Ross's Gull close up at the Recreation Ground

21st July 2014 - Topsham

 

After two months of regular appearances at Bowling Green Marsh and Goosemoor and with just two brief visits to the Rec - when I wasn't there,  I finally get to add Ross's Gull to my local patch list. Better still, it fed on the near shore and the rising tide brought it to within twenty feet or so - by a long way much the closest I've yet been to it and well worth the wait.

All photos enlarge when clicked.

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

Ross's Gull - 21/7/2014 Topsham

It's still a fairly shabby looking bird, head feathers dropping off almost as I watched and scapulars very worn. Primary moult about halfway through - P1-4 new, P5 growing (just visible on right wing) and P6-10 brown and very worn. No sign of replacement in the secondaries or coverts yet and the tail feathers are all old.

Just got to hope it hangs around another couple of months to show a nice fresh winter plumage.