Friday 20 July 2018

Goring

Most of the interest this morning was provided by the gulls feeding on the greensward. Some 50 Mediterranean Gulls were around: 29 adults, 15 juveniles, four 2CYs and two 3CYs. The first juvenile Common Gull of the year was probably the highlight, and a nice juvenile Yellow-legged Gull dropped in for a short while before heading east. Good numbers of Black-headed Gulls were around - 200+. Two Whimbrel flew east along the beach then one doubled back a few minutes later and a Dunlin flying east beyond the beach was probably actively moving. A distant flock of eight Common Scoters flew west and the Gannet tally increased to 31 in the easterly breeze. Four Sandwich Terns flew east. 10 Little Egrets, a juvenile Grey Heron and two Oystercatchers were along the beach.

juvenile (left) and adult Common Gulls

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

juvenile Mediterranean Gull: some nice subtle variation in these today

three adult Mediterranean Gulls (back) with adult Black-headed Gull and juvenile Mediterranean Gull (foreground)

an underdog simply for being abundant: a smart juvenile Black-headed Gull

juvenile Grey Heron

Little Egrets on their tide commute