Casp Relocation

21st March - a quick pre-work visit on a pretty chilly morning, though at least it was a bit brighter than yesterday.  Still no obvious sign of summer migrants.  The best bird of the morning was a nice 2nd summer Med Gull complete with a metal BTO type ring on its left leg.  It was present on arrival on the spit, but didn't stay long before flying off west over the STW.

An interesting fact about Tuesday's 1st winter Caspian Gull, photographed below.  I was browsing the excellent Oxon Bird Log site, which includes a revolving set of bird photos on the front page.  One of these was a 1st winter Caspian Gull that immediately struck me as looking very similar to my bird.  It was taken at Appleford, near Sutton Courtenay, Oxon on December 13th 2012 (the site of the possible Azorean YL Gull from a few years ago).  In fact, it was so similar in scap markings, tertial and covert colour and wear, heaviness of nape streaking, black facial marks, bill etc.. that I thought it had to be the same bird.  I sent an email to Ian Lewington via Adam Hartley and got a very quick response confirming my suspicions (thanks for your help guys).  This bird was recorded at Appleford on 10th to 14th December 2012 - I wonder where it has been hanging out before coming to LMGP?  A link to the photo of the Oxon bird here . It's the 3rd bird in the sequence.