and a black guillemot flew through. I followed it for a little way before I lost it in the high sea. It's plumage was between summer and winter. Then walked on a little way and found a single snow bunting finding seeds along the tideline near to the lifebuoy. At the point, the tide was right in and with so many surfers in the estuary not many birds were on the sand. But did find a group of 5 waders, made up of dunlin, sanderling, ringed plover, golden plover and knot - one of each. Walked along to the Leri bridge hoping to see where the lapwings and goldies were roosting and found them on the fields alongside the footpath between the Leri boatyard and the Ynys Las road. Came home feeling I'd been 'sand-blasted', but a super day.