seemed like fall conditions but culver was useless, the day was saved last minute by a firecrest at yaverland. earlier i was walking along sandown prom when i noticed a bunch of gulls circling and alarm calling. whenever i've seen this there's always been a marine mammal beneath them, and sure enough up popped a head. it was well close in and i followed it as it drifted towards shanklin, lingering for a while around the pier.