Didn't have much time free today, but with the weather (strong southerly wind and some showers) I knew I needed to check the Estuary gulls at least once. I actually managed to get two looks in which was a bonus, one at either end of the day, and both had their rewards...
The first decent bird was an adult Little Gull which Clive had just found from Tower Hide prior to my arrival. This was my first adult here for years, which looked so diminutive surrounded by all the other species of gulls...
 |
| A very little Little Gull! But very smart too! |
Then came the first of today's two Caspian Gull, a long and pale-billed lanky first-winter which unfortunately didn't hang around long...
 |
| Great profile on it! |
Shortly after finding the first-winter Casp, I had brief views of what looked to be a second-winter Casp, but as I went from binoculars to camera I lost it and despite half an hour of checking the flock I couldn't pick it up again.
So imagine my delight when during the late afternoon check of the Estuary, I pick up a second-winter Caspian Gull! A really striking, small-eyed pale headed beaut, which I had no reason to suggest wasn't the other bird from the morning...
 |
| It looked amazing on the water. Have often found that swimming Casps seem to hold their head low in the water - is this a thing? |
 |
| Looked amazing in flight too! |
 |
| Mantle colour shows up nicely here, being surrounded by all those Herring Gulls |
Also on the Estuary today ten Mediterranean Gulls, eight Cattle Egret and a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull. Sadly had no time to look at the sea, but I blame the gulls for that!
No comments:
Post a Comment