Tuesday July 15 -Earlswood Lakes

 With rain in the forecast, I decided to give Earlswood Lakes a try this morning. Unfortunately the rain was not overnight, and arrived while I was there. However it was overcast so there were plenty of Swifts (at least 52) and hirundines to look at. I estimated 70 Swallows and 30 Sand Martins, but Yvonne, who was organising a work party, later counted 60 Sand Martins perched on the raft wire, with several others visible in flight. Those rafts also supported the only waders I saw, namely two Common Sandpipers.

I had a pleasant walk round, photographing some of the Swallows perching in hawthorn when the heaviest rain swept in for example, and guess what, I can post photos again. Happy days.

The main talking point was the rediscovery of that annoying Herring Gull I featured back in March. At the time the water level was high, and I almost convinced myself it was a Yellow-legged Gull before wiser heads pointed out it wasn't.

Today there is a nice shoreline and the Gull was back in the same place with the same companion, a sub-adult Herring Gull. And I have to tell you I'm still not happy its just a Herring Gull. Don't worry, I'm absolutely sure its not a Yellow-legged Gull. The legs remain at best a dull straw colour and the feet pink. The primary tips have worn since March and are no longer as obviously Herring Gull-like, but that's just wear. The orbital ring is yellow on the lower and upper margin, but pink the front and back end. 

What bothers me is the contrast between the mantle colour of the oddity and the much paler Herring Gull. It's almost Lesser Black-backed-like, but clearly not dark enough when it was with obvious Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the island.

Another suggestion was that it might be an argentatus Herring Gull. If it is, why has it spent the summer paired with a Herring Gull at Earlswood? I should probably say that I've seen what I suspected was the same pair of Gulls since the original sightings, so I think they've never left. Here are some photos I took today.

So where does that leave us? It can't be a Yellow-legged Gull because of the primary pattern (no black on P5), the largely yellow orbital ring, and the legs being straw-coloured (although some Yellow-legs can be like that).

It can't be a Lesser Black-backed Gull because the mantle isn't dark enough, the orbital ring isn't red, and the legs aren't bright yellow.

But if it's a Herring Gull why is the mantle colour so dark, so Yellow-legged Gull-like? Why is the orbital ring not wholly yellow. Why are its legs straw coloured?

It's also noticeably smaller than its companion, which brings me to my latest suggestion. Why isn't it a hybrid Lesser Black-backed X Herring Gull? That's my latest theory.

So there we are, brightening up a dull day. And the photos are back. Whoo-hoo.