Back on the tip after 3 weeks' absence

Three weeks ago was the last time I'd been at the tip - it'd taken that long to get the latest puncture sorted. So, with a healthy Land Rover and the sun shining, it was good to be up there again. It wasn't too cold either, with the only issue that I had being that I needed to be in Sevenoaks for a family do mid afternoon.

Adult Caspian Gulls, Essex 24th January 2015 - structurally both very similar; note the more obvious black bar on P5 on the top bird.

Anyway, the highlight was undoubtedly the 5 Caspian Gulls that we saw up there - two adults (including a potentially returning, pale-eyed bird) and three 1st-winters. None of them showed at point blank range, but they did show relatively well in the crisp winter's light.

1st-winter Caspian Gull, Essex 24th January 2015

There were a number of rings read too, and as well as a load of North Thames Gull Group red rings, there were birds from Norway, Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Suffolk. Nothing too interesting, but just good to be back in the gull zone on the tip for only a second time this year.

adult Herring Gull, Essex 24th January 2015. Ringed at Seamer Carr near Scarborough, North Yorkshire on 13th May 2011, and previously seen on the tip in December 2013.

1st-winter Great Black-backed Gull, Essex 24th January 2015. Ringed as a chick in Norway at Olavskjæran, Lindesnes, Vest-Agder on 2nd July 2014 and then seen subsequently by Brian Small at Southwold, Suffolk on 13th October 2014.

Steve A didn't have any commitments like I did, so after I'd left, he went back up and scored with a stunning juvenile Glaucous Gull; and reviewing his photos, it seems as thought there were two. So not ideal for me, but I guess you can't see everything and looking forward to another session next Saturday.