Seeing double and kum back?

1/12 Went to Hornsea Mere with RL and ML on Sunday morning. Joined by JH in the hide. I picked out a Great White Egret actually on the edge of Kirkholme Point. We drove round but unfortunately it saw us before we saw it and flew to ‘tree Island’  where it was joined by the 2nd bird which had been previously in trees just to the east.

Great White Egret flying from Kirkholme Point

Great White Egrets off ‘tree island’

A first winter Caspian Gull was seen off the ‘cormorant trees’ on Wednesday and six Scaup and the Long-tailed Duck again on Thursday.

Went on to Ulrome where only a few Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe were seen, much the same as RL had  on Saturday. We did have a Grey Seal close offshore though.

Grey Seal

Went to Barmston and walked to the outfall for waders but were beaten by the tide. I continued to the car park. Just as I got there a white-winged gull flew north. I moved quickly to opposite the caravan park. Initially no sign but then I picked it up pretty close eating on a small flat fish. Immediately realised it was an Iceland Gull then looking closer saw the primaries had greyish brown centres with white edges confirming my suspicions that it was the returning Kumlien’s Gull.

Second winter Kumlien’s Gull eating a flatfish.

Flew off as ML arrived.

Turnstone

As the tide was pushing up we went to look for it with the other gulls in the fields north of the caravan park. No sign but as we walked back I saw it back where I originally had it. Watched it for a while and were able to pick out the darker wedges on the outer webs of the outer primaries when it flew a short distance onto the sea where it lingered before flying north a few hundred metres to join a few other gulls on the beach.

Second winter Kumlien’s Gull taking off

Second winter Kumlien’s Gull over the sea-RL

Oystercatcher

The Snow Buntings at Paull were last seen on Tuesday. For more from Paull see here. Also includes an account of the Gyr Falcon.

Roy and JH had 26 Goosander including 9 drake on East Park Lake in Hull on Wednesday.

 

Pair of Goosander-East Park,Hull-RL

Also a ringed Black-headed Gull.

Danish ringed Black-headed Gull-East Park-RL

For the latest from Tophill Low NR check here.

For more in the Hull Valley recording area check here.