[green_ruk]

I will be travelling to North Wales this weekend and am keen to take in the black scoter which is being reported daily from Llanfairfechan

I would appreciate any guidance from locals or birders who have visited the site recently:

(a) is there a 'best' viewing point? The Promenade is mentioned a lot...
(b) what is the best time of day, light wise? I know that at some seawatching sites quality of light can deteriorate dramatically...
(c) is this bird 'tidal'? recent sightings have been 'distant' - can anyone help me on best practice here

Many thanks to any one who can help someone who has never been to this site before. I can't pick up e-mails at the moment so any replies please to this page, ta


Rob

[wolfbirder]

Llanfairfechan is a sinch, its a small village off the m55 (or is it A55?). Either way its the main dual carriageway along the coast of North Wales. Just come off the dual carriageway above at the roundabout (there are only two exits for Llanfairfechan, so if you miss the first one come off at the 2nd one). There are signs for promenade, which in effect is a car park overlooking the sea. It should take you one to two minutes to find that. I am not a local but in case you get no more reliable info, I would say look out from the prom towards Anglesey (towards the left as you look out to sea). Puffin Island is the small island on the extreme right of Anglesey (again easy to see). Yesterday the small scoter flock (about 15 birds) were in line with Puffin Island and I gather this is the best area generally to locate them currently. They were several hundred yards out but not as distant as I expected and with my scope the Black Scoters large orange bill was obvious. I visited about 12.30pm, I would say mid morning to early pm would be ideal judging by yesterday. Its all subjective of course but good luck.

[Rob Smallwood]

It can drift to the right when viewing is better from the footbridge over the expressway (left back on yourself from the first roundabout coming from Chester) which wobbles a little but gives you more height!

The sea at Llanfairfechan can be empty or full, sometimes there can be 100's if not 1000's of Scoter, often a lot less.

Sometimes birds will be close in, but often they are distant, but a flat sea is the most important feature (IMHO).

I have been there when people have claimed the Black Scoter when my Leica on full zoom gave me no clues, but also when the Black (which often keeps itself to itself) has shown reasonably - I'd scrutinise any lone Scoter first, especially drifting in on the tide.

Good luck - and keep your eyes peeled for other local specialities, Dipper on the stream, Twite around the boating lake, Egrets & waders along the shoreline to the west and Peregrine overhead!

[kim]

The Scoter was clearly visible at 2 pm today -yellow bill visible - called on the way back from Anglesey. Parked close to the toilets and cafe. Good luck tomorrow. Also lots of Red t divers.

[dan pointon]

A good idea is also to use the cafe as shelter from the wind, saves scope rattle. The bird is normally out here anywhere from the left of Puffin Island to about 2 o'clock, and normally stays alone. It dives regularly so don't be disheartened if you don't pick it up quickly, keep scanning and you should get on to it. In my opinion the bill is sometimes difficult to see against the paler water, but when it turns its head in front of its back it looks like a banana glued to its bill!!! Good luck, there shouldn't be any reason why you shouldn't get it, also keep your eyes peeled for Great Northern Divers, a few about there.

Cheers

[tom mckinney]

I dipped on Tuesday.

I've seen it twice in about 7 attempts, so it's not guaranteed at all. If the sea is even a tiny bit choppy then get up on the footbridge as you'll end up chewing your arms off in frustration. Also, beware the Common Scoters with big knobs (!) Some have a striking amount of yellow on their bill, but, from what I remember, the proper bird is noticably bigger alongside the Commons.

Best of luck.

[dan pointon]

The amount of times i went before I first connected reached double figures!!! Then i've had it on the last two occasions, hence my saying you should get the bird!!!! As for possible confusion i doubt that, it's one of those birds you think ''is that it'', ''is that it'', then when you connect ''ah thats it'', you'll know when you see it!!!

[Periwinkle]

Look for a single scoter with a sticky up tail (like ruddy duck)....that'll be it.

[dbradnum]

Originally Posted by dwayne950

As for possible confusion i doubt that, it's one of those birds you think ''is that it'', ''is that it'', then when you connect ''ah thats it'', you'll know when you see it!!!

Agree with this strongly...

Looked for it early morning on Sunday, pre Green Heron, without success. Having not seen the bird before, I wasn't sure just how striking the yellow knob would be, and wondered about one or two well marked Common Scoter for a moment or two.

Returned to the site at lunchtime (fairly low tide), and enjoyed pretty good views, if a bit distant - absolutely no confusion risk with Common Scoter. I would say that if you're in doubt, then you're probably looking at the wrong bird...

[green_ruk]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - much appreciated. Fingers crossed for tomorrow (hope it's a bit warmer on the coast: -6C outside tonight!!)


Rob

[garry1366]

Originally Posted by dwayne950

The amount of times i went before I first connected reached double figures!!! Then i've had it on the last two occasions, hence my saying you should get the bird!!!! As for possible confusion i doubt that, it's one of those birds you think ''is that it'', ''is that it'', then when you connect ''ah thats it'', you'll know when you see it!!!

Hey Dan,
This might be the only bird you have on me!!!!

u coming back to Spurn next year?

