Single Black-tailed Godwit still on the sandbar at the western end early afternoon today.

Blackcap in subsong on the rucks (certainly not a new arrival!) and 19 Lesser Redpolls also here.

pm
2 full summer adult Mediterranean Gull on point
kingfisher showing well in front of pengys
redshank-8+
oystercatcher-10+
plus the usuals

2 Sand Martins through this morning at 07:40.

Also 9 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover and 7 Goosander.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Other sightings from earlier this morning:

6 Redshank
20 Snipe
1 Black-tailed Godwit

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Both adult Mediterranean Gulls present in the spit at 3pm today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Yesterday morning (14th):

1 Curlew
24 Snipe
1 female Pintail still

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Late news for the 13th:

6 Wigeon
2 Sand Martins

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

A quick toot round the hides late afternoon.

8 Redshank
12 Snipe
11 Oystercatcher
1 Shelduck

Plus the usuals.

1pm-3pm

2 Mediterranean Gulls
12 Snipe
1 Little Grebe
20 Redshank
20+ Oystercatcher

+ all the usuals

Mike Unsworth

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the spit and a third Black-tailed Godwit on the sandbank at the western end on the flash.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

So far this morning:

2 Black-tailed Godwits
6 Redshank
14 Snipe
7 Goosander

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

The 2 Mediterranean Gulls both roosted yesterday evening in the full roost.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

First summer Knot from Horrocks Hide at 10:50.

2 Mediterranean Gulls and the juvenile Iceland Gull still present at 11:40.

Info thanks to Paul Brown

From the western end this morning:

Female Pintail
6 Goosander
4 Shelduck

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

This morning:

Iceland Gull on the main flash, probably a juvenile.
1 Ruff
5 Redshank
17 Oystercatchers
1 Curlew

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Late news for the morning of the 11th:

Yellowhammer, a single bird close to Bunting Hide
1 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Green Sandpiper
16 Oystercatcher
21 Snipe
9 Goosander

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

pm mooch wi charlie owen
goldeneye-48 (all in rammies when the boats came out)
great crested grebe-39 (all in rammies also)
oystercatcher-14
Redshank-6
goosander-8
pintail 1 female
sparrowhawk-1 female
plus the usuals

This morning 7.30 - 9.20
single black-tailed godwit on spit to 8.00
5 goldeneye
Little Grebe
female pintail from Rammies
4 Redshank
18 snipe
2 Goosander
8 Great Crested Grebe
13 Oystercatcher
plus usual wildfowl

-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 11th of March 2012 11:05:00 AM

Paul A Brown wrote:

---

15 oystercatcher, 8 redshank and the female pintail was coming to bread off the carpark this afternoon

---

The pintail is paired with a male Mallard
Kingfisher was very active all afternoon.

15 oystercatcher, 8 redshank and the female pintail was coming to bread off the carpark this afternoon

This morning 7.30-10.30

Horrocks:
12 Oystercatcher
2 Redshank
24 Snipe
1 Kestrel
3 Great Crested Grebe
12 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
lots of Black-headed gulls
6 Goldeneye
Lots of Tufted ducks

Teal Hide:
1 Green Sandpiper
3 Goosander (1 male, 2 female)
6 Shoveler
12 Teal

Bunting Hide:
A lot quiter (in terms of numbers) than usual, but still boasted:
Bullfinches
Reed Buntings
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Pheasant
plus the usuals.

2 Grey Partridge were on Ramsdales Ruck this afternoon, rare birds at this site nowadays.

Info thanks to Peter Alker

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls roosted tonight.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Some good sightings today - spent the bulk of it going round all hides.

Highlights:

Horrock's - 2 Redshanks at least, later joined by 6 Oystercatchers.
Ramsdale - 2 Shelducks
Teals - c15 from most hides.
4 Shovelers
1 Gadwall - Teal hide
Great Crested Grebe numbers were steady across the site, with one displaying pair.
Lots of Tufted Ducks were around, with at least 6 Goldeneyes thrown in (main flash)
1 Willow Tit at Pengy's - we missed the Kingfisher, it was around.... but...
in failing light one flew across from East Bay Hide direction!
Plus all the usual joys.

Bunting Hide - 2 Stock Doves; l1 Willow Tit; loads of Reed Buntings, mainly stonking males; Greenfinch numbers reasonable, including handsome summer males; someone had a Female Brambling which I didn't spot it would have been a lifer!; plus all the usuals - all in all a good day.

