IBERIAN TRIP

Here's a couple more records shots from our recent trip to Spain by bird/wildlife photographer Vincent Legrand.

'AZOREAN GULL'

Classic-type Azorean Gulls (alternate plumages): Top to bottom: 1st cycle, 2nd cycle, 3rd cycle and Adult.

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Here's the latest song from our band

The Azores

Spent another day collecting a library of Azorean Gull photos. Birding highlights included the 2nd cycle American Herring Gull, the Long-billed Dowitcher (pic 1), Semi-palmated Plover, Lesser Scaup and the Ring-billed Gulls. I always find it incredible the number of migrants that winter out here including 400+ Black-headed Gulls and 150+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls- why come all the way out here to winter? I think I know why.

WHY IS THIS AN ADULT AMERICAN HERRING GULL??

For hard core gull talk : http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/02/bird-forum-gull-photos.html

Azores- Mini-winter Gull Gallery

I've overdosed on larid. Also managed to crash the car three times today- so need to get it really muddy to cover the bumps for when I return it to the hire car company.

Highlights included this presumed 2nd cycle American Herring Gull (pic 1), an adult Bonaparte's Gull (pic 2 and 3) and the 24 Ring-billed Gulls on their regular beach.

Also Long-billed Dowitcher in the quarry again, the GBH still, the Lesser Scaup and another 2nd cycle American Herring Gull.

Btw on a total random opportunist plug if you fancy a musical interlude from all this larid then check out my bands latest song: http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/02/musical-interlude.html

GBH

That wore me out- 11 hours in the field and then three hours sorting out a load of gull photos.

Highlights today included this Great Blue Heron (pic 1), female Lesser Scaup, 6 Blue-winged Teal (pic 3), 24 Ring-billed Gull (pic2 with a first winter Common Gull), Long-billed Dowitcher, Semi-palmated Plover and 2 adult Herring Gull sp (pic 4).

More on this gull here: http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/02/herring-gull-sp-azores.html

THE AZORES- Winter exploring

That was a bumpy flight-no honestly... Macronesia is being swept away in deadly floods and storms and I've headed out here to look for gulls on rubbish dumps. Luckily I met someone more mad than me today and what a pleasure it was too. Gerbrand gave me a lightning tour round Sao Miguel and we bagged the Hooded Merganser (pic 1 and 2), Double Crested Cormorant, Spoonbill (3)and Pied Billed Grebe . Also found a first cycle American Herring Gull
(pic 4) and re-sorted a group of ducks on Lagoa Azul into a male Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup and 4 Ring-necked Ducks (pic 5).

We dipped the Brown Booby but there was 15+ Gannet and Great Skua off Mosteiros.

Okay I am on the island of Terceira now and will spend the next four days sweeping for a rare gull.