A Couple of Scarce Gulls

 The evening roost at Little Marlow GP has gradually increased in size over recent weeks, although very variable from day to day.  Apart from the five regular species of gulls, a few scarcer species have put in an appearance over recent days.  A 1st Winter Yellow-legged Gull was rather distant and in dark conditions so no photos, but I did manage to video the other two scarce species below.

This 2nd winter  Iceland Gull has visited the lake at dusk most evenings over the past week.  It spends the day feeding at nearby rubbish tips.

This 2nd winter Caspian Gull is colour ringed Yellow "P:0P3" and was ringed as a chick in a Polish colony in May 2020. It was spotted out in the North Sea in September 2021, before turning up in Holland and then at Little Marlow on 13th Nov and again today (27th).

Wilstone Reservoir

This was a morning visit to the site with Bourne End U3A.  Most of the photos were taken from the new hide.  There were three Great White Egrets at least spread around the lake plus several Little Egrets.  The Red-crested Pochards were a surprise as was a flock of 150-200 Golden Plover that flew overheard at one point.

An interesting size comparison above and below between Great White and Little Egret.

With a Ruffe (or Pope) catch.  It caught three in about five minutes!

Kingfisher - taken through trees along the path along the SW bank.

The same or another Kingfisher sat on the bank for some time but flushed by a runner.

Red-crested Pochard - A pair swam out from Draycot Bank.  Not a common bird here.

Green Sandpiper - taken from the hide.

Buzzard - A rather dark individual

Teal - Probably over a hundred around the lake.