Adur Estuary

On the Adur this evening were c23 Ringed Plover and 1 or 2 Dunlin, but not much else in what was unexpectedly windy and a little wet weather. I like the Adur for the variation in and proximity of the gulls, as it gives me an opportunity to learn what is a challenging group of birds, especially the younger ones. One such gull is pictured below, and which stood out for having quite a pale head and snouty bill, suggesting one of the less common larus species. However, after some study and a second opinion from Matt, I’m happy to settle on Herring Gull.

Herring Gull

Two Ringer Plover and a Dunlin

Great Black-backed Gull?

During my study I came across some useful online resource for help in identifying gulls.

This is good for understanding the topography of gulls. 

This site contains lots of useful comparisons of larus gulls, with descriptions of the identifying features.