Iceland and Caspian Gulls at Dungeness

Having drawn a blank in Rotherhithe and at Thames Barrier Park, I escaped the capital late morning and headed down to Dungeness. And it was a return to form today. Nice and blustery, no sign of spring so all good on the gull front - loads of birds feeding along the shore in the windy conditions. On arrival, one of the juvenile Iceland Gulls that have spent the winter at The Patch decided to have a sojourn to the fishing boats where it showed nice enough: -

juvenile Iceland Gull Dungeness, Kent 18th March 2017

There was lots of movement throughout the afternoon, and the first of three 1st-winter Caspian Gulls flew by in the direction of the power station not to be seen again: -

1st-winter Caspian Gull (bird 1) Dungeness, Kent 18th March 2017

More cooperative was this bird, with bizarrely pale bill that made it instantly recognisable despite being a 1st-winter: -

1st-winter Caspian Gull (bird 2) Dungeness, Kent 18th March 2017

And even better was this nice looking bird that seemed intent on hanging about the shingle ridge near the end of the concrete road, before heading off to the puddles late on: -

1st-winter Caspian Gull (bird 3) Dungeness, Kent 18th March 2017

There were also a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls ringed in northern France and a west country ringed Herring Gull. All very nice and a welcome return after a blank weekend for Casps (and gulls generally) last weekend.

Great Black-backed Gull S35 Dungeness, Kent 18th March 2017