Sunday 3 January 2016

Gulls, Swans and Egrets

A late start as its my last day of booooooo. Headed to Covehithe  for a new year Slav Grebe. I started by checking the Gull flock by the pig huts. Adult Yellow Legged Gull briefly and this Adult Caspian Gull.

 
Then I checked another field full of gulls by the beach and found another or same Adult Yellow legged gull.

I moved onto the broad where It took ages to find the Slav Grebe and when I did it was miles away, as far away as it could be on the Broad.
Whilst looking for the grebe ticked 9 Bewick Swans again. Also 4 Adult Little Gulls.

 
The fields held last weeks geese still Barnacles, Brent and the usual Hybrids.
A lot of gulls came into the field pick of the bunch was this 1st Winter Caspian Gull.


Just to the left of this birds was a very unusual looking gull, almost Glaucous winged but more likely a Northern argentatus or  pale Herring or Viking Gull, it had strikingly grey Primaries with much white. Some experts may be able to help. some more pics below, click to enlarge.




I did half hour seawatching picking out 8 Little gulls going South a flock of 3, 1 and 4, then just about to leave a Sooty shearwater went North.
Walking back I checked the pig fields again, Adult and 1st Winter Caspian this time in a very quick check.
Had lunch at Minsmere then headed to Iken for a Cattle Egret that got found yesterday, maybe the Sea palling bird I saw last year. A nice bird although shame about the pouring rain grrrr.




Back to work tomorrow Booooooo

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