A great hour and a quater at Marloes Mere on Sunday, arived to meet Brian who pointed out a female Tufted Duck on one of the resevoirs. Then went down to the Oriole Hide where I was rewarded fantastic views of the bird, which was great to watch for a while. These were joined by three Shoveler (two drakes and a female), which were also good to watch. Before I left a drake Gadwall was distantly on the other side.
Then down to the Britton Hide where on route an exiting chase involving a Merlin rapidly persuing a Skylark, before dipping bellow a hedge not to be seen again. Arived at the hide where a Canada Goose and two Coot where on the pool infront and on the bigger pool there was a drake Pintail and a few more Shoveler. These were joined by presumably the same female Tufted Duck.
As leaving a stunning Short-eared Owl drifted west along the footpath, my first of this fantastic bird, and suprisingly the first time I have seen an Owl! I again flushed the bird on the walk back where it drifted north through the field, giving fantastic views.