Ring-necked Duck still.

Again far fewer larger Gulls in the Cransdale area today, though a dozen Kittiwake showed well feeding close inshore. The 3W Iceland Gull is still present.

On Meikle loch the drake Ring-necked Duck is gradually coming into full adult plumage whilst there remains a Long-tailed Duck there as well. A good few hundred Teal and Wigeon on the loch, with more scattered around the various local pools in the Slains area.

Late weekend

Gull activity was much reduced around Cransdale and the harbour this weekend with far less wind to drive in debris.
Still at least one Iceland Gull in the area, the 3rd Winter. A 1st year Little Gull on Saturday morning gradually moving north was a little unusual for the time of year. There remain a few small groups of Common Scoter in the area, and the single Velvet Scoter was still present.

Meikle Loch's Ring-necked Duck was a constant feature this weekend, as was at least one Long-tailed Duck.

Eye of the Storms

A break in the wild seas today, but the winds getting up again this evening. Fewer gulls to be seen at Cransdale as a result, but a number of groups of Common Scoter along the coastline locally, with the group off Cransdale holding a single Velvet Scoter (HEM).
A few Red-throated Diver predictably off the head and Long-tailed Duck passing through.

3W Iceland Gull, Cransdale Head, 2.1.14

Cransdale Gull, 2.1.14

Cransdale Head, looking south, 2.1.14

A few more pictures above of the 3rd winter Iceland gull and the gull of more uncertain parentage from the 2nd.

Happy New Year and an Interesting Gull.

The end of the old year and beginning of the new brought in an interesting gull to accompany the two Icelands already present in the Cransdale area. Perhaps the bird called up as a 2nd Year Kumlien's Gull on the 28th, it was seen again first light on the 31st and showed all day at Cransdale today.
When initially seen again Thayer's Gull certainly came to mind, but on further scrutiny and discussion (PAAB, CNG, PB et al) evident that with its essentially pallid primaries for one thing this is not possible. CNG states that, based on the photos, it could after all be an atypical Kumlien's, or some sort of intergrade.
A very striking bird.
The two Iceland Gulls were still present off an on today in the same area.

Happy New Year!