Gulls of the World (Part 4) The Far East

Black-tailed Gull

Hundreds scavenging as I boarded a ferry at Incheon, South Korea 2007.

Slaty-backed Gull

Also very common on all coasts, this image was taken at Walmido, South Korea 2007.

Saunders's (Little) Gull

Considered an extremely lucky find, despite the distance, on Yeong Jong Island, South Korea 2007.

Glaucous-winged Gull

At all location in the most northerly town in Japan, Wakkenai 2007.

And a Few Birds

Sanderling

Mediterranean Gull

I never tire of the walk from Radipole to Lodmoor at that time of day, with no people/traffic about, but by the looks of all the 'Fun Fair' construction work on the prom the silence would soon be shattered. At the end of Greenhill, the sea was covered by juvenile gulls of 3 species, Great Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed but try as I may, couldn't pick out a Yellow-legged. This is a skill yet to be mastered. On the 'moor' my first observation was that all the Terns had left, but judging by the number of young birds at my last visit I can only assume they did well. There was a single Sandwich Tern, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers 2 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plovers, a juvenile Common Buzzard and a dozen Dunlin so it was not totally without action. Best sight of the day was my soon to be travel companion Daragh Croxon, complete with new tripod (it's a private joke). Plenty to talk about here as the birds were temporarily forgotten, but soon time for the 'Bus Pass Birder' to head for Ferry Bridge. There, it was similar to yesterday with 104 Ringed Plovers, 137 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. There was no sign of yesterdays juvenile, with one of the 'second summers' being 'ringed'. On the way home I visited Bowie (Lorne) & Sheila Edwards enjoying coffee and figs straight from the tree.

There's Always Something to See

It's been a full 31 days since I was on either Radipole or Lodmoor, but today I redressed that. At my last visit there was little of note, and things hadn't changed much, but to hear the beautiful song of a Cetti's Warbler again makes up for a lot. However, as I approached the Visitor's Centre, it was as if someone had opened a window on Portland and Weymouth, have you seen the murals on the Westham Pumping Station? So life like at that distance, I would chance that those entering the town for the first time, via Weymouth Way, would already be considering moving here! And it's worth noting that for the first time in recent memory Portland features most predominantly.