WHITE-WINGERFEST CONTINUES WITH A GLAUC

Another day at the farm with Dodge and T Bros and we were later joined by Pyro and Gripper. The ice on the lakes had largely melted and the Iceland Gulls were less in evidence today although the first winter bird appeared in much the same spot at the same time as yesterday. As usual, I spent a lot of time going through the Gulls whilst Dodge aka 'Hawkeye' watched the skies and T Bros did a bit of both.

I picked up a first winter white-winger which appeared larger than the surrounding Herring Gulls and was sporting a long, stout, pink bill with a black, 'dipped-in-ink' tip, a Glaucous Gull ! our first of the year. The bird immediately flew and disappeared in a cloud of Gulls but we soon re-located it and it later showed well. One of the second winter Iceland Gulls also put in an appearance. I can't complain at five Iceland Gulls and a Glauc in less than twenty four hours.

The Glauc is a 'brute' of a bird compared with Iceland Gull, bigger and bulkier than Herring Gull with a more robust head and heavier bill than Iceland

Note the squarer, stronger head compared with Iceland Gull

The pink bill with black tip on a first winter Glauc stands out in flight

Larger and more robust than Herring Gull

The first winter Iceland Gull. Note the head and bill size and shape in comparison with the Glauc

'Old Whitey'. Second winters really stand out

The female Pintail remains

This Med Gull will have a full black hood soon