Pagham Harbour- Caspian Gull

As I only did half a day on Monday, I bunked off work this morning and in very cold conditions (a large anticyclone is centred over Europe bringing in deep cold easterlies) I checked out East Side at Pagham. 61 species of over 7000 individuals in about 3 hours HERE (a very conservative estimate- likely to be 10,000 + birds in the harbour). Highlights included a second-winter Caspian Gull (a local rarity and patch tick), an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (surprisingly scarce locally), an adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose, two Long-eared Owls (in Wes's thermal), a male and female Peregrine hunting together, a Raven and one Rock Pipit. 

Now on 182 for the Selsey Peninsula and 117 for the year. Chipping away at the year list with three new ones today.  

Second-winter Caspian Gull. A nice striking indiviudal with dark beady eye on a brilliant white unmarked head framed by a shawl on the hind neck with light fine markings on the breast side. Typically for second-winter Caspian Gull the upperparts appear quite advanced with extensive grey (adult type feathers) on the upperparts and coverts with dark markings restricted to the lesser coverts with a typical grey panel on the median coverts and dark washed bases to the greater coverts with dark white thumb-nailed tertials (which indicates a 2nd-winter- some of the tertials would be adult type in a third-winter bird).

Typically the underwing was overall pale, in this indiviudal very pale/white 

The bird lacked the distinctive mirror on p10 (above and below) which is always lacking on Herring and Yellow-legged Gull in 2nd-winter plumage. According to Adriaeans et al only 50% of birds show that distinctive feature so while it was unfortunate this bird didn't show that feature, the lack of it in combination with all the other features is still within variation of Caspian. 

The black tail band is typically vermiculated on the basal edge. The indicative white underwing was pretty extreme on this bird and also typically the bird showed an extensive pale inner primary window. 

Second-winter Caspian Gull

Adult Pale-bellied Brent (top centre)

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with Greater Blacks (bottom far right) 

Brents- sadly won't be long before these start heading back.