We headed east along the north Wales coast, first stop was Kinmel Bay but a quick look failed to produce the Snow Buntings. A Peregrine was sat on the sands looking menacing. A redhead Goosander and a Red-breasted Merganser were both on the adjacent River Clwyd.
Further east we reached the main site for our morning birding, Gronant beach where a Shore Lark had been seen. We parked at Presthaven Caravan Park and walked through the dunes towards the beach. Another birder was walking back towards us and did not look happy. He had not been able to find access to the beach let alone the lark! He joined us and we set off again through the dunes and found our way out onto the shingle. The information we had was that the bird was east of the caravan park an area we could reach without crossing a marsh. A huge area of beach lay to the west beyond the marsh and we hoped the bird was not out there! Two dark-bellied Brent Geese flew in and landed at the stream outflow where a Bar-tailed Godwit and a gang of Sanderling fed. We walked slowly east scanning the tide-line. A movement ahead, but no, three Linnet. The our new friend declared
“Got it!”
The Shore Lark was feeding in the washed up seaweed and other debris and keeping its head down, a good spot! The bird was about 75 meters away and we enjoyed good views with the scopes but to far for any photos. Then we saw a figure approaching from the east. The guy had a huge camera/lens and walking swiftly towards us. We expected him to stop and scan having seen us stood using scopes pointing towards him, but oh no he just kept coming and away went the Shore Lark! We were stunned; the guy was presumably looking for the bird and just flushed it right in front of us! We headed back to the cars before we said something very rude!
Later we checked the huge flocks of Common Scoter off Llandulas and Pensarn. The sea was pretty calm but the flat grey light made it tough birding. We did see two Velvet Scoter in flight and a nice drake Scaup but we failed to relocate the drake Surf Scoter seen here recently.
We finished the day at the Conwy Estuary, Glan Conwy where an adult Mediterranean Gull joined the gull roost.