Friday 30 March 2018

Glaucous Gull - River Axe at Coronation Corner 30th March 2018

A very wet day today was brightened for me when I heard at 15:44 via Ian Mc. that he had found yet another "white winger" Gull on the River Axe at Coronation Corner - a Glaucous Gull. This was too good to miss and if I could get there before it departed would be my 2nd local Glaucous of the winter. My first was the bird I self-found at Lyme Regis on 6th February. Jumping into the car I made the journey from Charmouth to Axmouth within 25 minutes and on arrival saw a single bedraggled figure huddled in the downpour on the viewing platform (local birder Tim White!).
Scanning the river, I quickly picked out the bird settled with some other large gulls between Coronation Corner and Tower hide on the east bank. And what a superb bird! I managed a couple of quick photos with the P900 in pouring rain before retreating to the shelter of the car. And at 16:40 it was away. It was huge and in flight looked even bigger than when it was settled on the river. I followed it in the binoculars until it was out of sight as it flew up and over towards Tower hide and then to the north and west. Wonderful. Thanks again to the finder.





Mediterranean Gull, Lyme Regis, 6th March, 2018

2 Mediterranean Gulls were off the Cobb this morning, this distant possibly 2nd winter bird:


The second bird was an adult Mediterranean Gull coming in to full Summer plumage:



Monday 5 March 2018

Little Gulls, Cobb, Lyme Regis, 5th and 6th March 2018

On the 5th, a 1st winter Little Gull was feeding with Black-headed Gulls off the Cobb, Lyme Regis:





The Little Gull is roughly 2/3rds the size of a Black-headed Gull:



Here's a flight shot showing dark patterning to upperwing and tail bar:


Here are some more photos taken on 6th March when 2 birds were showing really well.










...and lastly a "Little" video clip taken 6th March: