A ringtail Hen Harrier flying along the Deer Park wall was a nice post-breakfast treat. It flew off over the Trehill Farm fields towards the Mere.
The surprise of the morning was an influx of Bullfinches (all male). One in a flock of Linnets behind the Skomer MCZ buildings, another in the sallows (garden tick!), and a third, calling loudly, in the very middle of the Deer Park. Also at least one Red Kite patrolling along the cliffs.
As we were checking the Fulmar colony at the end of the Deer Park (7 birds sitting on 5 sites), a small cloud of Gannets alerted us to a pod of over 50 Common Dolphins at the North end of Jack Sound. They were clearly feeding very actively, and moved slowly towards Skomer over the next half hour.
Mid-afternoon we walked from Druidstone to Broad Haven. A Black-throated Diver was feeding close to the cliffs, and was starting to come into summer plumage. We could not find any Surf or Velvet Scotors, but the sound of a flock of 40+ Common Scotors starting to display, jostle, and generally socialise was beautiful to hear.
I walked back from Marloes Mere to Martin’s Haven from about 5 o’clock, with the light fading. A Buzzard glided at medium height across the Mere, and was intercepted by a Short-eared Owl. It started to mob the Buzzard, and was joined by another owl - this made the Buzzard’s position intolerable, and it slunk off. The two owls then gained height and started what seems to me to be a form of displaying: one owl would fly with wings held stiffly erect in a V-shape, then clap them. Then the two owls would fly to each other, and briefly tumble, grasping claws in a sort of mock food pass, before flying apart, and starting it again. Wonderful to watch as the horizon turned crimson!