A mirage of birds on Kenfig Sands

After an unsuccessful excursion to WWT Llanelli in order to see a Red Necked Phalarope that had decided to make an exit before my arrival and then a subsequent hour and a half in traffic jams in Port Talbot , I found myself parking my car at Rest Bay.

I had a plan B in case I failed on the Phalarope however - Sker Point was only couple of kilometre walk from the car park along the board walk and there would surely be waders roosting up. It was just gone 2pm and high tide was due in at about 4 pm. 

I marched off along the board walk leaving the happy crowds of people on the beach feeling very optimistic on my prospects.

The weather was glorious. Clear blue skies and it was warm. Probably one of the best days of our so called "summer" this year in Wales.

On reaching Sker Point I eagerly scanned the rocks. The heat haze was a nightmare to deal with. Anything in the distance was really fuzzy. On the edge of the incoming waters I spotted a flock of Oystercatchers and nearby blending into the rocks was a small number of Curlews. A flock of gulls kept a close eye on me as I started to make approach over the point. Sker's rocks remind me of the surface of the moon. Its quite desolate and you have to be really careful in places or you could take a tumble easily.

There was little cover and I could just feel it in my bones that I would not be able to get that close before spooking the nervous looking Oystercatchers.

I decided to leave them to it and try my luck elsewhere.

When I got to the western edge of the point a very long beach stretched out for miles ahead of me. Its known as Kenfig Sands ( I have previously incorrectly called it Sker Beach). In the far distance I could see Port Talbot Steelworks. I looked ahead and made a wish for some Sanderling. Perhaps lady luck would be looking down at me smiling.

I started walking and walking and walking :) It was like walking across a desert and hardly anyone was about. The beach appeared to be devoid of almost any bird life. I was so desperate I took a picture of a Black-Headed Gull that flew past.

Thirst was also causing my mind to drift. I had forgotten to bring my water bottle with me and had not planned on walking miles away.

I looked into the distance through the haze and noticed that there was someone jogging towards me. It looked like a man stripped to the waist.

Then I noticed movement on the beach near the shoreline. For a minute I thought it was a mirage - I must be seeing things, but no it was definitely small white birds scuttling around quickly like clock work toys - Sanderling by the looks of them.

I upped my pace and I hoped that the approaching jogger would make the birds move more in my direction.

Indeed he did and the flock took flight and landed directly in front of me. A big flock of Sanderlings. I went to my knees and then lay down at the waters edge to get some eye level shots. Just as I did so the jogger arrived where I was and ran through the flock. I looked up at him and was shocked to see that he was completely naked apart from sun glasses and a hat!  I was not expecting that :)

Then the jogger was past me and I could not help myself and laugh as he ran off into the distance showing off his rather tanned derrière.

The things you see when birdwatching - anything but boring.

My attention however was on something far nicer to look at - a lovely flock of Sanderlings. There were also a small number of Dunlins and Ringed Plover.

I was so caught up in taking pictures of the Sanderlings who were not at all bothered by me lying next to them feeding I forgot I was next to the waters edge and the tide was coming in. Next thing that happened - I got wet. A wave came in and soaked me. It was a miracle my camera did not get drenched.

I got to my knees and shimmied further up the beach.

The little waders were very accommodating and they were more concerned with feeding on the wet sand. Many of the Sanderlings were juveniles and first winter birds although there was some moulting adults.

I followed them for miles back down the beach, I had to take my shoes and socks off as they were soaked through and I walked through the surf barefoot. I felt great.

At one point I was kneeling in the surf with three Dunlins feeding only a few feet away. They came towards me as I appeared to be no threat.

Dunlin

Sometimes the flock got spooked and took flight but they would usually return and land close by to me.

One of the last birds I spotted was a Knot that joined the Sanderling.

Knot

The sun was also getting lower in the sky as the evening approached.

I started to make my way back.

As I got the edge of Sker point again the tide was almost completely in and the Sanderling flocks had gone to roost somewhere.

I now had a different sort of photography on my mind - sunset at Rest Bay. This will feature in another blog post soon but below is a taster picture.

It had really been worth the 22 km I walked in total there and back and the day would only get better.