Update on the Med Gulls at Radipole Lake, Weymouth

After watching the Brunnich's Guillemot in Portland Harbour during December, Dave Gray, Colin Green, John Waters and I spent some time in the Radipole Lake car park photographing Med Gulls and also reading colour-rings on three of them.

First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Radipole Lake

I have just received the information back on the colour-ringed gulls and it is quite interesting:

A Short Video of Gulls at Shawell, Leicestershire

Often in difficult conditions, poor light and wind, it is better to take video footage rather than still images. Also video can improve the quality of the imagery of distant birds. Last weekend I used the video feature on my camera to record the 'white-winged' gulls and also a second-winter Caspian Gull at Shawell. The video is achieved by mounting the camera to my scope and I think you'll agree that the quality is very good considering it isn't a true camera lens.

The video below has a few seconds of violence that should be rated 18, so look away if your offended by brutality - eat your heart out Quentin Tarantino.

Best enjoyed by clicking on the YouTube logo.

Siberian Chiffchaffs, Burton Marsh, Cheshire

Now its out that if a Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis)
looks like a Siberian Chiffchaff  it is one (amazing that) there seems to be more regular sightings. At least three Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Burton Marsh as well as the Buff-bellied Pipit.

Note: since writing the above I have discovered that at least ten Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) look a likes have called like Chiffchaffs (collybita). So it's back to listening for the call I'm afraid, as no one yet knows what the ones that look like Sibe Chiffie but sing like ordinary Chiffchaff are.

Two were really showy, but the constant procession of cyclists tried my patience, as the birds were trying to feed at the side of the track and were disturbed by the bikes. Even so I was pleased with the selection of photos I got.

They looked even paler grey as I watched them through my bins and the Bonelli's Warbler like green on the edge of the wing was quite distinctive.

Siberian Chiifchaff

Buff-bellied Pipit, Burton Marsh, Cheshire

After saying that I'd found a cure for twitching, I found myself lured, for the third time in as many weeks, out again. I had dipped a Buff-bellied Pipit on Scillies in the 90's and I didn't bother with the one down in London the other year, but this one attracted my interest.

As twitches go this one was very easy. Park your car and walk a couple of yards and view just over the fence. Not quite an epic, but it was a glorious day today. The light was poor first thing and in the afternoon the sun was in your face, so photography was challenging. 

Buff-bellied Pipit

It is an interesting bird, which to me had some pro Siberian Pipit (Anthus rubescens japonicas) features. In the dull light this morning, the median covert wing-bars looked white and the streaks on the underparts were quite bold. Also the belly only had a very faint buff wash. The N American sub-species is said to have dark legs usually black or dark grey. Both sub-species can have light brown legs apparently, but there is no mention of Anthus rubescens having pinkish legs. This bird appears to have dark pink legs, but are they too dark? 

White-wingers at Shawell

I was hoping to see at least one 'white-winged' gull today, as there had been quite a few around the Midlands during the week. I went to the landfill site first and it didn't take me long to spot a Glaucous Gull. The light was quite poor, but I managed to get a few images of it. Ageing it isn't that easy but it looks like a second-winter. Its eyes are starting to look pale and the bill tip is no longer black. The plumage could match either age, but the plain mantle favours second-winter. 

Later it was at the A5 Lagoons where it showed well as it preened.

Glaucous Gull

Shortly after finding the Glaucous Gull, I spotted a second-winter Iceland Gull.