After work today I thought I would try a brief seawatch from the towers to see if I could catch up with anything. There was a bitingly cold North Westerly wind but it was certainly welcome to see the sunshine. I was able to find a spot that sheltered me from the worst of wind and, although still cold, at least I wasn’t struggling to stand against the wind.
As it turned out there was nothing much going on out to sea at all. The only birds that were coming past were gulls, mainly Herring, working their way west along the coast, so I thought I would try for some photos of them and see if I could get better at ageing them.
The first bird past was an adult winter Herring Gull. They are certainly handsome birds. The streaking on its head has been a bit burnt out in the photo.
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| Adult Herring Gull |
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| Adult Herring Gull |
A passing Great Black-backed Gull allowed some photos. They are huge birds. I think that this is a third winter, from looking at the books.
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
Another adult winter Herring Gull gave some very nice views as it came past. I really like being able to see the eye so clearly as they come past. Many of the gulls come very close as they pass the towers. The head streaking was obvious on this bird.
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| Adult winter Herring Gull |
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| Adult winter Herring Gull |
I did not see many waders go past but this group of 4 Sanderling going west came almost close enough for a photo. I also at various points saw another 5 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 1 Oystercatcher, all going west. Otherwise they seemed to be keeping their heads down.
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| Sanderling |
A smart, what I think is a second winter Herring Gull gave a good view as it flew past.
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| Second winter Herring Gull |
I had another Great Black-backed Gull west and what I think is a 3rd winter Herring Gull. I am just a little puzzled as it appears to have a darker eye and less yellow in the bill than the 2nd winter above. But from the amount of grey in the wings and the lessening tail band it would certainly suggest 3rd winter. I must admit I find ageing gulls pretty difficult.
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| ? 3rd winter Herring Gull |
A smart adult winter Common Gull showed its large mirrors well as it flew past while a 2nd winter Herring Gull gave a nice view of its upperwings.
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| Adult winter Common Gull |
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| 2nd winter Herring Gull |
I had another, presumably 3rd winter Herring Gull go west but again with a dark eye and non yellow bill. It also had noticeably dark greater coverts. It is fascinating to see the different plummages but boy it is pretty muddling for ageing. Some things seem to fit with one age while others fit with another age.
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| ? 3rd winter Herring Gull |
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| ? 3rd winter Herring Gull |
A second winter and first winter Herring Gulls passed close by and were soon followed by a loudly calling Herring Gull that was seeming to object to a nearby youngster.
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| Second and first winter Herring Gulls |
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| Loudly calling |
I had a couple more 1st winter Herring Gull. It is surprising just how much colour and even size change in the various light.
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| 1st winter Herring Gull |
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| 1st winter Herring Gull |
These were followed by another 2nd winter, again showing a fair amount of variation.
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| 2nd winter Herring Gull |
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| 2nd winter Herring Gull FZ330, f/4, 1/1300, ISO 500, A, ExS |
A very smart adult Herring Gull came very close as it went by. I decided o take a shot looking east from the towers. The sea doesn’t appear that rough in the photo but I certainly would not liked to have been out on it.
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| Adult winter Herring Gull |
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| Looking east to Minnis Bay |
A couple of very attractive 1st winter Black-headed Gulls gave some good views as they flew west. They are lovely little birds.
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| 1st winter Black-headed Gull |
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| 1st winter Black-headed Gull |
I finished off with what I think are both 3rd winter Herring Gulls.
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| 3rd winter Herring Gull |
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| 3rd winter Herring Gull |
It had been an enjoyable hour just watching the various gulls passing. I am certainly very rusty on gull identification and ageing but hopefully, with practise, I will get better. I had really hoped to catch up with a Kittiwake today but did not manage to see one or any passing divers or grebes. I did not manage any duck or geese either. I guess they were all keeping their heads down in the wind. As I reached the car park I could see a gull bobbing about on the waves and it turned out to be a Black-headed. I must admit I had really hoped for Little. It looked so small and vulnerable against some pretty sizeable waves.
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| Black-headed Gull |
Birds seen this visit include: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, 1 Turnstone, 8 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Redshank, 1 Blackbird, 25 Starling, 5 House Sparrow.
