Iceland Gull and Yellow-legged Gull - Swanshurst Park, Moseley

Really has been a fantastic month not only with the Waxwings round the corner from Swanshurst but also with the Iceland on Swanshurst and an added bonus with a Yellow-legged Gull :)
The Iceland Gull is still present as I write this, he has been there now about five weeks amazing to have such a stunning Gull locally, I have made quite a few visits can't resist him, Dave also came to see him but he gave us quite a wait and the weather was very dull but he came in giving nice views for Dave and he got some record shots but I still think there better than record shots lol
I have really struggled with this bird it's either to dull or to bright, strangely the Iceland Gull seems to love the sun he stays there more regular in the nicer weather but is always right in the sunlight which is very difficult with a white bird lol
After having just a fly by on one visit and no show on a couple of occasions the last time I went he spent the whole morning there again enjoying the sun rays, but I was very lucky that he flew on the fields and landed I quickly rushed round there the Iceland Gull seems quite relaxed with people but I knew if the other Gulls flew he would follow, so I took my time just taking small steps to get close then sat down took a few photos then shuffled to gradually get closer was totally worth the effort as I got my best shot so far, lighting still too bright but much better than on the water I was over the moon, love this Gull :) When he fly's it's like a ghost flying by, beautiful.

Also there was 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull which caused some controversy with people reporting it as a Caspian Gull but it really did not stand out as being a Caspian but there was lot's of people adamant that it was Caspian. Dave sent me on a mission to get a photo of the underwing this was easier said than done lol Took me over three hours but I got there in the end lol and the Underwing helped to confirm Yellow-legged Gull as it is two toned wheareas if it was Caspian it would be more completely white/lighter.

Tim Marlow goes into this in much detail and all the other differences in his blog he writes it so clear and easy to understand http://www.rainsbrooknaturalhistory.com/park-life/

Iceland Gull and Yellow-legged Gull, Swanshurst Park,Moseley

With news coming through last week of an Iceland Gull at Swanshurst Park which is just around the corner from Trittiford. I decided to head over there on Wednesday afternoon I had been putting it off because didn't feel right going without Dave but he told me not to be silly and go for it.
Think I picked the worst day with lighting as dull as dishwater, but as soon as I got there the Iceland Gull was there really is so striking he was over the other side of the pool and the other birders didn't seem to want to try and get closer but a nice birder let me look through his scope which was lovely and he did come a little closer when he landed on the fields, I was just so happy to see him I love my gulls and so nice to have an Iceland Gull near by and I had nice prolonged views for an hour before it flew off high, hopefully if the weather picks up this weekend Me and Dave will go for it :)
An added bonus was a Yellow-legged Gull, which had been reported as a Caspian but Dave said as soon as he looked at a photo of it that it looks like Yellow-legged Gull and then that was confirmed but the Gull ID page on facebook :)

Juvenile Iceland Gull

Juvenile Iceland Gull

1st Winter Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gulls learning curve - Draycote Water, Warwickshire

We spent the past couple of days at Draycote with the Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls both me and Dave struggle with the Juveniles so it had been a learning curve for us both and very enjoyable I could spend everyday learning like this, but it is not every day you get such close views to be able to see the differences.
With the Help of Books and Tim Marlow who has been a very good teacher he explains everything so well in person and on his blog - http://www.rainsbrooknaturalhistory.com he goes through all the key points and the differences between yellow-legged, Lesser-Black Backed and Herring gull.

The main differences that have really struck me are, The much whiter face with dark eye mask, and the Bill is black with a more thick tipped end. Tertials with solid dark centres and pale edges and on some slightly oak-leafed at the tips only whereas in Herring Gull the Oak-leafed is more pronounced and in Lesser Black-backed there's usually none at all.
Mantle and scapulars dark brown with pale edges creating scaly pattern.
Also the Breast and flanks of Yellow-legged Gull is Brown-mottled but belly and central undertail - coverts pale and the legs are more of a fleshy light pink color and longer legged.
Yellow-legged Gulls tend to molt before Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Herring Gull (Juvenile) with Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Juvenile) 

Yellow-legged Gulls (Juvenile)

  

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

In flight the Pale window on the inner primaries is less obvious than on Herring Gull but much more obvious than on Lesser black-backed Gull. 

The Underwing coverts are dark brown more like Lesser black-backed than Herring Gull. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged flying off

Draycote Water - Dunlin and Wood Sandpiper

Had beautiful views of a Juvenile Dunlin at Draycote Water so nice to be able to get so close he wasn't bothered at all, this is my fav part of birding when you get the chance to really get up close and personal it's the best feeling ever :)
Got some photos but just watching him was amazing, also had lovely views of Wood Sandpiper a little more distant he was more shy :)
Also had nice views of Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gulls, I do love gulls lol

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Great Black-backed Gull (Juvenile) 

Great Black-backed Gull (Juvenile)

Great Black-backed Gull (Juvenile)