Birds Photographed in the UK in 2003
(May - July)

Jonathan Wasse

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii
Dungeness, Kent, May 2003.

A cracking 2nd summer bird (first for Britain!) that spent
a couple of days or so patrolling the beach by the nuclear
power station. Not the best of shots.

After a two hour wait, I was just pleased
to see the bird.

Sabine's Gull Larus sabini
Lowestoft, Suffolk, July 2003.

A summering adult that is now moulting out of breeding
plumage. It was very tame on the beach feeding at the
water's edge. It shoved a few of the Black-heads" around,
but why did a youngster have to chuck sand at it?

"Baldy Sab's Gull". It looked a lot different when it first arrived.

"Note the smaller size when compared to an adult Black
-headed Gull (right).

Running to the waters edge. It readily picked at the surf.

More "hunched" posture than a juvenile
Black-headed Gull (left).