Ups and downs of gull watching

Radipole was stuffed with gulls today, which for someone keen on gulls such as myself it was paradise. Started the day with the adult Ring-billed Gull which was a nice start to the day then whilst scanning through the rest of the flock I noticed a second Ring-billed Gull. This time a second winter bird which got me pretty excited as a second winter bird hadn’t been seen for a while so thoughts of it being a different bird came into my head. That would have been a nice find for myself had this been the case. Sadly, a few birders said later that day that a second winter was present yesterday! I didn’t know this so the excitement decreased rapidly.

The adult bird was about off and on during the day presenting a few decent photo opportunities.

This is the second winter bird.

As darkness approached another gull caught my eye whilst I was having one last look at the ‘Ringer’. This time it really was something to get excited about. A 1^st winter Caspian Gull!

Radipole is having such a good winter for gulls I am starting to wonder what will be next? Here’s a final shot of the Caspian Gull.

Last one for the Larus Lovers

This is now the third post in a row and if I remember rightly the last time I was barking on about gulls on this blog it ended up with a post about a Caspian Gull. Well, guess what. Here’s another gull post (for a few week or two at least!) about a Caspo. Today started with a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls, then another Yellow-legged Gull and then another Yellow-legged Gull. If you haven’t seen enough on this blog already here are a few more Yellow-legged Gull pictures. I promise not say Yellow-legged Gull again!

Minutes after Dave Chown and myself finished looking at a gull with yellow legs (or at least it will in about three year’s time) this fantastic creature appeared out of nowhere!

Managed to miss this bird at the weekend and I missed another one when I was out on Lundy so I was pretty made up after seeing this fine example of a 1^st winter Caspian Gull.

I promise I’ll find something else to blog about soon unless a gull that betters a Caspian Gull turns up!