Gull time

Winter has set in and with it comes the annual 'turn our attention' to gulls exercise. Recent visits to Richmond Bank have been rewarding with decent numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls and Iceland Gulls, but my mission to find a Caspian Gull goes on! Yesterday decided on an afternoon visit to Moore NR. A 2w Iceland Gull was picked out immediately on Pumphouse pool and a quick drive up to Arpley tip produced 15,000+ gulls though viewing leaves a lot to be desired. With that i turned my attention to Birchwood pool first i picked out what i presume to be a leucistic Herring Gull, to the untrained eye it could have been mistaken for an Iceland Gull. 1w Kumlien's did cross my mind but i just think it looks Herring, don't they all! A surprising chat next with Geoff Atherton and wife, surprising as Geoff lives on Foula.

Next a very nice 3w Iceland Gull showed well.

Then a strange gull? 1w plumage but the bill pattern and pale eye suggested an older bird?

Our poxy attempts to see Iceland Gulls pale into insignificance when i see what is on isle at the moment. Check it out here.