Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini L.)

This is a bird, that I have missed out on several times over the years, primarily because I have never managed to get up early enough to see one. Some years back, on a whale watching trip with Orca Trust (Portsmouth - Santander return), I was advised that you needed to be up for dawn, as the Sabine's Gulls would be around the ship early doors but then disappear. Both mornings I was late for dawn and missed the Sabs.

Sea-watching from Lizard Point, I have arrived on a couple of occasions - late to the party - only to be informed that "you've just missed a Sab's go through!".

This individual bird has been around for a few weeks now, but I haven't had the opportunity to visit - so this morning I was more than keen to get down to Southwater Lane and head for the breach in the sea-wall.

As I neared the breach - I could see a couple of birders with scope's pointing inland over the managed retreat, they looked very animated, I was relieved as this obviously meant that I had finally got up early enough!

The gull was initially quite distant on the mudflats, but over the course of half an hour, moved close enough for me to get good views and that all important "record shot".

Sabine's Gull, Hampshire, February 2023

Off-shore Long-tailed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, and Goldeneye; along with a fly-past Marsh Harrier gave added value.

Reykjavik birdwatching

A mid-week city break provided ample opportunity to get up close and personal with a handful of Iceland's wintering birds. Lake Tjornin, is heavily iced, but at its northern edge hot water is pumped into the system to keep an area open for the local wildfowl and gulls.

Large numbers of Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus); three Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) and a solitary Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) were taking advantage of the thaw.

Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Whooper Swan, Lake Tjornin,
Reyjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

Iceland Gull, and Black-headed Gulls
Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

A, and Whooper Swan

From the sea wall, a large flock of Iceland Gull (Ca. 40 individuals), Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) and Eider (Somateria mollissima) were close in to the sea-defences, whilst further out in the bay three Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) were observed, along with a fly through Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus).

".. blimey! There's a large flock of Iceland Gulls 
just off the sea-wall! .." 

".. see .." Iceland Gulls

Iceland Gull, and Eider

Iceland Gulls, and Fulmars

Eider

Iceland Gull

Solar sun Voyager, Reykjavik