Since it was first spotted, at Startops End Reservoir, last
Sunday this stunning adult first summer Sabine's Gull has been putting on an
excellent show for the many local birders.
This rare visitor to our inland waterways is assumed to have
been blown off course, from its more regular haunt far out to sea in the North
Atlantic, by the weekend storms that also brought severe damage and flooding to
some parts of the UK.
After seeing the reports and excellent photos that were
being posted on the internet I decided that, as any future chances of seeing
one of these gulls was pretty slim, I should go and have a look.
So, early yesterday morning , under dark and gloomy skies
(with the weatherman predicting rain again...what else?) I set off on the
30min. journey to Startops and almost to the second off arriving in the car
park and turning off the car ignition...the heavens opened!! After a twenty minute wait the rain eased to a
light drizzle and I decided to brave it and have a look to see if the 'star'
was still about.....and I'm glad I did for almost the first thing that I saw on
climbing the steps to the top of the embankment was a stunning white, grey and
black bird putting on a fabulous show as it gracefully and effortlessly flew
back and forth along the water's edge, regularly plunging into the water to
collect a morsel of food and at times coming
so close that I felt as though I could have reached out and touched it.
I spend over three hours totally engrossed in watching and photographing this beautiful bird that I
didn't notice that the rain had stopped!
Although the rain and the gloom were not perfect for taking
photographs (I took lots!!) I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was glad that I had made
the effort to go and have a look!
The photographs....
And the video....
8 comments:
A cracking bird Trevor.
You got some excellent shots, despite the weather.
Good to see the video too.
Wow! that is special Trevor and you have taken some brilliant shots as well.
Thanks Keith, yeh I had lots of shots to choose from..lol...[;o)
Thank you Roy, It really was an enjoyable few hours just watching this beautiful bird...[;o)
Well done Trevor, a bird I've never seen before. Beautiful photos and video.
Well done Trevor, great photos and video! It put on an excellent show for you and I saw you weren't the only one braving the weather. There has been the odd one at Draycote in the past but I've never seen them.
Thanks Bob...[;o)
Thanks Jan. It's a stunning bird and has been putting on a grand show for the many 'punters' since Sunday, and was still showing well today when I couldn't resist going back for a second helping!!...[;o)
Super series of a special bird Trevor. Nice to see it in action on the video.
Frank, thank you...[;o)
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