Monday, 10 August 2015

Sabine's Gull - Pennington Flash

A Sabine's Gull has been present at Pennington Flash for a few days. This, I believe, is only the third such bird for Manchester, so it is by no means a common bird. In fact, it's not a bird that usually finds its way inland. It should be up in the high Arctic or way out at sea. So the chances of me stumbling across one again so close to home are practically zero.

I was hoping it would stay around for me to see at the weekend, but I got a bit nervous that it would take flight before then, so I went straight from work on Friday night just in case. It was there, and in diminishing light I enjoyed watching it patrol the shore line of the flash.
I went back on Saturday morning with the promise of better light, and my pictures were much better.
It was very close in to the shore line once again, and was favouring an area of water with a radius of just a few meters. It was feeding actively, but every now and again took flight for a few minutes before landing back in its favourite spot, right in front of the gathered crowd.

I think this is my favourite gull. Truly stunning.





 

It spent most of it's time picking insects off the surface, but occasionally dunked right under.



 
 
 
 
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36 comments:

  1. This N That10 August 2015 at 17:27

    Beautiful gull Adam... Great shots! Glad you went back the next day. I love it's black tipped Wings..very handsome bird. Enjoy your week.

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  2. Jo10 August 2015 at 20:40

    Amazing images, Adam. I just looked up Sabine's Gull in my Birds of Africa, South of the Sahara and see that this gull is a Palearchtic vagrant to West Africa, It visits right down to Cape Town and up towards the East Coast of South Africa. Thanks for sharing. Greetings Jo

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  3. eileeninmd10 August 2015 at 21:48

    Congrats on your sighting, awesome photos.

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  4. derek10 August 2015 at 23:46

    Glad you got it, with no post I thought you might be away so it is good that it stayed around. I hope it survived its brush with death and a pike!!

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    1. Adam Jones11 August 2015 at 07:43

      Thanks Derek. Apparently it is in good health despite the pike incident. I'm hoping that it will move off soon, to seas that won't contain anything like a pike. Absolutely cracking bird.

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  5. mick11 August 2015 at 00:54

    Great photos of a beautiful gull. I'm glad you got to see it and thanks for sharing the photos.

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  6. NCSue11 August 2015 at 01:25

    Beautiful series of photos of a lovely gull.
    Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/08/say-yes-to-neigh.html

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  7. A Green and Rosie Life11 August 2015 at 10:25

    In know I am supposed to be looking at the gull in these photos but the way you have captured the water in these shots is just mesmerising. The gull is pretty good too mind you!
    And thank you too for letting me use your Jenny Wren photo on #AnimalTales this week.

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  8. Angela Milnes11 August 2015 at 10:49

    These shots are awesome! Wow! Brilliant! Popping over from #AnimalTales

    Angela from http://www.daysinbed.com

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  9. 4 Lettre Words11 August 2015 at 11:27

    These are really beautiful!

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  10. Unknown11 August 2015 at 18:43

    Great shots!

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  11. Rohrerbot11 August 2015 at 19:01

    This would be a lifer for me as it is also a rare vagrant during migration. It's a gull I'm hoping I'll spot this year.

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  12. Margaret Birding For Pleasure11 August 2015 at 19:03

    Marvellous to see this gull and you managed great shots of it

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  13. Hootin Anni11 August 2015 at 20:11

    I'm so glad you posted these photos. I've read in the TXBird forum that they've been spotted in our part of the globe, but never knew they had the yellow beak 'ring'. Now I know what to look for. MARVELOUS photos!!!

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  14. Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow11 August 2015 at 21:20

    This was a beautiful series ! :)

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  15. Phil Slade11 August 2015 at 21:21

    Such a good one to see inland Adam. Rather early in the autumn too, perhaps related to the all the unseasonal winds we've had?

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  16. Phil Slade11 August 2015 at 21:21

    Such a good one to see inland Adam. Rather early in the autumn too, perhaps related to the all the unseasonal winds we've had?

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  17. GreenComotion12 August 2015 at 03:05

    Wow - perfect flight and stationary shots of the Seagull!
    Well done!
    Have a Beautiful day!
    Peace :)

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  18. Tamar SB12 August 2015 at 12:16

    I love the pictures of the gulls just sitting on the water!

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  19. Sharon Wagner12 August 2015 at 15:24

    It's always fun to spot things that are off course. And even better when you have a camera ready.

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  20. Neesie12 August 2015 at 17:44

    Beautiful wildlife photography Adam... I could sit and watch birds for hours.
    Enjoy your week ;D

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  21. Adam Tilt12 August 2015 at 22:20

    Brilliant shots and a great looking bird. I'm regretting not paying a visit myself now on our way back from Leeds.

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  22. Katja L13 August 2015 at 00:18

    Wonderful photos!

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  23. betty-NZ13 August 2015 at 00:33

    Awesome shots and what a beautiful bird.

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  24. Pat Ulrich13 August 2015 at 02:05

    congrats on the lifer! It's quite a handsome bird -- the bill markings are interesting as well.

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  25. A Colorful World13 August 2015 at 03:10

    Really beautiful photos!

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  26. chickenruby13 August 2015 at 03:53

    an amazing shot of the gull as it comes into land on the water, so gentle

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  27. Glennis13 August 2015 at 05:12

    wonderful captures, specially the dunking head under water shot.

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  28. Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti13 August 2015 at 05:50

    Beautiful photos of the gull in action! I used to see them all the time when I lived near the Atlantic Ocean. Now I'm in the mountains and there aren't any here.

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  29. Phil Barnett13 August 2015 at 08:52

    Hi Adam,
    I'm enjoying looking around your blog (which I've linked to from mine http://robymilling.blogspot.co.uk/). I used to regularly visit your patch - Old Hall Lane - when Iived in Cheadle Hulme. I never bumped into you though. Great pix of the Sabines Gull which I also saw last week
    Cheers,
    Phil

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  30. EG CameraGirl13 August 2015 at 13:24

    How very cool! Occasionally Sabine Gulls are seen here...but I have never seen on myself.

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  31. sunshine13 August 2015 at 22:08

    Stunning photos and a great capture.

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  32. NatureFootstep14 August 2015 at 10:47

    what a pleasure to see such a rare bird and to get great shots of it. I have not heard of this arctic gull. Thanks for sharing. Maybe I should check out my images from Varanger :)

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  33. MAPLELEOPARD14 August 2015 at 23:40

    Very beautiful pics of the gulls! Thanks for sharing! I am also a NW girl :)
    Valerie
    Fashion And Travel

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  34. Rambling Woods15 August 2015 at 17:53

    One of my plans was to go down to the Niagara River and Lake Erie and go birding, but I am not well enough to do that yet. Wonderful photos... Michelle

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  35. Pierced Wonderings20 August 2015 at 03:15

    What a handsome fellow! He's very photogenic and I can see why you like him! Thank you for joining us for Photo Friday again this week!

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I enjoy reading your comments as much as I enjoy taking the pictures. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.