Distant skuas and Merlin

After yesterday's skua-fest hopes were high for more of the same this morning and a quick check of the Dawlish Warren Twitter feed prior to seawatching from The Ness suggested large numbers of skuas were still present in the bay. However things were unexpectedly quiet for the first 45 minutes with just a single Arctic Skua through, though Lee Collins at Dawlish Warren informed me that plenty of skuas were still about. I scanned further out across towards Exmouth, and eventually began to pick up some skuas (plus numerous Gannets and Kittiwakes) heading south-eastwards out to sea. Unfortunately this meant that by the time they were passing the Teign they were miles offshore, much further out than yesterday, and most had to be put down as Arctic/Pomarine with the few that came closer looking like Arctics. I counted 30+ in two hours, along with 12 Common Scoters, two Great Northern Divers and best of all a Merlin that flew south at 09:05. A Firecrest was again calling in the holm oaks of The Ness having shown well there yesterday afternoon.