The new photos reveal greater detail and show that this gull is not a Herring Gull. It isn't a straightforward Caspian either though, some very experienced gull watchers have struggled with this one. It was intallially proposed that it was either a Caspian x Herring Hybrid or perhaps an abherrant Caspian Gull.
However, the bird is now being reported on Birdguides and Chasewater Website as a 2nd winter Caspian Gull and is being treated as such.
For more discussion of this bird see.....
Chasewater sightings diary, see entries 20th, 21st and 27th of December for more photos and a description of the bird: http://www.chasewater.org.uk/diarymonths/2008/December%202008.htm
......and further discussion here on the comments page:
http://www.chasewater.org.uk/CWG_comments/comments.htm
The migrane inducing ID thread on BF:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=129419
The arcticle Alan Dean has written about this bird for his Gulls in the West Midlands Website is a nice summing up (and a bit more user-friendly):
http://www.deanar.btinternet.co.uk/wmgulls/misc/uncertain/2W201208.htm
I'm sure most of you have fallen asleep by now, sorry! I can't claim I understand all of the above but it's part of the learning curve and I'm pleased that all the scanning through flocks of gulls on freezing winters days has finally paid off with something interesting!
I'll be back very shortly with a post about our time in Norfolk over Christmas.
7 comments:
Hi Kay
I knew all along it was a Caspian Gull (hmm....). No, I didn't have a clue!
But never mind that, how many Med Gulls have been found at Stubbers Green recently? That's what I'd like to know!
Come to think of it, how many Brent Geese have been found in the midlands in the last week? You've probably been Brent Goosed-out in Norfolk?
Can I blow a huge raspberry to anyone who dismissed it as a Herring Gull early on?
I still haven't ticked it, though!
Arrr welcome back, hope you had a great time.
I bet that Robin was at Titchwell has it's leg-iron gives it away.
Congrats on the Caspian, join the Caspo finders club, I will get you a badge. I must admit Reg's picture didn't look good structurally, and still doesn't, but what do I know hey...lol
Thanks for the comments all...
Richard - Med Gulls are very nice too, come to think of it I havn't seen one for a while now...I'll have to meet you at Stubbers maybe you will 'produce' one ;)
Reg - I have emailed Graham to see if there's any further development as they seem to be treating it as 2nd winter Casp now, wheras they proposed hybrid at first.
Martyn - I think structure was one of the problems and also bill length, which is why there has been doubt about the bird. The new photos show more detail. Odd looking bird, it was.
PS, Martyn - Yes it was a strokey feely Titchwell Robin and wait till you hear about my latest lifer!
Oh no, no, please don't say Snow Goose....lol
No not Snow Goose, or Ross's either - perish the thought!
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