After yesterdays visit to Redcar Tarn and scrolling through a mound of photos there was at least 1 Caspian gull there, possibly two though one could be the same bird. Many thanks yet again to MC who has an amazing eye for a gull and to KM for confirming the 2nd winter Caspian that he has been watching there. I had the bird again this morning in the crematorium grounds ,same place as yesterday, but very briefly due to shotgun disturbance.
The following photos are the Caspian/s from yesterday which MC is scrutinizing.
These were the only 2 of this bird showing a very faint window on P10
This was pic 12 with imm Cas showing very white under wing linings with pictures
before and after that shot ?
2nd winter Caspian gull. A bird KM has been watching on and off since October.
A wild windy morning at Redcar Tarn today but dry and clear at 7 degrees on a S>5.
Still part dark as I arrived and nothing gull wise until 0900 hrs but at least it gave me chance to give the dogs a good walk first. Just after 0900 hrs gulls started coming in onto the water with small gulls first followed by the Herrings but nothing near as many as yesterday and very flighty in the strong wind.
A walk across to the crematorium grounds found the 2w Caspian in the same place as yesterday amongst small gulls but the whole shebang lifted off before I could get the camera on it.
Back at the water, Herring numbers were building until some nuggets started blasting shotguns just 2 fields away which cleared the whole area of gulls not to return before I left and the area was still gull less as KM arrived just after me.
Late afternoon at Fly Flatts the wind was a strong SW>5-6 but bright with some sunshine.
A walk on the west bank and back, sky watching and water watching produced nothing other than a single Kestrel. This is my 7th visit with no birds but got a hugging of seed down just on spec.
Luckily, just as I was going into a deep depression, a Barn Owl appeared from over the east Oxenhope ridge and did a fly about before returning back over the ridge so all was not lost.
Redcar Tarn
1 2w Caspian gull
c 30 Herrings
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
1 Kestrel
1 Barn Owl
BS