Carmarthen Bay Scoter research

Have received a message today that a DEFRA project (looking at camera technology and aerial surveys) is due to commence shortly in Carmarthen Bay. As part of the project, a company called APEM will be looking to do some height trials to establish a minimum height that avoids disturbance to the scoter. They are looking to undertake 2 hours of flight trials this weekend 23/24th January.

If you see a plane flying low criss-crossing the bay and flocks of scoters in the air - this may be the reason! Mind you, it will probably only happen this weekend if there is a suitable weather window.

Does anyone have any recent reasonably comprehensive counts of scoter out in the Bay? Noted recent Blog comments of only a few seen off Saundersfoot. However, they could be well out and usually observations from in Carms sectors (e.g. off Marross/Pendine area, at slightly higher elevations) give more reliable results. But of course even here the swell can make it tricky to assess the true numbers out there.