Richmond Bank

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Richmond Bank (top, left)

Second winter/summer Yellow-legged Gull

First winter/summer Iceland Gull

Another first winter Iceland Gull

Great Crested Grebe, HGF

Billy enjoying himself at Richmond Bank

Flowering Blackthorn at Richmond Bank

Fiddlers Ferry Power Station

Very pale first winter/summer Glaucous Gull's arse!

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This morning started with a quick trip to HGF. Five Black-necked Grebes back on the pool - otherwise nothing much to report. One great Crested Grebe kept swimming in a flattened posture like a dagger at the bank where a group of Tufties were sunbathing. It was clearly agitated by them, the Tufties ignored it. One Sparrowhawk and one Buzzard today.

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I then wandered off to Richmond Bank for a spot of gull watching. There were probably around 1500 gulls on the exposed mud flat and it was very noticeable that the make up of the flock has changed substantially since I last went gull watching. Gone were the thousands of Black-headed Gulls and hundreds of Common Gulls. There were perhaps 7 or 8 Great Black-backed Gulls (mostly sub-adults) and only one argentatus Herring Gull seen. Last time there were hardly any Lesser Black-backed Gulls - today they comprised 60% of the birds present.

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Having scanned the birds I picked out two first winter/summer Iceland Gulls, one small and dark, the other larger and paler. Also present were a second winter/summer Yellow-legged Gull and an adult of this species which flew before I could digiscope it. After a while the whole lot flushed and most of the birds disappeared. The conditions weren't ideal with the light shining straight ahead and a strong wind shaking the scope. Another birder eventually appeared and I picked out another adult Yellow-legged Gull. Very few birds had returned by this point so we both decided to leave, however just as we were about to set off, he spotted a very pale and bulky white-winged gull flying down the river which he immediately called as a Glaucous Gull.

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Both of us were convinced we had seen pale grey on the mantle and thinking this might be an adult we pursued it. Lots of other gulls had started returning by then. He picked it up again in a group near a bend in the river - I also then spotted my third Iceland Gull of the day almost next to it. The Glauc was huge compared to the Iceland Gull, almost snow white but the pink bill with black tip gave away its age. Very nice spell of gull watching! Lots of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and a Sparrowhawk also flew over.

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Back home not much going on. The garden was very quiet with the exception of three Reed Buntings.