Caspian Gull at Horsehay Pool

3rd winter Caspian Gull  at Horsehay Pool

  Tom Lowe has identified, what we thought was a 3rd winter YLG, as his 3rd winter Caspian Gull that he observed on the floods at Buildwas on the 3rd Jan. When we first picked it up on the far side, we all thought that it was a caspian. However, after 30 minutes, it showed at very close range and we thought that it didn't look right and misidentified it as a YLG. When it flew we all commented on how much it looked like a caspian. That's because it was one!

  Jim and I arrived in early afternoon at Horsehay Pool hoping to see the ringer hybrid. John Reeves had the same idea and all three of us got stuck into the 100's of gulls that were coming in and already on the water. The thick fog was in and out all afternoon and at times you couldn't see mid-way across the pool. Jim immediately picked out a 3rd winter Caspian Gull on the far side. This bird hung round for nearly an hour and gave us cracking flight views as it did a circuit of the tiny pool. There were also an adult and 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull present, but the rarest birds of the day were an adult and 1st winter Common Gull.
  All these gulls are coming off from nearby Candles Landfill Tip to have a wash up before moving off to roost. Although we didn't see anything that good today, the gulls show at very close range and stick around for a long periods of time. It won't be long until a true white-winger is found here.

3rd winter Csapian Gull performing really well

2nd winter and adult Yellow-legged Gull

Adult and 1st winter Common Gull were my first that I've seen in Shropshire since I arrived in the beginning of December last year! 

Jesse Sykes is a singer and songwriter from where else, Seatle, with her band Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, formed in 2002 with Phil Wandscher. 'Reckless Burning was used in the film '12 and Holding'