Gulls

Arriving at the end of the concrete road at 07.15 AJG was already there but looking inland and not at the sea. 100s of Swallows, Meadow Pipits and Linnets with smaller numbers of House Martins, Reed Buntings, Pied Wagtails, Gold and Greenfinches were streaming out to sea a brilliant spectacle.

Great White Egrets on Burrowes 

 On the reserve all 6 great white Egrets were showing on Burrowes pit along with 11 Little Egrets, 5 Black-necked Grebes, a Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Black Tailed Godwits, 50+ Golden Plover, 11 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, a Marsh Harrier and all the usual wildfowl.

Black Necked Grebe on Burrowes

 A wander around The Pines failed to locate any of the 5 Ring Ouzels seen earlier(BP)  but 10+ Blackcaps were some compensation. From the Screen 7 Dunlin, 2 Little stints, 5 Greenshank and a Pectoral Sandpiper were the highlights before the rain arrived.

Dark backed  pink legged Lesser Black Backed gull?

 As I drove down the entrance track to the reserve early this evening DW was parked up scanning the Gull roost. I pulled up beside him and he indicated a colour ringed Lesser Black Backed Gull also a dark backed Lesser Black Backed Gull? with pink legs which looked interesting. As we were scanning more gulls came in including an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a colour ringed 2w Caspian Gull. Once again reading the ring was difficult due to the range it appeared to be VKKK. I moved my car to a better position as did DW, just as he was about to photograph the bird my car alarm went off horn and sirens blasting out, in my panic I could not find the smart key and by the time I did all the Gulls were gone leaving a less than impressed DW!

Yellow ringed 2W Caspian Gull appeared to be VKKK but not definite.

Lesser Black Backed Gull SHB possibly a Felixstowe bird