Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 25.08.14

Bank Holiday Monday and its raining, the forecast is for it to rain all day, they were right !!

We set-up at the puddles near the fishing boats at Dungeness, Kent.

Once the flock was settled and not so flighty, it steadily increased in number, more & more gulls kept coming in ..

Right at the back was a 1st. W. Caspian the same bird from the 17.08.

We coaxed it in to stroking distance ...

Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W

 

Given the conditions, well worth the effort ...

Caspian Gull ~ Juv ~ Dungeness, Kent - 23.08.14

From our usual position near the fishing boats at Dungeness, Kent, Me and Richard had the good company of Chiddy for the afternoon ...

In the ever growing flock were 4x 1st. W. Yellow-legs and a few flyby Meds ..

Early evening and our 2nd Casp of this season appeared a faded Juvenile bird, It doesn't look like the post-juvenile moult has started with no 2nd gen feathers that i can see ..

Tom Lowe spotted one replaced scapular that i missed ...

Caspian Gull ~ Juvenile

A nice 3rd. W or Adult bird coming in with the feeding flock would be my wish ..

Lesser Black Backed Gull ~ Juv ~ Dungeness, Kent - 10.08.14

This juvenile Lesser Black-backed is a beauty, a small pale bird which drew my attention ...

Here's a few more LBBG images 

of different birds ...

Another eye catcher ...

Larus Argentatus ~ scarce atypical tail pattern ~ Juv ~ Dungeness, Kent - 23.08.14

Larus Argentatus ~ Scandinavian or Northern type Herring Gull with a aberrant tail pattern ...

This individual is paler and overall colder looking in colour with the atypical white band through the tail ..

Slightly larger, bulkier bird both in flight and at rest ...

Compared to a similar bird from '13

Compared to argenteus

Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 17.08.14

The first Caspian Gull of the season at Dungeness, a big bird probably a male in post-juvenile moult ..

Notably the lesser coverts are dropped and a few scapulars have been replaced ..
And later a 2nd bird !!

Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W

A very neat tail pattern as well, if it over-winters keeping track of this bird should be fairly easy ...

Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W ~ No: 2