Mediterranean Gull at Goring Gap

I started out after the morning rush hour and made my way to the Widewater at Shoreham for the drake Goosander that was reported yesterday. Several other birders who were in attendance showed that glum face that indicates an absent bird.  I hung around for about an hour and apart from four Red-breasted Mergansers there was precious little to record. On the way home I decided to give the gull roost at Goring Gap the once over. For once conditions were ideal, high tide, strong winds and lots of overnight rain to create some decent puddles. I parked opposite the one nearest to the roadside and scanned the whole field. Apart from the obvious Herring, Great Black-backed, Common and Black-headed Gulls there were hordes of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderlings and Turnstones happily searching the muddy field for some form of food.

Then it finally dawned on me that one of the gulls was a tad different, even though it had its bill between its wings it was obvious that it was a Mediterranean Gull.

 

The other birds were taking advantage of the fresh water and having a bath and I spent an hour or so snapping away. I felt duty bound to inspect Groyne No.4 and wasn't surprised to find only a few Turnstones, the wind was whipping the sea into foam and salt spray, that isn't an ideal environment for birds or for that matter my camera - time for home!

One of the Sanderlings, rather distant, was carrying colour rings.