Ross's Gull and Friends

It was cold as the assembled crowd at Radipole Lake waited patiently for the Ross's Gull to drop by.  This arctic wanderer is a scarce visitor to the UK, and an adult bird is always a real draw.  At just gone 11am, the bird dropped in, and despite being quite flighty, it gave great views as it bobbed about along the channel before heading for the island where it had been seen on the previous days.

It was a little cracker and in pristine plumage, but not quite showing the pinkish hues when in breeding plumage, but the dark eye and short black bill, pale grey wings and mantle made this a Gull worth looking at.







Also seen by the bridge was a comical Water Rail that dashed back and forth fleeing constant harassment from the local Mallard and Moorhen.  A showy Cetti's Warbler appeared for a few moments before dashing back into cover.

There was very little on offer at Ferrybridge, so I made tracks up to Ibsley Water at Blashford for some more Gull action.


In a reasonably packed Tern Hide, the show was starting with at least three Mediterranean Gull present in a growing flock of Larids that also included a Ring-billed Gull, only my second ever, and pretty rewarding to pick out.  The largest group of Goosander I had ever witnessed, with at least 37 birds counted including 11 drakes were congregated against a shingle spit.  A minimum of 19 Pintail were present as well as Goldeneye into double figures.

The day culminated in a 2nd winter Caspian Gull that was seen 'duck-diving' and pretty much causing mayhem around one of the islands.

The bird people had come to see was the Probable Thayers Gull, which by all accounts looked like an Iceland Gull on steroids.  Another one of those best left to the experts who thankfully give a toss about such things.

Comments