I had just returned home with Bunty, after her walk around Seaton Point, and checked the pager. Like a bolt of lightning, the words NORTHUMBERLAND ROSS'S GULL were enough to set the pulse racing. An adult had flown north at Seaton Sluice at 8.40am. I rang ADMc who was already en route to Snab Point to try and head it off at the pass. Then Gary 'Newton Stringer' rang me to see if I was out looking for it. He told me that Tim Cleeves had found it this morning, heading north, close in, in full summer plumage. Bubble gum pink was mentioned.
I was waiting for Roger Forster to get to my house, we were going to go through some photos. As soon as he turned up, off we went on a futile trip to Seaton Point to scan the waves. Regular readers will by now be aware that I don't have too much luck in catching up with the seabirds from further south and today was no exception. We gave it an hour but there was little to look at, so all we can do is hope that the bird has stopped off somewhere and will be relocated.
Seen at Boulmer today were 88+ Sanderling, 22 Ringed Plover, 1 Red throated Diver N, 6 Swan sp N about 2 miles out to sea, probably Whoopers? and 2 littoralis Rock Pipits were on the beach.
Ross's Gull eh? Get out there and check harbours, outflow pipes and estuaries...it might be on Castle Island or Blyth or....
3 comments:
Credit to TC & MH, for putting in the hours at SSWT, I can just imagine the excited shout as it was picked out,I checked a few places today where I thought gulls could collect just on the off chance it had settled inshore.
here's hoping it is still around.
Brian
What a top find !!
I got way over excited a few months ago with a glaucous gull on the patch... Can't imagine what it would be like if I saw that drifting past Newton Point....think I'd soil myself !!
Stewart, email me your current mbile number as I had a female Black Redstart at Link End yesterday and couldnt get in touch.
Post a Comment