No, not a Great Bustard, but a juv Yellow-legged Gull! I came across it during a high tide sweep of the estuary at 11am
As juv Yellow-legged Gulls go, it's a very dark headed individual (in my eyes anyway), but all the features are there. Some good flight views confirmed it all, dark inner primaries and brilliant white tail with a tidy black band. It was a hefty bird too and noticeably thick-billed.
Note the all black tertails with narrow white tips, no obvious notching; long-winged too
Note the small white patch at base of bill
Big boy!!
After all the Gulls flew off north thanks to a small boat, Gav and myself went over to Blackhole Marsh. At least nine Green and four Common Sands and a Blackwit were the best of the selection on this wonderful bit of habbo.
Now to Moths! I put the trap out last night but wasn't expecting much as rain was set in for the whole night. I was right, only caught 30 species and no new for the gardens.
I have still added a species to the garden list though today, thanks to the reappearance of the Carpet sp. which flew away from me a few days ago before I could ID or photograph it. I disturbed it today near to where it disappeared on Saturday - in the conservatory! It's this...
A Red Twin-spot Carpet
Won't be putting any traps out tonight, but may do tomorrow night depending on the weather. Stay tuned...
As juv Yellow-legged Gulls go, it's a very dark headed individual (in my eyes anyway), but all the features are there. Some good flight views confirmed it all, dark inner primaries and brilliant white tail with a tidy black band. It was a hefty bird too and noticeably thick-billed.
Note the all black tertails with narrow white tips, no obvious notching; long-winged too
Note the small white patch at base of bill
Big boy!!I guess the fact it is quite dark headed may indicate that it is very VERY young, even younger than the usual pale-headed juvs that we're are used to seeing? Gav and Karen came for a look, making this a local patch twitch!
After all the Gulls flew off north thanks to a small boat, Gav and myself went over to Blackhole Marsh. At least nine Green and four Common Sands and a Blackwit were the best of the selection on this wonderful bit of habbo.
Now to Moths! I put the trap out last night but wasn't expecting much as rain was set in for the whole night. I was right, only caught 30 species and no new for the gardens.
I have still added a species to the garden list though today, thanks to the reappearance of the Carpet sp. which flew away from me a few days ago before I could ID or photograph it. I disturbed it today near to where it disappeared on Saturday - in the conservatory! It's this...
A Red Twin-spot CarpetWon't be putting any traps out tonight, but may do tomorrow night depending on the weather. Stay tuned...
Well done Steve,what a fantastic tick.
ReplyDeleteJohn.