As much as I like Llansantffraed, where a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were loitering just offshore late morning, Aberarth has the advantage of a couple of wooden benches overlooking the shore. When I arrived the calm sea looked devoid of bird-life. Then I noticed a scattering of Red-throated Divers and close in, up popped a Great Northern Diver. A Gannet sailed by, plunge-dived and bobbed about on the surface before it continued its flight northwards. Another large diver appeared while the Great Northern was still in view and this one was a Black-throated, showing all the typical features.
I then moved on to New Quay where a good number of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittewakes were about and Shags and Cormorants were on their nests. The highlight here was the number of seals, including these three, high up on one of the larger rocks.