Purple Hairstreak, Arctic Skuas

 Purple Hairstreak - Mudbank. Many thanks Steph and Rob. I hadn't realised that the Oaks down at Mudbank held this species.

A short, early morning sea-watch from the raised beach huts produced a lovely surprise in the shape of at least 12 lingering Arctic Skuas. No terns present so they were harassing Kittiwakes. One of the skuas was distinctly smaller, and probably a Long-tailed (picked out by Lee at the Warren). Unfortunately the skuas were never close and spent more time sat on the choppy water than in the air. Otherwise 3 or 4 Mediterranean Gulls, a couple Common Scoters and a single Manx Shearwater were noted. A Peregrine made several half-hearted stoops at a passing line of Black-headed Gulls.