Azores Winter Trip

 First-winter Ring-billed Gull 

 Juvenile first-winter Glaucous Gull (one of five at Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel) 

 Juvenile/first-winter Glaucous Gull (note feather lice on face)

 Presumed American Herring Gull ?

 The lack of a squared off tongue on p10 means its not possible to clinch the identification. The heavy head markings and pale yellow bill are good indicators as is the p5 band and sub-terminal band on p10.

 Ring-billed Gulls at Praia da Vitoria, Terceira- 15 at this traditional wintering site

 Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gull in Praia da Vitoria Bay, Terceira

 Great Scaup, Tufted Duck, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at Praia Pools, Terceira

 American Wigeons (and Eurasian Wigeon) at Praia Pools, Terceira

 Melanistic Blackcap- the hooded type found across Macronesia (not Cape Verde). First time I've seen this form. 

 Sofia at Praia Pools

 Darryl

Chris Gibhins, Peter Adriaens and Darryl Spittle 

Spent the last week on the Azores doing some work on Azores Gull and having a look round. Here's a summary of some of the interesting sightings:

Terceira:

2 Bonaparte's Gull, 15 Ring-billed Gull, 2 adult presumed American Herring Gull (also a 3rd cycle bird and a confirmed adult seen by Peter Adriaens), 16 American Wigeon, 3 Lesser Scaup, 1 Greater Scaup, 2 Blue-winged Teal, 12 Great Northern Diver, 2 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Hudsonian Whimbrel, 1 Short-billed Dowticher, 

Sao Miguel:

5 Glaucous Gull, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, Azores Bullfinches