Port Meadow: 20th January

3 (edit: actually 2) Caspian gulls on Port Meadow tonight

Regular 1st winter bird showing extremely well

Adult

2nd winter picked out in near-darkness so record shots unfortunately don't reveal much. Luckily it was only about 30-40m away on the opposite side of the bank so scope views were surprisingly good and revealed all diagnostic features. Looks like a 3rd winter in these photos but had brown 2nd generation greater coverts - I think the appearance of a large P10 mirror in the last photo is an artefact.

Edit: having obtained much better views on the 21st (see today's post for photos), structure not looking good for pure cachinnans - so into the hybrid box it goes. Thanks to Ian Lewington for comments.

Also the hybrid 1st winter Caspian x herring, a 2nd winter yellow legged gull and 3 goosander.