This morning, out of 40-50 LWHG loafing in the slightly misty conditions, one turned out to be a 1st winter Caspian Gull. It looks to be yet another different bird for the site this year, being quite petite for a Casp and having worn tertials, with minimal pale tips and worn coverts. None of the lesser or median coverts appeared to have been replaced. It was quite heavily streaked on the nape and the bill was turning pale at the base with a pale pink hue on the lower mandible. A reasonable record shot for once:
Almost alongside this bird was a 1st winter Med Gull. This bird has been quite regular here over the past week or so. I did see a 1w at the end of February, but then nothing until Alan S had one on 9th March, which is definitely the bird still present now. It has a BTO type ring on its right leg, but this is only visible occasionally when it's out of the water. Today it flew to the outflow pipe on the river Thames and then back to the STW. Also a single 1w GBB Gull.
Pintail numbers have gradually fallen away, with a lone male over the weekend and possibly none today, though I didn't give it a proper look. Shelduck are still present in varying numbers, between 3 and 6 recently and Snipe are still numbering some 10s. Summer migrants have been seen, though not by me, with 6 Sand Martins straight through on the 10th. My only possible migrants have been Chiffchaffs - the lone wintering bird being joined by 1 or 2 other birds on the 13th.
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