Tuesday 13 February 2018

Newlyn White-wingers

10th-11th February 2018 - Newlyn, Cornwall


A nice selection of Arctic/white-winged gulls in west Cornwall recently provided just the excuse for a rare trip to the far west and a visit to old mate and the gulls' best-friend Martin Elliott. Much time was spent at the fish dock at Newlyn Harbour where MTE has been feeding the gulls daily; no Kumlien's this weekend but a couple of Glaucous and one Iceland gave ludicrously close views. A few half-decent photos resulted.

Glaucous Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall
All photos above of the same bird, a big beast of a gull - see below for how it deals with a Greater Black-backed. A pale and washed out individual - many relatively dark and biscuity still in February. Unusually for Glaucous, a few scapulars replaced already so a 1st winter, technically not a juvenile. Goes by the name of 'Boris' apparently.

A second Glaucous was also present, 2nd calendar year also but showing no signs of post-juvenile moult so technically still a juvenile.

Glaucous Gull juvenile - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull juvenile - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull juvenile - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull juvenile - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Glaucous Gull juvenile - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall
 And providing a little variation, a 1st winter Iceland Gull was also enjoying the handouts.

Iceland Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Iceland Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Iceland Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

Iceland Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall 
 No trace of any darkening to outer primaries so clearly nominate glaucoides rather than kumlieni (there probably was one in the area judging by an apparently darker-winged bird that came into the Mousehole roost later that day).

Iceland Gull 1st winter - 10/2/2018 Newlyn, Cornwall

A gull's best friend - Martin Elliott with some satisfied customers

An hour or so watching the evening roost at St. Clement's Island (Mousehole) produced at least one more Glaucous (a darker bird), a probable Kumlien's, two Yellow-legged and a couple of argentatus Herring Gulls. Distance (300m) and atrocious light precluded any more photos.