TRIPLE CASPO

The Caspian Gulls went missing for a while but we had two last week and three today, at least two of which were different birds. We also had thirty four Greylag early morning which is the highest total I've seen at Beddington. A good selection of birds again today.

The 'first' 1w Caspo. At distance you can see the contrast between the white head and dark 'shawl'

Quite abraded scapulars and washed out coverts, it has a fresh tertial. The saggy hind belly seems to feature on a lot of Caspos

Note the thin central shaft streaks on some of the scapulars and washed out but pretty solid centres to the coverts with pale tips

The second 1w Caspo

Showing some barring on the inner greater coverts

It has a fairly black tail band

A nice adult Caspo. Quite yellowy legs which not all birds show and note the mantle shade compared to the nearby Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Adult Caspo taking off. Note the white tip on P10, mirror on P9 and the long pale 'tongues' eating into the black on the outer primaries

One of the 2w Iceland Gulls still remains

'Snowy' has been visiting for years. It is unusual in having pure white upperparts but jet black primaries.

A Fox takes advantage of the frozen lake

Usually, the lake is plastered with roosting Canada Geese, early morning, so it was a surprise to find thirty four Greylag today