Surprise Kittiwake

Another visit to Little Marlow GP to see the gull roost and hopefully see the Glaucous Gull again. I arrived at about the same time as Jackie Newcombe and we searched through the gulls from the viewpoint but found nothing of note (but plenty still arriving). However an Oystercatcher was feeding which is the first since August.  We wandered down to the south bank and got a wider view of the gulls.  Numbers were gradually building up but again nothing of real note apart from an adult Greater Black-backed Gull.  On walking back up the west bank we stopped at the point and managed to pick up an adult Mediterranean Gull on the far side of the sand pit.  I then searched the closer gulls and came across a colour ringed Black-headed Gull "White 23H3" (This was Ringed as a chick at Cemey Wick, Cotswold Water Park, GLOUCESTERSHIRE on 10th June 2013. It was also seen at Dorney Common on 3rd Aug 2014 by Kevin Duncan).  Having photographed the colour ringed gull I continued to scan the neared gulls (mostly Black-heads) in the hope of finding another colour ringed bird.  However, I came across a very clean cut small gull with a yellow bill and black legs.  It soon came clear that it was a Kittiwake!  I managed to get a few photos before it took off and flew off NE and circled to the north, apparently gone.

We walked up to the viewpoint by the bench and found half a dozen birders, none of whom had picked up the Kittiwake.  However we continued to search through the Gulls where two or three Mediterranean Gulls were present.  Then a short while later I spotted the Kittiwake almost in the same place as had been earlier, so everyone had a good view.  I assume it was the same individual although a second bird is not out of the question.

Then at 17:25 the Glaucous Gull arrived giving the remaining birders a good view.  I assume it remained and roosted.

It was another large roost with the majority being Common Gulls and many Black-headed Gulls also.  A relatively small number of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls and just a single Greater Black-backed Gull.  However numbers were down on those present a week or two ago.

Kittiwake - A smart adult which rather strangely showed
some small white spots in the black wing tips.  

Black-headed Gull - "White 23H3".