I cannot recall a wetter, drearier start to a year but I persevered and on my traditional local tour to start the year one highlight was the sight of 10 Purple Sandpipers at Aberystwyth. Later at Ynyslas conditions were a bit better for a while and the 2 Short-eared Owls did raise my spirits. As my favourite bird it was a shame the light conditions were so poor but here is one of them on a post and the other photo shows one of what were some very noisy and rather aggressive interactions.
12 Sanderling, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese and the wintering female Eider were also present.
Meanwhile Chris Bird was enjoying the delights of Llyn Fanod where there was a gathering of 9 Goosanders and a Goldeneye. 200 Golden Plovers were also nearby and he wondered if anyone else has noticed them up there as he cannot recall seeing them there before. The previous day he noted 4 Mediterranean Gulls on College Rocks at Aberystwyth.