-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 9th of March 2012 08:51:18 PM

This morning's sightings:

33 Snipe
2 Dunlin west
14 Oystercatcher
4 Redshank
Single Green Sandpiper

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Quick visit about 1pm,
5 oystercatcher..Horrock's
5 redshank..Ramsdale's
Kingfisher..Pengy's
Male teal,amongst the bread munchers close in to main car park.
7 grey heron Tom Edmondson Hide

Cheers Chris

Up to 9am this morning, inbetween the mist:

14 Oystercatcher
5 Redshank
1 female Pintail still!
4 Wigeon

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Yesterday morning (4th):

27 Snipe
4 Redshank
9 Oystercatcher
60 Jackdaw

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

3 adult Mediterranean Gulls in the roost last night (4th).

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

am/pm-mooch wi charlie owen
redshank-5
ringed plover-1
goldeneye-52(all in rammies)
great crested grebe-33
shelduck-1
oystercatcher-12
goosander-8
plus the usuals :)

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 4th of March 2012 06:48:19 PM

Yesterday, 2nd March:

Single Black-tailed Godwit on the spit at 15:46 at least.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

9-5.00pm 56 species seen

kingfisher seen on three occasions,twice at horrocks once at pengys.

horrocks hide..
1 ringed plover
3 redshanks
23 snipe
14 oystercatchers
2 stock doves

teal hide..
5 goosanders 4m 1f
1 little grebe
1 pair gadwall

2 shelducks (ramsdales)
1 pair pochards (pengys)

21 goldeneyes
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
2 sparrowhawks
1 grey wagtail
6 skylarks (ruck)
2 meadow pipits (ruck)
2 willow tits
1 goldcrest
plus all the usual birds around


-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 09:03:36 PM

Visited again this afternoon to look at a few more hides etc.
2 until 3pm.

RAMSDALE'S HIDE:
Green Sandpiper still present and correct.
AROUND THE SPIT:
Oystercatcher count up to ...11
LBB GULL 1
TOM EDMONDSON HIDE:
Usual Shovelers, Mallards and Teal.
Pair of Gadwall and a splended male Wigeon.

The Kittiwake was a nice pick up by Simon whilst I was desperately trying to make a Ruff appear out of thin air!

He initially spotted it being harassed by the Black Headed Gulls at the end of the spit and we watched the Gulls continue to bother it.

After a few minutes of this it decided enough was enough and flew off east.

For the record the bird was an adult.

No further sign of the Ruff by 10:15 but a Kittiwake was present briefly before flying off east at 10:20ish.

Info thanks to Karen Foulkes

Also present this morning:

1 Green Sandpiper from Ramsdales Hide
4 Shelduck
6 Goosander
1 Dunlin on the spit
A further 21 Curlew through, including a single flock of 11.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

So far this morning:

1 Ruff on the spit
3 Curlew
24 Snipe
9 Oystercatcher

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Around 10 this am:

AROUND THE SPIT
Shelduck...1
Oystercatcher...2
Dunlin ...1
Snipe....(those in sight)...13

Just missed the KITTIWAKE!..... seen by Karen and Simon,and had flown away East, I was told.
Finally caught up with a Curlew ..calling, as it flew East in front of the car park.

-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 11:37:10 AM

Tim Wilcox wrote:

---

Mike Baron wrote:

---

3rd winter Iceland Gull present off the spit until around 5pm when a microlight flushed everything. Also an adult Med (different bird to the one I saw on Friday)

---

Hi Mike was obviously you I spoke to when I arrived. 3rd winter Iceland Gull was back at the end of the spit by 5.20. Couldn't find the Med Gull amongst maybe 1,000 BH Gulls but light was going by 5.30

---

It was nice to meet you Tim, however briefly and I'm glad the Iceland Gull came back down for you.

Rgds

Mike

Late news for the 26th Feb:

7 Goosander
1 Redshank
6 Oystercatcher
12 Skylark and 7 Meadow Pipit on Ramsdales Ruck
1 Curlew
4 Shelduck
21 Snipe

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Early morning sightings from today:

1 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Redshank
16 Snipe
7 Oystercatcher
Female Pintail still present and then probably the same bird flew west over Plank Lane at 08:55.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Sightings from this afternoon

1 Black Tailed Godwit
2 Common Redshank
7 Snipe visible (although there had apparently been 14 earlier)
11 Oystercatcher
c250 Lapwing
2 Wigeon
2 Shelduck
5 Reed Bunting





