The Sea Gull
It is believed that when sea gulls leave the sea for the mountains it is a sign of stormy weather.
A few years ago I was walking from Corwen to Gwyddelwern, and I overtook an aged man, and we entered into conversation. Noticing the sea gulls hovering about, I said, there is going to be a storm. The answer of my old companion was, yes, for the sea gull says before starting from the sea shore:—
Drychin, drychin,
Awn i’r eithin;
and then when the storm is over, they say one to the other, before they take their flight back again to the sea:—
Hindda, hindda,
Awn i’r morfa.
which first couplet may be translated:—
Foul weather, foul weather,
Let’s go to the heather;
and then the two last lines may be rendered:—
The storm is no more,
Let’s go to the shore.
This was the only occasion when I heard the above stanza, and I have spoken to many aged Welshmen, and they had not heard the words, but every one to whom I spoke believed that the sea gulls seen at a distance from the sea was a sign of foul weather.