The Big One

....well what I really mean is 'The Big Gull' but I knew if I titled this blog post that then no one would click on it!   

I first found this absolutely unit, my 15th Caspian Gull on the Axe this year, late afternoon on 4th.  Views remained distant so I was absolutely thrilled to see it again on the 5th, and much much closer!  It hung around all afternoon too which was nice, and despite the high count of Casps for me this year I think this one takes top spot.  

It's the kinda big male Caspian Gull that you could easily scope over in a flock of young Great Black-backed Gulls, an absolute bruiser...

My first views of it were of its long neck and white head sticking up from the back of a throng of gulls, however after ten minutes it moved into the open

Despite the distance, was dead pleased with this upperwing shot!  Actually not the cleanest tail for a 1w Casp but everything else was on point

These views were more like it.  So pleased it spent at least two hours on the lower Estuary on 5th

A typical structure for a big male Caspian with a big belly and a high and heavy chest.

Check out those legs!  Those two pairs of Herring Gulls legs look tiny in comparison

Nice details on its wing feathers in this shot, such lovely smooth coverts

This was my first view of it on day two. Only a small part of it in view but so striking.  That head and bill looking so epic on its gleaming white head and neck - nothing like a Herring Gull at all!

Will hopefully have a few hours out in the morning.  Fingers crossed for another decent pulse of autumn migrants.