Sunday 7 August 2016

Adult Yellow-legged Gull

Heysham Obs
An adult Yellow-legged Gull with 4-5 old primaries and a single small mirror on P10 was a very restless and mobile visitor to Red Nab for about 10 minutes before heading out into the shipping channel. Underwing views not possible as it always faced into the strong wind in flight.  At the large end of the spectrum with the custard yellow legs contrasting with the deeper orange/yellow legs of nearby LBBGs.  Surely this bird is still going to be doing the rounds for a bit in wing moult but it was certainly not settled on Red Nab and obviously hasn't been there during several recent periods of intense scrutiny.  I'll just go and check now as the tide is starting to move and hopefully get a phone-scope shot if its there.  Apologies for making a fuss over this but they are not common up here and perhaps outnumbered by hybrid look-likes

Morning low tide check
Yellow-legged Gull - adult - see above
Med Gull - 2CY and 2 1CY.  4 x 1CY later, but too late for the surging tide which had covered red nab!
Little Gull - adult summer or certainly summerish at long range