Heavy rain for most of the day meant there was little I could do, except take a ride down to the harbour and check out the resting gulls. My visit turned out to be quite worthwhile as I was just getting set up when this Greater Black-backed Gull flew across in front of me. It didn't stay more than a few seconds and I just managed to catch it again, as it came over the car. I'm not sure how rare the Greater Black-backed is, they're certainly not a harbour gull and this is only the second I have seen, in three months on the coast. Gulls were coming and going all the time and there were some splendid examples of adult Yellow-legged Gull. Two Mediterranean Gulls came on to the quay, the first was an adult winter. The second gull, with a clean white tail but dark legs was possibly still in it's second year. There were around twenty Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the harbour, more came in with a fishing boat. The next sight took me completely by surprise. This Yellow-legged Gull was wearing some elaborate metalwork around its neck. Was this some attempt at fitting a tracking device or just an unfortunate encounter with a metal ring? At first sight, I thought it should have been able to shake it off - until I had another view and found the ring had a back flange to it. I now concluded that the ring fitted much tighter than it first appeared. The gull didn't seem to be under any stress due to its attachment, but it could well do without it. Some more human pollution no doubt. ....... and finally, a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull.
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