Anglers CP: A Brambling flew over SE. Golden Plover 61 flew over and Goosander 39. A Barn Owl was flying at 16.35hrs.
Anglers CP Gull Roost: Just 3 goodies in tonight. A juvenile Iceland at 15.10, a 3rd W Caspian at 15.35, an adult Caspian at 15.55.
NB: Orgreave had a 2nd W Caspian Gull.
(AS 11.01.15) I HAVE ADDED SOME COMMENTS AND INFORMATION LINKS FROM THE UKGULLS FACEBOOK PAGE REGARDING THE MOST RECENT THOUGHTS ON THE RAVENSTHORPE THAYER'S GULL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
(AS 02.01.15) PLEASE NOTE THAT AFTER THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN DOUBTS WERE CAST ON THE "THAYERS" CREDENTIALS. LACK OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF KEY FEATURES BEING A MAJOR PROBLEM. I WILL UPDATE THIS POST IF AND WHEN I RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Late yesterday evening, exciting news broke of a probable THAYER'SGULL, on the roof of an industrial unit in Ravensthorpe. It had been photographed by Jim Welford and shared on Facebook - UK Gulls, then tweeted by Rich Bonser to alert Yorkshire birders. Nick Addy tweeted Jim's directions and where to view from. Lee Evans added further directions. You've got to admit, social media is brilliant for sharing news and spreading information out to the masses.
At about 11o'clock this morning there were about a dozen observers watching the gulls arriving onto the roof of the Banana factory. Pete Smith picked up the bird on the edge of the roof where it showed well for about 10 minutes, which enabled photographers to get some shots. All birds then flushed and went back to the roof at the Biffa site where it showed on and off before going out of view. I'm not sure if it was seen there again. Amazingly, the probable Thayer's Gull showed up at Pugneys roost where it was picked up by Gary Taylor. It was still present at dark. There was also an adult Caspian Gull. The Blyth's Pipit is also still present.
Here's a couple of images of the "Thayer's" for those not in with the Twitterati. I think @jonnybirder may be celebrating again! 2 rares on his patch!
 |
| Thayer's Gull Ravensthorpe per Twitter @JABBIRDART
|
 |
| Thayer's Gull Pugneys per Twitter @erichhediger |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ADDED 11.01.15.
Martin Garner http://birdingfrontiers.com/2015/01/08/the-thayers-gull-in-west-yorkshire/
http://www.tertial.us/gulls/thay1.htm Images of first cycle Thayers.
Andrew Lawson http://larusology.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/herring-vs-thayers.html
I found this article to be very useful a few years back and it is still useful today. It doesn't solve the kumlieni issue highlighted above, but it should show why this bird is not an American Herring. Of course, as always with gulls, 'sum of parts' should be used for ID purposes rather than just one or two features on their own (as each feature is nearly always variable and subject to overlap). This bird appears to have all juvenile scapulars, a dove-like head, a reasonably fine bill, dark brown (not black) primaries and the dark of the primaries is restricted to the outer webs.
Andrew Lawson http://www.pbase.com/jpkln/gullshttp://www.pbase.com/jpkln/gulls
This link is also a good source of info. It shows to a greater degree that the dark tertials and even darker primaries coupled with the ostensibly dark centres to scapulars and wing coverts place this bird squarely in the Thayer's category. Caveat: Based on images to date!
Amar Ayyash Just now had a chance to take a good look at these photos on a monitor. I lightened them up a tad to get at what was really happening - the silvery underside to the primaries and the two-toned effect of the outer primaries from above do seem genuine and unlike any Smiths that I know. I'd hope for better exposed images (I know how tough that is) and side-by-sides with other individuals (yep, I know how tough that is too). For now though, I don't know of anyone in North America who would worry about Kumlien's with a bird this chocolaty. The upperparts do remind me of this messy Thayer's that I had on Lake Michigan a couple of winters ago, but I still don't get a Thayer's vibe from this bird:
http://tinyurl.com/nmsfuc4
Tim Jones Some more pics of the bird taken yesterday http://timsbirding.blogspot.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment