Tuesday 22nd July

The mystery gull(s) are back! Two of these birds were flying around over the river under the Peregrine Watch this morning at around 7.30am, another set off towards the city docks. We had very clear views of them, but identification is another problem. I'll attempt a description, they have dark beaks, and brown flecked plumage which darkens to black at their wing tips. The leading edge of the wings were also darker, going to almost black, much lighter on the trailing edge. The heads are a lighter brown, and some white shows when they preen and turn their heads. I couldn't see the leg colour clearly from above. The gulls were on the water, and also the mud for some of the time. The tail feather tips are black, with a white area in front of this and above their rump, rather like the Sabine's Gull (I don't think they are these). Neither are they the Skuas, or the Shearwaters. They were 'playing' with some small pieces of stick! This time the other gulls (Black Headed mostly), ignored them. One guess is that they are immature Greater Black Backed Gulls. Otherwise could they be a hybrid? A web search for similar looking birds, particularly when photographed from above, drew a blank. I joked to Roger (Yates) as I left, that I hoped they would not attract twitchers! A 'photo would be very useful.

There was a Heron on the mud below Sea Walls, the first I've seen for a month or so.