a comparison of upper primary pattern between caspian and yellow-legged

an adult yellow-legged gull at west rise. recent days have seen the flood gates open for gull passage but the caspos seem not to be coming through in the numbers seen in recent years. forecasters say we're in for a cold spell after xmas so let's hope that livens the birding up a bit.

i'm into argies nearly as much as caspo's. lade sands has gotta be the best place on the channel coast to see em and there were a load there yesterday which included a colour ringed bird that was trapped at pitsea landfill site, essex, on 6th December. check out the p10 pattern on the left hand bird below!

an adult caspian gull at west rise and 3 water pipits, approx 30 gadwall and 130 teal