Sea

A 'Pebbled Heath' Little Ringed Plover.

The wind has switched round to a brisk south-westerly so I had a look off Maer Rocks - three looks in fact. Two hour-long watches early on and just 20 minutes late pm. Totals included 2 Arctic Skuas (a dark bird east and a lingering pale phase, seen several times. Also - reasonable numbers of Gannet, Kittiwake and auk sp, along with 5 Great Northern Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 4 diver sp, 7 Fulmars, 9 Common Scoters, 67+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 Whimbrel and 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. At least 24 Whimbrel were off Mudbank on the dropping tide but very little else.

I saw my first Swift of the year from the back garden yesterday, and off Mudbank - 6 Eider (two fine drakes and four females) and 5 Cattle Egrets (in flight over Starcross). An early morning scoot round Orcombe was disappointing with a lingering (and singing) Garden Warbler, 1 Wheatear and a fly-over Whimbrel the only notable records.

Nuthatch - Bystock. Five Tufted Ducks (including two pairs) still on the pool plus 1 singing Firecrest and 4 Swallows on a very brief visit today. Yesterday - 2 singing Firecrests and a Yellowhammer of note.