Another Morning at Coate

I think I've got the bug back now. I was up early and having dropped David off in Old Town it was straight off to Coate Water in search of Yellow-legged Gulls. My scope has been in moth balls for yonks, and has never let me down when called upon. And sure enough it came in very handy when eyeing up 3 Herring Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The Lesser Black-backed Gulls were straightforward with 2 adults. But one of the Herring Gulls was a puzzle. Not the best of images, which is a real shame as these gulls were quite a distance away, but through the scope I could clearly see the difference in ages. However, photographing them was a bit more difficult.

So from left to right on the first image, we have I believe a 1st winter Herring Gull, 4th winter Herring Gull, adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and the fourth one has got me. It is so different from the 4th winter, yet I'm guessing it probably is one.

This is the mystery gull on its own and looking through my Helms Gull book, it could quite easily be a 4th/adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Below are a few more images.........

L to R - Lesser Black-backed Gull, mystery gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4th winter Herring Gull.

L to R - 4th winter Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1st winter Herring Gull and mystery gull.

L to R - Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4th winter Herring Gull and mystery gull.

L to R - Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4th winter Herring Gull and mystery gull.

L to R - Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4th winter Herring Gull and mystery gull.

L to R - mystery gull and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

4th winter Herring Gull

I've called for help on this one and hopefully I'll get an answer back soon. I mean who knows it might be a Ring-billed Gull. Right size, bigger than a Common Gull and almost the same size as a Herring Gull. The bill was yellowish'green and a black band, with no hint of any red.

However: It is indeed another 4th winter, which just goes to show the amount of variation you can get within the gull fraternity. Thank you to Matt Pringle and Jamie Green (European Gulls - Facebook) for their help. Here's a great example of a 4th winter, not dissimilar to the one above - Click Here

Moving on............

Other birds of interest were just 2 Common Gulls in amongst a smallish flock of 150+ Black-headed Gulls. Today there were 11 Goosander (5m, 6f) compared to yesterday's 8, just the 1 Kingfisher today, and though I could hear the Teal I couldn't see them. In the heronry on the reserve there was a huge flock of 100+ finches made up of Goldfinches and Siskins feeding in the Alders.

Below are a few more images from today.

A bit of sun to brighten up the morning after several days of gloom

A Grey Heron looks on as a pair of Tufted Ducks swim away.

Like a pterodactyl this Grey Heron makes its way across the main lake to find another fishing spot. 

Around the water small rafts of Tufted Duck.

One of many Great Crested Grebes at Coate

A pair of Great Crested Grebes getting to know each other. The grebe furthest away may well be a youngster from last year!

A drake Goosander

And a female "redhead" makes a bit of a splash

As this Cormorant comes into land the ruffled feathers look like ailerons on an aircraft

A busy Grey Wagtail by the overflow in the north-ear corner of Coate Water.

And a short video of the same bird.

A huge flock of 100+ Goldfinches and Siskins.

A few here high up in an Ash tree.

Same Goldfinch as yesterday

A bit of a yawn as he waits for me to pass, before dropping back down on the thistle heads.

Birds Recorded (A few new and few not see/heard today): Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Gadwall not seen, Teal heard, Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard (2m, 1f) new today, 10 Goosander (6m, 5f), Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, 8 Herring Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, No Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit new today, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, 1 Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling not seen, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll not seen/heard today, Siskin and Goldfinch.

Plus lots of Grey Squirrels again