Microlarids

7th June 2014 - Topsham

Late morning Friday I'm looking over Bowling Green Marsh from the lane when Russ Eynon stops to say hello. The Ross's Gull is lying low and well hidden in the grass so he heads for the hide for a better view and promptly finds a 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull! To be fair, I hear it was on the far side of the pool so, as I'm currently scope-less, I wouldn't have bothered checking anything that distance, still a very good find. I missed the Bonaparte's on Friday but it came in again at high tide on Saturday, joining the now long-staying Little and Ross's Gulls for a convention of the World's Smallest Larids.

Here's the 1st summer Bonaparte's; slightly smaller than Black-headed, thin blackish bill, distinctly grey nape and hind neck and, just visible, blackish centred tertials and coverts.

Bonaparte's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Bonaparte's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Bonaparte's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Bonaparte's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Here's the Bonaparte's and the Ross's together (almost), the small white-headed Ross's is fairly obvious at the left and the Bonaparte's is towards the right with its head turning away.

Ross's Gull (left) and Bonaparte's Gull (right) - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

I managed to get a few more flight shots of the Ross's Gull, hard to pick out when the whole flock went up. All the primaries are extremely worn, I count only nine on the right wing so I presume primary moult has started with P1 growing.

Ross's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Ross's Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

The Little Gull is rather more advanced in its moult, all three inner primaries dropped and/or growing as is the new white central tail feather.

Little Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

Little Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

And finally a fluke shot of Little and Ross's - the World's two smallest gulls - together.

Ross's Gull 2cy and Little Gull 2cy - 7/6/2014 Topsham BGM

And the three all together in the same photo? There's still a chance.