You’re probably right there, as the winds were from the north of west, rather than the prevailing south-westerlies, so would have pushed the birds further east than normal.

Apparently 20,000 scoter winter in Carmarthen Bay (40,000 recorded in 2010), so you wouldn’t normally be on their trajectory from Severn to Wash. The article has been updated to record the large movements seen in south on 2nd-3rd (mostly in the north on 1st-2nd).

Mike

I’m not sure it happens that often in these parts as I think until these past few days there’s not been a previous record of this species in East Somerset? Very exciting for us landlocked birders to hear them going over.

It happens every year, just people aren’t usually looking out for it:
https://www.birdguides.com/news/massive-common-scoter-movement-takes-place/

Lots reported on avonbirding as well.

These certainly are strange times, 3 flocks of Common Scoters heard this evening from our House, Coleford. From twitter then it’s clear that many other local birders are also enjoying this most unusual event on a near cloudless wind free evening.