White and Yellow

9th May - strong south westerlies don't usually produce birds, so I wasn't expecting much.  A couple of Common Sands and a LRP on the spit, but also a nice White Wagtail.  I'd been away when the main push of these came through in late March early April, so it was nice to pick one up.  It was lame in its left leg, which might even have been missing, so was hopping and fluttering over the spit and may have been the reason it was a little late.

There were plenty of Swifts and hirundines flying fairly low over the water and Common Tern numbers were up to 20 birds, but they still pay little attention to the newly placed tern rafts.

As usual, a little flock of loafing LWHG was gathered.  Mainly second and third calendar year Herring Gulls, with a few LBB Gulls.  However, of note was a 1st winter/summer GBB Gull, which I'd also seen at nearby Fulmer Lake on the 2nd and a 1st summer Yellow-legged Gull.  This bird has been present on and off since late April, but being quite bleached, I've taken my time in confirming it.  The lesser and median coverts are bleached to almost white, but there are several new generation feathers growing through, which is always a good sign for YLG at this time of year.  What you can see of the outer greater coverts look to be dark centred, which is another good feature.  The tertials are all dark centred, though the tips are worn.  The head is white (as are most 2cy Herring/LBB Gulls at the moment!), but there is still a little dark streaking around the eye.  The bill is all dark, with a slight pale tip and large and heavy and the head is quite square looking.  Heavy neck/nape streaking helps the white head to stand out and the inner scap markings look OK.  Structurally, it is quite long legged, long winged and high breasted, so all in all, good features for YLG.  In flight, it is moulting its inner primaries.  A few record shots below:

The GBB Gull