Took up position on the castle at 7:55 for my customary Saturday seawatch. It was surprisingly cold in the fresh west wind, although the sun was breaking through.
Gannets were moving south in small numbers, as were a few Fulmars and Sandwich Terns. Almost an hour had passed before my first Manx Shearwater, and after 90 minutes, just after a party of four Shelduck had flown by, I was about to call it a day when John turned up.
We stayed for another 30 minutes and my final counts were; Gannet 63, Sandwich Tern 14, Common Scoter 3, Fulmar 8, Manx Shearwater 4, Shelduck 4 and Red-throated Diver 4. The last of these was in breeding plumage. On the sea were four Guillemots.
We then went for a walk along the foot of Pendinas.. The wind was keeping most small birds down, but we enjoyed views of a singing Blackcap among the many Chiffchaffs. Four Wheatears in a field quickly moved through and a pair of Goosander flew upriver. And that, as they say, was that. Home for an afternoon of sport: watching of course, not participating.