Working again but this time way up North in Caithness. After work on the 13th I checked Thurso Bay, at the spot where the river feeds out into the sea and came across this Adult Kumlien’s Gull whilst on the phone to young Dante. Darker grey in the very outer 2 primaries visible from this distant phone scope photo, along with darker iris and mantle tone. Some grey patterning in the primary tips was visble in the field too but sadly it was too late in the day to get nice flight shots.
The following evening I was joined by John Bell and we had another adult Kumlien’s drop in just before dusk, a paler indivual but again grey patterning in the outer primaries visble through optics.
Abit of digging around and both birds were clearly different to the beautiful adult that has been in place at Helmsdale harbour for a good while, Thanks to Dave Pullen for that. I called in on that bird on the drive back which was still in place (below), awful light but it showed brilliantly for the proper camera.
PERDIX BIRDER 