John and I had a three hour seawatch from the wooden shelter near the north car park at Aberaeron this morning.
Nothing very exciting (we were hoping for a skua - see sighting from Barry Long below) but despite the sometimes poor viewing conditions when the rain bands were moving through, there was enough to keep us hoping.
Little parties of Common Scoter were moving through; we counted 74, 58 south and 16 north. A light passage of Manx Shearwaters in both directions and ca15 Gannets mostly heading south. Four Fulmars, a single Kittiwake and Med Gull and that was it.
Much closer in, a total 11 Curlews passed, probably pushed off by the rising tide.
We then walked up the river to the pool below the footbridge,where the female Mandarin Duck (see photo) was loafing with some of the local Mallards.
On the way there I had a brief view of a Kingfisher flying upriver.
Harry Pepper