Marc, Rob, Chris and Alan (Ruth still at her mums) made their way south down to Cricceth on the shore of Cardigan Bay. We timed it just right; we pulled up on the promenade just as it was getting light. Well we thought our timing was good, and purely from a time point view it was perfect, the weather was not right! Where was the howling gale that had battered the coast yesterday? The sea was a little choppy, sure, but nothing like the huge waves smashing into the seawall described by our friends yesterday. Well, we are here so let’s go birding. We scanned for Grey Phalaropes, you never know one might have lingered, it hadn’t. As we walked along the seafront Rob spotted a movement at the base of the prom, Black Redstart! No sooner had the words left his mouth; the bird left and darted out of sight. The three of us had missed it. Can’t be far, so we made our way down on to the beach where we had a much better view. A Rock Pipit hopped into view and the usual leg pulling began, Black Redstart eh? Rock Pipit is similar size, sure it was the bird? Of course Rob was right the Black Redstart was clinging to the rock wall above the beach, great. This robin sized bird with sooty grey plumage and a lovely rusty-red tail flicked about from wall to beach and back.
Another scan of the sea, no grey and white corks bobbing about, looks like the phalaropes have gone. Our search was interrupted by a call from our friend Rhys Jones; he was just a few miles away and watching not one but three Otters! Ok, not phalaropes, not even birds, but we were looking at an empty sea. In the car, we are off, mammal twitching! At Porthmadog Cob we quickly made our way to join Rhys, as we approached a high pitched call drew our attention, bird? Don’t recognise it, of course Otter! Rhys was now scanning the pools for birds and had lost interest in the mammals but confirmed our audio identification, the Otters had moved out of sight near the sluice gates. As the call continued we quickly moved to over look the gates but could not see the animal. Suddenly Chris had it, swimming close to the embankment but diving repeatedly so no wonder it took a few minutes to find. Through the scopes we had full frame views of the head each time it surfaced. It was great to follow the trail of bubbles each time it dived ensuring it was in the scope each time it surfaced. We watched spell bound until the otter dived one last time and went into the area below the sluice gate and out of sight, great stuff. The pools held plenty of birds, Wigeon, Teal, Red-breasted Mergansers and a nice flock of Black-tailed Godwits fed on the exposed mudflats.
Ok time to move, back to the open beach, the tide is coming in and we might yet find a phalarope. We headed to Black Rock, Morfa Bychan, a stunning beach which is unusual as you can drive along the entire length, tides willing. So on to the sands we went, the wind had picked up and good surf was running, looking good. Our first attempt at searching the waves drew a blank the waves were to high to see into, we can’t win! But we had a plan, climb the dunes and then we could look down on the breakers. It was a cunning plan and worked a treat, we could now see down into the troughs and what is more we could see birds! Flocks of Common Scoter were riding the mountainous waves, the wind was increasing by the minute, and boy was it cold on our dune top. We looked hard and our patience was rewarded, a Long-tailed Duck, three Scaup and then three Little Gulls worked across the bay, this is great! Then came the shout we wanted, Grey Phalarope! Chris had one, but only for second then it was lost in the surf, no! Then it was Marc’s turn, Grey Phalarope! Almost certainly a second bird way to the right, same again, lost in the waves, this is not funny, well least for Rob and Alan. We were seriously cold by now and had lost contact with numerous body parts; we headed for the car and returned to Cricceth. What a difference from this morning, with the tide had come the wind and waves, it looked the part. We looked hard but no phalaropes could we find. We did have wonderful close up views of Little Gulls just off the rocks and two Purple Sandpipers fed in front of us before being washed off by the rising waters.
We called in at the Glaslyn Marshes on the way home and enjoyed a flock of 70 Whooper Swans feeding in wet fields.
Ok, Rob and Alan missed the flipping phalaropes but we had a great time and saw wonderful birds and a very nice mammal, top day, thanks to Marc for doing the driving.