I was near The Scrub and contemplating aborting the visit as rain started to set in this afternoon when I picked up a beautiful and wholly unexpected pair of
Red Kites as they slowly drifted past in the inclement weather. It started getting heavier and I called dad to see if he'd pick me up and give Holmethorpe a quick go before going home.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsKWK0jEwpvrgXPFR-9GB1b5ZO4rde3hL86MiyXDUppShK7BAjIf_kVxI9YIFcO9MmWfZBQxbYDODZz6ygMfs4rZ76jpJurSiLur_yzn3hOGKKyQMKtfl5QONruDzPw8IriI6q0yaglKm/s320/Red+Kite+18022012+2.jpg) |
Red Kites |
My main quarry was the Scaup - I'd gone to see what was probably the same bird a few weeks ago but opinion briefly swayed to it being a hybrid. I went to see it again anyway just in case it was a different bird. On arrival, the first bird that caught my eye was a large, white-winged first-winter gull. Its bill was reminiscent of Glaucous Gull but was 'dirty' and less clean-cut in appearance. Alas, it was a either a hybrid or a northern Herring Gull. I couldn't find it again when I went round to the other side of the lake to get a better look but I did succeed in picking out the first-winter drake
Scaup - yay local area tick! It's an interesting bird, having a little extra but slightly faded black on the nail of the bill (which is the reason for questions being raised as to its purity) but apparently this is fine for a first-winter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G1u4u0bPwO6Qr4k6DdK_NaEWH30139SJXUBTJICjInJbM6ItaDra3ayc-AREo4O-UZRa5m-3suvhbh8QlCan-iMp5rd0WKm6tDEL_5t9o2jEqLiEm9yeJXvKEc54uoqUOhL1ngw7kQM7/s320/Scaup+18022012+1.jpg) |
Scaup |
I had spoken to Graham James on the phone and he told me that Gordon Hay had had a second-winter
Iceland Gull at Spynes Mere (EDIT: apparently an advanced first-winter). Neil Randon also texted me saying it was still present pretty recently so I dashed over there quickly, picking it out easily enough. Light was fading and I had been about an hour (which is the longest my dad wanted to wait) so made tracks. A good day of local birding.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBuRrFpei52jDAeM_KckhJM4GzLnvi3ao_bP4_zpcEBo6aSV0SdBKBd7MYZoVfYYWO4v98-c2cIeKz_CMupieqeD4iOUr_rsLSh_bBUg-5_aDUbrYlmWkQgE704gKNzCij9UhaqYvReBl/s320/Iceland+Gull+18022012+1.jpg) |
second-winter Iceland Gull (EDIT: apparently an advanced 1w) |