The calm before the storm and four more Caspian Gulls

The weather for the most part of this week has not been conducive for visible migration here in Seaton, with too much cloud, some rain and strong winds from a bad direction.  Saying that though I have been seeing

Today however started much clearer and calmer than I was expecting, clearly the calm before the storm!  Wood Pigeons weirdly didn't really get going, but passerines weren't too bad and I was particularly pleased to see/hear my first Redpoll of the autumn over west, along with a few Redwing, alba Wagtails, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Siskins and a Reed Bunting.

 

Cliff Field Gardens in Seaton - has a bit of height so vismigging is ok from here, just sea and road noise to compete with!

During my walk to work as well as the birds passing overhead, it was also evident there had been a decent arrival of crests overnight.  Although a count of 12 Goldcrest and two Firecrest doesn't sound like anything special, it's about 12 or 13 crests more than I usual come across during that walk!  I also saw two Chiffchaffs and a grounded Redwing.

Now to cover the bonus 'catch-up post' as mentioned in my last post, and it's gull-time...

Over the last month or so we have had plenty of wet and windy weather, which is always helpful in shaking things up in the birding world.

A few short looks at the sea failed to show much, with 21 Common Scoter west on 9th Oct, and a lone Ringed Plover on the beach for two days being the best for me. Thankfully though here on the Axe we have big gulls!  And they're always worth a look, especially when the weather is a bit grim...

My first decent gull I need to mention in this post is an adult Yellow-legged Gull that I saw on 27th September.  It spent the whole afternoon loafing with Great Black-backed Gulls on the salt marsh opposite Coronation Corner, a nice birthday present!  

 

Front left - with a helpful Herring Gull in shot too back right to compare mantles with

 

Having a flap

 

Then on 9th Oct, two different first-winter Caspian Gulls were off Coronation Corner, one late morning and another mid afternoon.  I could see they were different birds, aside from the array of plumage differences, as the afternoon bird was wearing a yellow colour-ring!  It's a Polish ring, but am still waiting for the full details...

 

The ringed Caspian Gull, standing out like a beacon between two similarly aged Herring Gulls

 

A closer view - ring easily readable and details have been sent of

 

The unringed Caspian Gull, a really tall and classy looking beast, just with a bit of notching on the upper greater coverts but nothing to be worried about

 

There was also a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull in the flock during my first check of the day on 9th.

On 12th Oct there were another two first-winter Caspian Gulls waiting for me when I looked at the gulls late afternoon.  Both were new birds as well, neither ringed and both looked striking in their own ways...

 

Not too dissimilar to the unringed bird of 9th, but mantle much plainer and it wasn't quite as big

 

 

Same bird again but different bits of it!

 

This was the second of the Caspian Gulls on 12th, and clearly a new one for me as it was noticeably rough around the edges - especially those dark flanks and pale on the greater coverts. Size, structure, moult all good so it still passed the test for me!

I should be able to add to this gull tally over the next few days looking at the incoming weather system. Be sure to check back soon for more birding news from the Axe...