Ynyslas and ynys-hir

Sea-watching from ynyslas turn between 6:30 and 8:15 was very enjoyable, despite the cold easterly wind, with some 10,000 Manx shearwater flying north very close in. Other highlights included a summer-plumaged black-throated diver north, a dark-bellied Brent goose north, 12common scoter north along with regular small parties of bar-tailed godwit, whimbrel and mixed ringed plover and dunlin. Gannets increased in numbers after 7.20 as did comic terns with roughly 180 feeding off-shore by the time I left. Interestingly, 90% were arctic terns of those close enough in to identify. Next, ynys-hir. At high-tide there were 3greenshank and 5common sandpipers on the field near the breakwater hide with c. 500 ringed plover and 1500 dunlin out on the estuary. A mixed flock of waders between here and the saltings hide contained over 100 bar-tailed godwits (some in cracking summer plumage) and a lovely summer-plumaged northern golden plover. A quick visit to glandwr, where I met John Davis and Bob, was un-productive though they had earlier seen an interesting looking female wigeon which seemed to show characteristics of American wigeon. Might have to get up early again tomorrow.