Mediterranean Medley

A work visit to the UK enabled me to add on a couple of days at my parents in Norfolk. Today (Saturday) I met up with Caister birder John Harris to do some local birding. After seeing the Black-throated Diver at Lake Lothing and the Rough-legged Buzzard at Chedgrave Marshes we visited the beach at Great Yarmouth. No, not for sunbathing or an ice cream but to see the regular wintering collection of Mediterranean Gulls. This beach is one of the best places in the UK to see Mediterranean Gull and today did not disappoint. There were at least 40 birds present, including a mixture of 1st winter, 2nd winter and adult birds. Luckily I still had a sandwich left at this point and, with a bit of strategic bread throwing I was able to get some photos of these beautiful gulls in the gorgeous light of the mid-afternoon. Some bore colour rings - both green and white were on show. Initial research suggests these are from Germany and France but I'll report them and hopefully find out some information about the origin and history of these birds.

Photos: Mediterranean Gull 1st winter (first two); 2nd winter (third and fourth); and adult (fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth).