Iceland Gull at NSFQ

The second-winter Iceland Gull showed really well while we were at the North Shields Fish Quay this morning, down to just a few metres at times. It's the first non-Kumlien's Iceland Gull I've seen for almost two years.

Iceland Gull

BNG and GGS

QEll was our first stop as I hoped to photograph the Black-necked Grebe which had been there for the past few days. Eventually we found it and it showed really well at times, though could disappear at times. Also present was a Great Crested Grebe, Goosander and a Little Grebe.

Finally we stopped at West Hartford where we eventually got really good views of the Great Grey Shrike.

Black-necked Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Grey Shrike

Garden birds...

Just a few photos from my garden over the last couple of days...

Mistle Thrush

Blackcap - the second this winter.

Robin

Sooty Shearwater...

One flying north past Chevington this afternoon was my latest Sooty by at least a month, and as far as I'm aware it was only the second December record in Northumberland in the last 14 years...