-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 27th of February 2012 07:14:10 PM

Mike Baron wrote:

---

3rd winter Iceland Gull present off the spit until around 5pm when a microlight flushed everything. Also an adult Med (different bird to the one I saw on Friday)

---

Hi Mike was obviously you I spoke to when I arrived. 3rd winter Iceland Gull was back at the end of the spit by 5.20. Couldn't find the Med Gull amongst maybe 1,000 BH Gulls but light was going by 5.30

Spit

5 Oystercatcher
12 Snipe
1 Stock Dove
1 Redshank
1 Shelduck
4 Goldeneye
2 first-winter Great Black-Backed Gulls

Left at 4pm, didn't see the Iceland Gull.

Tom Edmondson

1 Gadwall
1 white-headed grey goose, flew in with a Canada. Was much paler than the Canada - colouration of the body was like a Greylag, but with a white head.

Ramsdale

2 Shelduck

Bunting

Willow Tit
Bullfinch (2m, 1f)
Coal Tit

Pengy

4 Pochard

Teal

2 Goosander (both m)
2 Shoveler

3rd winter Iceland Gull present off the spit until around 5pm when a microlight flushed everything. Also an adult Med (different bird to the one I saw on Friday)

Mooch around a very quite(bird wise) flash with J Tymon today, only things of any note were a Redshank, a Curlew through east, 6 Oystercatcher and 12 Snipe

3cy Iceland gull present at 5.00pm on the water to the left of the spit.

Also, single Lesser Redpoll in Rammies reedbed.

Plus all the usuals.

Yesterday morning:

6 Oystercatcher
1 Dunlin
6 Snipe
11 Redwing
Adult Mediterranean Gull
1 Green Sandpiper
1 female Pintail

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Iceland Gull:
There are some good comparative photos of glaucoides and Kumlien's
on pages 296 and 297 of the book ''Flight Identification of European Seabirds''
by Anders Blomdahl and others,and published by Helm.
They are of course in flight shots and show most age moults but not the 4cy.

I've already discussed it briefly with Chris but off these current photos alone (and the fact that none of the observers of this bird has come forward yet with a field description of the open primaries) its reasonably inconclusive. Whilst some mottling to the outer primaries is possible in glaucoides of this age, kumlieni is a variable thing and I'd still like to see the bird myself or a half decent shot of the open wings to be sure. Certainly, off the current images kumlieni could certainly not be claimed but then again not fully discounted either.

No matter how hard you look at these photos (and I have also received some really rather good ones), they won't give you a definative answer. One can also scour the Internet for photos but they only represent a minuscule proportion of the variability in kumlieni, the same with any other species of bird.

Simple answer is to try and see this bird for yourself, which I certainly will be trying to do

We have a 3rd winter Iceland Gull frequenting Hartlepool fish quay exhibiting characters attributable to kumleini; present for about 2 weeks or so and well watched.
Those with prior experience of the form are confident that it falls within the acceptable parameters.
This has for long been one of the gaps in my gulling experience so I was pleased to have the chance to spend a half hour with it last week as it swam with an imm. Great BB Gull until it unfortunately flew by me and out into the bay.

It does show a "venetian blind" effect in the primaries, with the outer webs greyish relative to the whiter inners. It also shows some chevrons on the greater coverts, but I don't know if that is a remnant trace of immaturity or support character for kumleini (or indeed a bit of both!)
What does appear to be established for kumleini is its variability, to the extent that not all suspects are identifiable with certainty, and it seems likely that there is a degree of gene flow in many birds with Thayers Gull/ Iceland hybrids in Canada sometimes muddying the water, thus making all kumleini suspects truly fascinating.
What was sobering was that in flight as it passed within 30 feet of me, I could not see the contrast in the primaries at all, (partly due to the light being against me somewhat), though these were more obvious on photos.

While it is acknowledged that there are some really good "gullers" who are regular contributors to the gull i/d discussions down there (Ian et alia), some photos of this Pennington bird should prove educational, whatever it turns out to be.
Cheers,
Mike P.

My thinking exactly Jason. It's a Glaucoides for my money.

I've seen a pic of a retarded moult 3rdW Kumlieni - with considerably more immature brown markings on the coverts - and even that bird had conspicuous primary markings, much larger, darker and well defined grey markings than this bird.

Has anyone with experience of Kumlieni (perhaps in the States) seen this bird and care to comment on variation at this age?

My experience with Iceland Gulls is limited to a handful of sightings, I'm afraid.