CASPIAN GULL and AUDOUIN'S GULL, 2014

A big thanks to Mick Southcott who has assisted me with my Caspian ID ''learning curve'' in 2014 Mick has spotted and 'pointed out' all the Caspian Gull I have photographed in our travels in 2014 !

In all our days out, ''I have never spotted one first'' ! ! !

also a Caspian Gull, 3rd winter, with Audouin's Gull, 2nd winter
found at Dungeness, 12th October by DW.

Caspian Gull   ''my photo review of 2014''

January 5th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 2nd winter, Dungeness

April 5th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

August 17th, 2014, Dungeness, a day of superb light and superb photo opportunities ! !
Caspian Gull, 1st winter

Caspian Gull, 1st winter, (centre) + Yellow-legged Gull, +  Herring Gull,





August 23rd, 2014
Caspian Gull, juvenile, Dungeness

August 25th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

September 7th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Simrishamn, Sweden.

September 8th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Smygehuk, Sweden.

September 13th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

October 4th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

October 10th, 2014, 

one of only 2 images taken on our Poland trip ! ! !

Caspian Gull, 3 adult & 1st winter

October 12th, 2014
Caspian Gull, 3rd winter, Dungeness, found by DW

on this same day a ''mega'' for Dungeness, October 12th, 2014
Audoin's Gull, 2nd winter, found by DW, id'd by DW & MS, seen by AA and myself !
with Caspian Gull, 3rd winter ! ! !

November 2nd, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

November 23rd, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Getlini, Latvia

December 21st, 2014
Caspian Gull, 1st winter, Dungeness

Cheers Mick for a superb Caspian year ! !

My ambition for 2015 is to ''find, ID and photograph my own Caspian Gull at Dungeness''

Dungeness, 27/12/2014

Dungeness, 27/12/2014

a very cold afternoon, ''by the puddles''

CASPIAN GULL, 1st winter, Dungeness, 21/12/2014

Dungeness, 21/12/2014

Dull grey cloud, cold wind,
a day by the puddles ! ! !

''a moaning day'' but what was a totally unexpected ''superb day out''

Mick picked out a 1st winter Caspian in the roost, I failed yet again to find it myself and as usual Mick just got me on it just prior the birds were disturbed ! !

The dog was charging back and forth, getting increasingly closer to the Gulls, the parents held back a bit, the children came closer, the dog came closer, '''the gulls flew''' ! ! ! (Caspian 2 miles east)

We parked up by the puddles, not much of interest,

Common Gull, 1 (only seen briefly)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1st winter, 1
Herring and Great Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull

It was a grey day, first a fishermen came past, then a dog chased up and down for 15 minutes,
the Gulls only briefly settling !

A chat with DW who confirmed earlier Caspian sighting.

we are aware of the pending fishermen competition, they are gathered at the gate for start time ! !
then it's game over for us with the Gulls.
It's been a dull day ! !

The gulls come in again, about 30 settle on the ground,

I heard Mick's shutter click, once, twice !
and Mick say ''there is a Caspian out there, in the puddle''.

http://birdingthedayaway.blogspot.co.uk/

Caspian Gull, 1st winter
15.46 hours

15.47 hours

15.48 hours

Three ''STUNNING'' minutes ! 

Day over ! ! !