Trip reports
NORTH WALES COAST
Saturday, 3 February 2007
The duck, from either the North American or Siberian populations, has recently been split into a different species from Common Scoter, and although it has graced this coastline for the past couple of years in winter, it is often elusive. Here, though, keeping a respectable distance from the Common flock, it was easily seen, floating on a calm sea, with the distinguishing features of a sticky-up tail (not always a reliable feature) and a yellowish protuberance at the base of the bill obvious even at a distance of a hundred yards.
The supporting cast wasn't bad, either - someone counted a total of 49 Red Throated and three Great Northern Divers (pictured) in the strait between Llanfairfechan promenade and Puffin Island - while in the next hour and a half, two fine Slavonian Grebes, lots of Shags, several Guillemots, a close-in Razorbill, and a small flock of Eider were picked out by our enthusiastic sea-watchers.
Enthusiastic that is when they weren't nipping across the car park to the nearby cafe for huge bacon and sausage barm cakes as a light snack before lunch!
Even looking inland from the promenade had its rewards, with Ravens and a probable Peregrine perched on the precipitous cliffs which, just along the coast, also hold a healthy Fulmar population.
Then it was off to the attractive little reserve of The Spinneys, near Bangor, just as the tide was on the turn. The Spinneys is known for its resident Little Egrets, and at least a dozen were noted before we got down to the serious business of sorting out the waders: lots of Redshank and Oystercatcher, of course, but also a sprinkling of Greenshank, Knot, Dunlin, Turnstone, and Curlew. Marine ducks such as Goldeneye, Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser were also around in great numbers.
Allan Rimmer