SW airflow today and with it seeminly less migrants, Bar some Redpoll, siskin and Brambling over there were no Redwing or Fieldfare in Langdon and a Ring Ouzel around the cafe (whilst looking for the reported YBW) was the only the only thing of note at that end of the patch for me.
I came across the above Hen Harrier early yesterday morning as it quartered over the fields near fan bay and towards the farm. It was seen by a few people today too, Sadly there was no sign of either rare Phylloscs in the valley and a Firecrest was my only thing of note in the bushes.
A trip to the Marina to have a look at a frosty juv Arctic tern was easy enough to find but the star of the show was this Czech ringed 1CY Caspian Gull, sat with all the local herrings on the pontoons near Cullin’s yard. My first Czech ringed bird!
On another pontoon I noticed a 1st winter bird with obvious wing moult but overall tones of a Herring Gull. It Didnt take long however to see it for what it was ; a pale Yellow–Legged Gull with quite delicate scapular pattern, which flew off eventually. Ive seen similar birds in the Med in winter but the advanced moult, head and bill shape plus facial expression and primary projection leave me with no doubts about its ID.
Juv Arctic Tern below, I think its been around for a while as Steve R mentioned to me he’d had one. Elegant bird and nice to see so close here.
PERDIX BIRDER 