John and I joined forces this morning and started with a seawatch from the fish factory at New Quay. Highlights were a Bonxie, pausing on its way south to harass a couple of Kittiwakes, and a Red-throated Diver on the sea, still in summer plumage and our first of the autumn.
25 Common Scoter and eight Sandwich Terns passed by and Kittiwakes were ever present, including a raft of 54. Otherwise, just a few Gannets, three Fulmars, three Med Gulls and a single Manx Shearwater.
Next stop was Llanon, where a walk south along the coast brought us 149 Med Gulls. To the north was the strange sight of a Grey Heron and a very large domestic goose standing next to each other on a little shingle spit.
Our arrival at Llansantffraed was timed perfectly, as the rising tide brought eight species of wader into the bay. The Oystercatchers included the predominantly white bird, first noted here in 2006, back after its usual summer absence.
Also, 17 Curlews, 21 Turnstones, three Ringed Plover, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Dunlin, two Sanderling and a Redshank.
Lots of small birds on and around the beach, mostly Rock and Meadow Pipits, some Linnets and four Wheatears, one of which was a beautifully coloured Greenland bird.