Today in glorious sunshine we spent 6-7 hours watching the sea off St Justinian. The usual flock of about 400 small gulls was feeding at the northern end of the Sound today. These were mostly second and first winter kittiwakes, blacked-headed gulls, at least 3 adult med gulls, two 1st winter little gulls and one which at first was thought to be a more dainty-flying adult winter plumage bhg. Through the telescope, it looked a bit smaller when first seen but, having distinctly adult bhg-like upper wing patterns, the assumption was that it must be a small bhg. But when two adult black-headed gulls and some kittiwakes flew along side it was definitely smaller and seemed to have a smaller dark (blackish) bill compared with the typical bhgs close by. Unfortunately it was flitting about a lot in fairly bright sun-light and the under-wing wasn't seen well enough to compare some other features. It probably stayed around though and is most likely part of the feeding flock we see regularly in the Sound.
These gulls ether congregate at the north end of the Sound, or near Treginis Copper mines. On a rising to high tide the flock seems possibly to prefer to feed at the Treginis end and around the Bitches. At other states of tide they may be more likely to be found at the north end (between Point St John and Ramsey). The image is a typical view you can get of kittiwakes etc feeding close to the Old Copper Mines near Treginis. Unfortunately the little gulls have not come close enough yet for a photo!
If David Astins, or others familiar with this species, could check out these gulls over the weekend we would be keen to know if there is something different in the flock!
The only other birds of note today were 3 red-throated divers flying high north through the Sound and a single shelduck also flying north.
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