To be kind, the Internet access on
the ship is 'hit and miss' and so to save time much of today's post will
be without narrative. As for the Gulls, my knowledge of Azorian Gull (a
sub-species of Yellow-legged Gull) is limited to say the least and all
those I have spied thus far look nothing like the photographs studied
before leaving England. Add to that all I have available is Harrison's
Seabirds, who doesn't even address Y-L Gull, so if you have any ideas on
the subject your views would be most welcome.
Entering harbour last evening, a few Gulls on the surface.
The Captain and Staff Captain guide us safely to berth.
GREY WAGTAIL starts the Day List
M/V VOYAGER
I felt sure this tidal culvert would produce something?
It did, one very nervous WHIMBREL
The marques of many previous visitors.
COMMON TERN
Constance the BLACKBIRD
MUSKVEY DUCK
appears on the Azores List with no notation as to 'Introduced',
'Rare/Accidental' or 'Introduced'.
So, here are some of the Gulls
female BLACKBIRD
COMMON BUZZARD
distant GOLDFINCH
ISLAND CANARY a little closer.
and more Gulls in the distance, better check them out!
Grey Heron
The only CHAFFINCH of the day
along with the only WOOD PIGEON
Lots of STARLINGs
Then I came upon this tiny Fishing Village
complete with tiny Canteena
I asked, over a pint, if they get many Gulls here
and they laughed their socks off as I started lobbing bread rolls into the sea,
but they did the trick.
Don't forget, AZORIAN GULL could be visiting somewhere near
you at any time!
Plenty HOUSE SPARROWs too.
Blackcap and Goldcrest were also recorded which along with the Yellow-legged Gull, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Canary et al are all candidates to be 'split', so a bunch of potential Armchair Ticks if ever I saw one!
On the way back to the ship.
SHARK, SWORDFISH and TUNA
THE END
