High Arctic visitor.......

20 Dec - A day that went absolutely according to plan, a 4.30 start saw me watching the juvenile Ivory Gull at Patrington on the Humber as the sun rose - then home by 2pm to get the rest of the day done! the gleaming white bird performed well in the early morning light, a large bulky Gull but with surprisingly elegant flight, all white with a few fine black markings on primaries and tail - it then dropped in at close range to feed on discarded fish, but is really much more attractive when in the air. A high Arctic species, normally found around the pack ice, several juveniles have been displaced to the UK by the recent storms, but this bird is the only one that has lingered in an accessible location. Only my second in the UK, my previous sighting being the juvenile at Southwold at the time of the millennium in 1999. Photos JM, slightly grainy due to early morning light. A true polar bird and a charismatic species - I would say one of my best birds of the year - top spot going to the Bridled Tern on the Farnes.