Amazing pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, many Common Scoters in small rafts off-shore, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 7+ Cormorants, 100+ Black-headed Gulls, 50+ Herring Gulls, 30+ Greater Black-backed Gull, at least one Common Gull, Larus canus.
This. I think, is a first winter Herring Gull from the streaky patterns on the wings and the still blackish bill, with little trace of yellow on it, and no white tip, and a dark eye. Also no sign of broadening of the white "New Moons" on the primaries. On the groyne by the Saint George viewpoint.
I think this bird is probably a second winter bird, quite advanced perhaps. There is a lot of grey in the mantle, but no grey bar on the wing. The bill doesn't look so advanced, but there is a clear white tip to it. In this view this bird has quite a flat-topped head.
This bird in contrast is a third winter. Grey mantle, with only some remnants of brown barring on the wing, few/no obvious mirrors as yet, beak with obvious black markings across full depth of bill. Quite a lot more streaking down the neck than in the Book, but very similar to other photos on advanced websites. The eye is quite pale by now. Perhaps there is the start of a white tertial spot.
And here is an adult Herring Gull with a well-coloured bill with only a hint of black, and clear wing mirrors, a white tertial spot and no black markings on the tail. The head streaking is fairly light on this bird.
And even lighter on this one. I can't see a facial step here and the head looks quite rounded. A female perhaps:
Here is a picture of the wing mirrors on an adult with an immature bird behind. See how the immature bird is just starting a wing mirror on P6.
There were also some Greater Black-backed Gulls on the sand. Its interesting how they do tend to stick together at least to some extent. Fantastic large mirrors.
This. I think, is a first winter Herring Gull from the streaky patterns on the wings and the still blackish bill, with little trace of yellow on it, and no white tip, and a dark eye. Also no sign of broadening of the white "New Moons" on the primaries. On the groyne by the Saint George viewpoint.
The greater coverts show 3 (2 and a half) rows of chevron-like blotches on the lower edge of the "wing", a much more confusing patch of blotches on the median and lesser coverts, and internal anchor-marks on the scapulars above. You can see the mid-grey on the inner part of the bill fairly clearly, particularly in the last photo. Because of the clarity of the pattern I am fairly sure it is a first winter.
I think this bird is probably a second winter bird, quite advanced perhaps. There is a lot of grey in the mantle, but no grey bar on the wing. The bill doesn't look so advanced, but there is a clear white tip to it. In this view this bird has quite a flat-topped head.
This bird in contrast is a third winter. Grey mantle, with only some remnants of brown barring on the wing, few/no obvious mirrors as yet, beak with obvious black markings across full depth of bill. Quite a lot more streaking down the neck than in the Book, but very similar to other photos on advanced websites. The eye is quite pale by now. Perhaps there is the start of a white tertial spot.
And here is an adult Herring Gull with a well-coloured bill with only a hint of black, and clear wing mirrors, a white tertial spot and no black markings on the tail. The head streaking is fairly light on this bird.
And even lighter on this one. I can't see a facial step here and the head looks quite rounded. A female perhaps:
Here is a picture of the wing mirrors on an adult with an immature bird behind. See how the immature bird is just starting a wing mirror on P6.
There were also some Greater Black-backed Gulls on the sand. Its interesting how they do tend to stick together at least to some extent. Fantastic large mirrors.
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