Roos, 21st July 2015

Well that was unexpected. Just back into a bit more regular gulling, but driving to work in East Yorkshire, and came across an early morning post-roost flock of c100 Herring Gulls. Onto the verge, quick scan, and a sleeping juvenile that instantly shouted Caspian Gull! The dingy colouration, long narrow scaps, long legs and wings, and cracking greater coverts were all spot on. When it woke, the pale head, narrow bill and indented eye added to the look - what a bird!

Albert Village Lake, 9th & 16th July 2015

It's the same every summer, I never mean to stop gulling, but work gets busier and takes me to laridly less-trodden places. Therefore a smart 2cy Caspian Gull at Roos, East Yorkshire, in the bright shimmer of a late April afternoon was a nice surprise, and the last decent gull for a few months.

And so to July, and the end of the main thrust of breeding bird surveys, and a chance to check in on a gull site or two. The 9th was a frustratingly sunny affair at Albert Village Lake, but c800 LBBs were present, and accompanied by not one but two 2cy Caspian Gulls. There were also a dozen michs, including at least 3 cracking juvs, that would have been my first of the year were it not for a wholly unexpected flyby at South Gare the day before!

A week later I was back, better light but alas fewer and flightier birds. The more distinctive of the two Casps was present throughout, and remarkably a 3cy made an all too brief visit. Again the michs provided much of the entertainment though, with probably 15 birds during the session, at least 5 of them juvs. But already there were a handful of juv LBBs and 2 juv Herrings present.