Seawatching at the Bill

Continuing a week of dubious detours (see post for 2nd May), I nipped into Portland Bill early this morning en route to a meeting in Bridport. Pomarine Skua was high on the target list, but after 90 minutes there had just been a Great Northern Diver and several Common Scoter worthy of note. My deadline for leaving was fast approaching, but in the last half-hour things started to pick up: 2 Arctic Skuas (one pale, one dark), a Roseate Tern, a Manx Shearwater - and, finally, a pale phase adult Pom Skua, complete with 'spoons'. A welcome Dorset tick. Despite good telescope views it was too far out to photograph but the pale phase Arctic pictured here was much closer.