A hastily arranged twitch to Cowpen Bewley Tip, Cleveland, for the putative adult Glaucous-winged Gull with Cllr John F. Wright, Mark Breaks and Dave Bickerton. Enroute a fine Red Kite was seen circling over the A59 east of Fewston Reservoir.
The GWG and other Gulls had been flushed by shotgun fire and had not been seen for at least two hours prior to our arrival. A first-winter Glaucous Gull was the first decent Gull, but it was over 1.5hrs into the vigil until the Glaucous-winged Gull appeared, brilliantly picked out by Mark Breaks.
Thereafter, the Gull showed relatively well amongst other Gulls on+off for 45mins.
Once seen the bird was easily picked out even when the entire body and wings were obscured or out of view due to the very distinctive appearence to the head; rounded headshape, dark eye set high, and smoky head markings. Behind the eye was a 'bridled Guillemot' like mark and the bird showed a long, curved gape line. The basal two-thirds of the bill appeared pale greenish with a small red gonys spot and a yellow tip.
adult Glaucous-winged Gull, Cowpen Marsh, Cleveland - 2nd Jan 2009.
