On this day in 2014, I was towards the end of my 'Big Year' and closing in on the magic 300 mark. The 16th November was an important with three outstanding south coast birds in the bag, this Ring-billed Gull was an overdue highlight!...
To say this was the bogey bird of 2014 would be an understatement! Whilst in the area, I'd called at Gosport twice in April (coinciding with the Gull's departure from the area) and now dipped it again the previous Friday.
Light was fading and with rain starting to fall, I made it to the boating lake with about 30 minutes of light left. I got out of the car and..... Yessssssss, the Ring-billed Gull (296) was finally there on the grass below the car park!!
I'd photographed this bird back in 2008 (in summer plumage) so nice to get the winter plumage!
It then flew onto one of the boating pool buoys....
Then onto the water.....
With some unusual late afternoon reflections!
A final close up and then......
The long drive back to Shrewsbury! This had really been a make or break weekend and with four more birds to go, a few more miles to travel :-)
PS here's the same bird in Summer plumage back in March 2008!! What a stunner :-)
