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Tuesday 9 January 2018

Poss Kumlien's Gull at Porthcressa

This white-winged gull showing characteristics of a possible 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull at Porthcressa in the fading light 

  Mid-morning and I was at Porthloo to see a juvenile Iceland Gull fly straight through followed by 3 Lapwing. A quick look at the tip returning home produced the adult Scandinavian Herring Gull that I last saw on Christmas Day. In the afternoon, a text from Graham Cunsdale got Higgo and I up to golf course unsuccessfully searching for a single Golden Plover and more Lapwing. However, we did get a high total of 25 Fieldfare. Airport seemed the ideal place to check next and here we got 7 Lapwing and heard a Golden Plover.

3 Lapwing attempted to land on Porthloo Beach before moving on

Herring Gulls

1st winter Great-black backed Gull







This adult Scandinavian Herring Gull is the same one I had on Christmas Day


Up to 25 Fieldfare on the golf course was a high total for this time of year

7 Lapwing high over the airfield

  We arrived Porthcressa and I scanned to right and Higgo to the left. Higgo said 'Got a pale gull on rocks over ere' It was distant but appeared to have grey primaries and Kumlien's was goin through our heads!. We both made our ways the play park to get closer views. It was nearly an hour later when we looked at the gull!! It took bloody ages to get Higgo off the swings!! Anyways, Higgo stayed near to the park, he wanted to go on the slide next, and I got closer to the gull. I could see it was a third winter and had grey in the primaries and informed Higgo that it might be a Kumlien's Gull. I informed Ren and Will to have a look from their houses at the gull. Will was already on it and came out to join us. However, by the time Will had arrived the white-winger flew closer, circled us and was out of here. In flight, it clearly showed brownish along the outerwebs of the two outermost primaries. Even with the markings in the primaries it could still be an Iceland Gull.







Possible 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull Howver, even with these markings in the primaries it could still be an Iceland Gull





Yesterday let me know there was an adult Mediterranean Gull at Porthcressa. I didn't get there until almost dark but found the Med with some 60 Black-heased Gull and 6 Kittiwake. The day before there were 20 Kittiwake sheltering in the bay from the gale force NE


2 comments:

  1. Blimey, you're having a gull fest down there at mo. Wish Weymouth was doing as well. I would call that a Kumlien's. Pretty gripped off, it has to be said. Enjoying the gull pics, keep them coming.

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