Perfect weather today for large gulls on the Axe. In the end though the numbers were disappointing and I found nothing unusual in with them, well except for the lingering first-winter Caspian Gull (last seen on 26th Feb). I'm amazed at how infrequently we are seeing this lingering bird, just where is it hiding?
I will be honest, although all views of it were distant and during dreadful weather, when I first picked it up I thought I had a new individual. It just looked big, proper Casp leggy and necky, plus it looked quite a clean bird - all unlike the lingering bird...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46A8NoJdBkcMcjnOiZvrx9XFxTd0_WKnVSkhbUdiw7hZ1Nz78ycVxgmmjy_Lzu2gNECfT5q9Etno20DNjoZyOfEVxN6jDbghG75UmASQFWEGD-WRvgIXTR9ceDnT5Lg-GEHzuhcnjA1c/s640/Casp1w090318f.jpg) |
Look at that neck! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wk4mV-GgENEn9svim2cyJgzjVaAaN5_neOhkmQ2hXJvctC8XSvqPQkVbql5mM6Mv7WI-lglmjGcdOETEPiM_TkAfZP8I0b-Br_Mbqqf3p74saFIaGEbCQfSoRkPw9ldWLPts3B3Impk/s640/Casp1w090318.jpg) |
At rest |
The whole gull flock was then flushed and the
Casp took to the air...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UIX66fu-gnjESw_smJRskv0X8urvTwdSSYnlcR-VqNXgS9wQGoD4HZKo9YWw4G0gf7RqsHTQeAQQ6f3nu61yKF6LnRpzxvgCfbYcbnF3NjNtGkk4AxB_s7acSaedEDNeiseq4GWoDio/s640/Casp1winflight090318.jpg) |
Quality completely naff as its a video still |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKKU1rz6LTJOic2DZXTLbDsd_Y09bS_1fFUCDW57bS_jc07vl7iZflltlDU-e0fB8gVNcZhJno0tl6J8Pln3AHhth5VqVGciCXjnpB6a1aCdjhxW48pS735dem5T76ei-FLrvGZcq9qA/s640/Casp1winflightb090318.jpg) |
Ditto, but it does at least show some of the classic Casp features |
A minute later once most the gulls had gone with only about 25% of the original flock remaining, I picked it up again, now a little closer. It was then obvious that on plumage it was the lingering bird, with the distinctive patterning on the greater coverts a perfect match...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyjmgbvCbVmrkIw4WMZs_8sPkU2g6ePwcZ2tjtTky4HELLXQEd2oThM18tKv89Mf8sU6u0uD3j7cmLXCEFbopLDAj9HYFTUsyJxYba-KdAdYHX47Qcbs2ufokl3ImJVjOeRIBFXYzV8A/s640/Casp1w090318d.jpg) |
Looks really beaky in this shot. Again totally different to how the lingering bird usually looks |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaL4H2FzSVTaqDCLu3cIs4iflKEG5mMkk-oa4S-FIF2FFIGEpl92_iCsVIWwz9ts7TMuVAxz8iBVLuo8qzPYdiN22kFyWGDlD3kumjxyR4OUTuaOmjrph0MJ5ODvWGOTMz3gloWwyZHM8/s640/Casp1w090318e.jpg) |
The weather was so awful this photo almost looks black and white! |
A good lesson in how different postures can alter the overall look of one gull.
No comments:
Post a Comment