We had fog drifting in and out over the Marloes and Dale Peninsulas most of Friday, but it cleared late-afternoon.
We went out in the boat around 7pm to look for the Manx Shearwaters that typically fly back to the islands after feeding around Lundy. They typically use Linney Head as a reference point and then cut across the mouth of the Haven several miles out, before rafting around the islands.
We were very surprised to find large numbers of both Manxies and all 3 species of Auks effectively stranded inside the entrance to the Haven, as fog offshore prevented them locating Skokholm and Skomer.
Manxies were rafting nearly a mile in from the Mid-Channel marker (the “Lollipop”), and also flying around, looking rather disoriented. As were many hundreds of auks.
Then the fog closed in again, and a bit of navigating to get back to Dale….
Fog and mist can provide great conditions for seeing seabirds well inside the Haven.