Another YLG in Rotherhithe this evening

Every morning and evening, before and after school, I check Greenland Dock. There seems to be a pair of Sand Martins nesting here this year, which is a new breeding pair, while there are always a few cormorants and gulls loafing around. Tonight, there was quite a nice looking 2nd-summer Yellow-legged Gull that allowed quite close approach: -

2nd-summer Yellow-legged Gull - red orbital ring, yellowish legs and dark grey upperparts. In flight this bird had retained a lot of black in the tail, still forming a neat band. Note the predominantly adult-type grey scapulars, with a couple of retained old feathers in the rear scapulars, as well as the abraded (presumably 2nd generation) greater coverts.

Numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls on the Thames usually reach an annual low about this time (or slightly earlier), so numbers should start to increase again hitting a peak late summer.