First Proper Spring Migrants

My first ten Sand Martins of the year flew north over the A3052 at Colyford yesterday morning, following the River Axe, at about 9am. Three days earlier than my previous earliest on patch (9th March 2024) but not really a surprise as there's been a fairly widespread earlier than usual arrival into the UK this year.

I thought they zipped straight through, however about an hour and a half later there were nine in a similar area feeding, so presumably they mostly came back.

If it wasn't for the Sand Martins I would have had to officially rename this blog as 'Gulls of the Axe' as yesterdays start bird would have been another gull!

Yellow-legged Gulls are a bit odd in that between July and October almost all Axe records of this species relate to first-calendar year birds.  But from October through to the following July, young birds make up the smallest percentage of Yellow-legged Gull records! Explain that?

So I was really pleased to clap eyes on a striking first-winter Yellow-legged Gull with the gulls north of Coronation Corner mid morning yesterday...

Fairly dark looking wings thanks to black tertials and dark greater coverts, long winged too, nice bright pink legs, pale head with a striking eye mask

 But if in doubt, wait til it flaps...

Restricted pale on inner primaries - super! Nice black greater covert bar too, similar to a Casp

Later in the day, I saw what I presumed was the lingering 'dodgy looking' third-winter Yellow-legged Gull also north of Coronation Corner.  And I read on WhatsApp that Gav had a second-winter even later in the afternoon, making it a hat-trick!  

Small gull numbers have dropped right off now, of all three of the usual species (Black-headed, Common and Med). Although there's still just enough Common Gulls to give me something to sift through ever hoping for a Ring-billed!

Thanks for reading.

 

A Little Stunner

I'm afraid it's yet another post with a gull as the main feature! Well, what else can I do if nice gulls keep flaunting themselves in front of me!?  

At least it's a completely different gull though, a much much smaller one...

Phwoar!  

 

Late Sunday afternoon a glance out my office window revealed a surprise first-winter Little Gull almost dancing in the wind with a small number of Herring and Black-headed Gulls.  I fired off some quick shots, but am pleased to say it remained until I finished work so managed some much better photos.  What an absolute corker.

Spot the little stripey one!

This was basically my first view of it - enough to immediately rule out Ross's sadly!

Such a tiny gull

Was great watching it feed almost like a Wilson's Storm Petrel at times!

What a wing pattern

It took a rest on dry land for a bit, but the rising tide soon covered its feet in water

My final pic, taken when it was at its closest to me

 

This has proved such a good Little Gull winter for us, as it has for many sites on the south coast.  The best for well over a decade for sure.  And as I missed all the younger birds Tim C had in Seaton Hole earlier in the year, was delighted to get such amazing views of this one following equally impressive views of the Seaton Bay adult.

Managed to add a nice house tick last night too.  I stepped out of my car on the driveway and could hear an unfamiliar, yet familiar call overhead, then the penny dropped - Avocet!  Not sure how many were up there but interestingly the Axe wintering birds were still present today (per Tim C) so it/they must have been passing migrants.  A welcome nocmig garden record...

 

Hopefully my next post will include some proper summer migrants, as the Axe seems to be lagging behind many other sites that have already recorded some early migrants.  I tried to find some tonight but no luck yet.

Thanks for reading!