Gull
KGV Dock and River Thames, London, January 2005.
adult winter/summer
Features to note of the adult:
1) Bill- red spot restricted to lower mandible, small dark patch above to the right of the red spot. Is it too short,
thick, and shows too much of a gonydeal angle for Caspian Gull?
2) Eye- small, looks dark with a clear red orbital ring.
3) Wing and mantle only slightly darker than argenteus. Extensive white to P10 on closed wing.
The upperwing pattern noticed in flight, with the striking "Venetian-blind" effect to the inner primaries.
4) Long-neck, hanging belly. When side by side with an "argenteus" Herring Gull, the neck was almost telescopic
when adopting an alert posture!
5) Legs- pale yellow, long enough for Caspian?
6) In flight, the bird had a hanging belly effect, and again looked long-necked.
7) This bird called infrequently. The call like a throaty "argenteus", not as loud or prolonged.
8) This was quite large bulky adult, it had "had a few pies".
Caspian Gull?
Larus cachinnans
KGV Dock and River Thames, London, January 2005.
3rd winter (bottom 4)
To my inexperienced eyes this 3rd winter appeared to be a classic:
1) Immature extensive black on the wings and black stripes on the tail. The upperwing had 1 white mirror to P10. This
is probably now red, as the adult Gull (above) grabbed its wingtip, held it for about 1/2 a minute and literally threw the bird
into the water!
2) Very long-winged, especially obvious in flight when the slender wings would bow considerably in "level" flight.
When walking on the jetty, the wings almost touched the floor with the projection draping behind the tail.
3) Slender and long dull yellow bill, with a dark area where the red-spot will appear.
4) Dark eye, sloping forehead.
5) Legs pale pink and long, especially obvious above the knee.
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Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Isle of Dogs, London, February 2005.
The returning (small) adult showed well for 10 mins in the cold afternoon sun on the mud
opposite Lovell's Wharf.
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Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, February 2005.
Another returning rare Larid. Showed well on occasions, with the local Med Gulls (see last picture and below).
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Arctic Redpoll
Carduelis hornemanni exilipes
Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, March 2005.
This overwintering bird fed in larches by the visitor centre with a Mealy Redpoll. Note the single dark streak to the
central undertail coverts.
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Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Dix Pit, Oxon, March 2005.
One of 2 1st winter birds on Dix Pit and roosting on nearby Farmoor Reservoir. Negative news on the adult Kumlien's Gull.
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
Elstree, Herts, March 2005.
A nice garden tick.
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Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Fairburn Ings, West Yorks., March 2005.
A common sight in Yorkshire.
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