G

[AndyH]

undefined

Originally Posted by green_ruk

I will be travelling to North Wales this weekend and am keen to take in the black scoter which is being reported daily from Llanfairfechan

I would appreciate any guidance from locals or birders who have visited the site recently:

(a) is there a 'best' viewing point? The Promenade is mentioned a lot...
(b) what is the best time of day, light wise? I know that at some seawatching sites quality of light can deteriorate dramatically...
(c) is this bird 'tidal'? recent sightings have been 'distant' - can anyone help me on best practice here

Many thanks to any one who can help someone who has never been to this site before. I can't pick up e-mails at the moment so any replies please to this page, ta


Rob

Hi Rob
So how did you get on?

AndyH

[Rob Smallwood]

Originally Posted by AndyH

undefined


Hi Rob
So how did you get on?

AndyH

Andy,

Sorry -forgot to post!

Fantastic views of the Green Heron on what turned out to be its last day (so far!).

On the way we had reasonable but distant views of the Black Scoter at LLFF, it was mostly on its own but sometimes with about 5 Common Scoter - where its larger size and stiff tail stood out well. It was usually about 10 past from Puffin Island.

No Great Northerns but lots of Red-throats, a couple of Slav Grebe but no sign of any Twite although we did not leave the promenade.

A single dolphin performed well too.

Best of luck with your trip.

Rob

[Steve Babbs]

If anyone has any more up to date info on this bird please can they post it, as I'll probably be going after Christmas - anyone interested in a trip from Nott.s PM me.

Steve

[Killdeer]

Originally Posted by Steve Babbs

If anyone has any more up to date info on this bird please can they post it, as I'll probably be going after Christmas - anyone interested in a trip from Nott.s PM me.

Steve

RBA pager reports that tha scoter was viewable today off the
west end of Llanfairfechan promenade.

[jada dulo]

I've been several times and dipped each time. The one day I was there the scoter was 'claimed', in my opinion I sometimes think the bird is mis-ID, as the sea was so rough that day you could barely see the common scoters, so how someone could ID the Black is beyond me.
Saying that, my mates been several times and has seen it every time. Just luck, simple as that. But I'd say a calm day is a must!!
Check out the sewage works, good spot for Firecrest!

[lister400]

Originally Posted by jada dulo

Check out the sewage works, good spot for Firecrest!

Are there any back on site yet - They are usually a useful year tick when I'm up that way for the Scoter (which I have to say, I have never managed to miss from down on the Prom.! A real stunner of a bird and one that makes you say wow when you see it).

[Rob Smallwood]

No reports yet this winter that I've seen - but someone has to find the first?!

[dan pointon]

Originally Posted by lister400

Are there any back on site yet - They are usually a useful year tick when I'm up that way for the Scoter (which I have to say, I have never managed to miss from down on the Prom.! A real stunner of a bird and one that makes you say wow when you see it).

I missed the scoter about 20 times before finally connecting!! Admittedly the word I said was slightly more explicit that 'WOW', but i'm up for renaming it Banana Billed Scoter!!!!!

As for the Firecrests at the sewage works this is where I saw my first about 6 years ago, however since then, only once have I seen them there, not sure as that's still a wintering area for them??? The best thing to do would be to stop off at Conwy RSPB on the way through and ask in there (especially Alan Davies if you can) as he, or another member of the staff should know if the birds are still wintering there.

Cheers

[marcbuzzard]

No Firecrests yet this winter at the sewerage works I'm afraid. Other birds around if your heading this way in the new year are a male Black Redstart in the quarry on the Little Orme, Water Pipit at Conwy RSPB reserve, 4 Snow Buntings at Pensarn and the Hawfinches at Llanbedr y Cenin.
These along with the Black Scoter at Llanfairfechan and the Laughing Gull at Porthmadog should make up a tempting New Year trip.

[Steve Babbs]

I'm now likely to be going for this from Ipswich, sometime over the next month or so, if anyone wants to car-share PM me.

Steve

[Birdspotter]

Originally Posted by Killdeer

RBA pager reports that tha scoter was viewable today off the
west end of Llanfairfechan promenade.

At least it was viewable, today in Lothian whilst out checking the local flocks for such a bird I had to contend with a huge fog bank that rolled in and stayed.
I could hear Scoter close inshore calling away to each other but all I could see was the rocks below me.
Anyone know the call of Black Scoter

[Docmartin]

Originally Posted by Birdspotter

Anyone know the call of Black Scoter

Actually, yes. And it is different from Common

Common = 'piu piu.... piu.... piu'
Black = 'pieuooooo'

[Birdspotter]

Originally Posted by Docmartin

Actually, yes. And it is different from Common

Common = 'piu piu.... piu.... piu'
Black = 'pieuooooo'

Funny thought I heard that today, but more likely to have been some submarine trying to navigate in the fog using its sonar.

Seriously though are the calls different in the similar species Velvet and both White winged Scoters, and was this a factor in their split ?

[tom mckinney]

Present today from west end of Prom. Wrap up warm, it's tackle-shrinkingly cold.

Didn't hear it though...