Saturday 13 July 2024

Franklin's Gull at Crossness

Sitting minding my own business this afternoon when news breaks of a Franklin's Gull at Crossness in south London. The first report was vague just saying one at Crossness this afternoon but it wasn't clear if it was still about or had flown off so I decided to wait for a second report which came through about an hour later. A quick call to Jim and we were off making our way through the Blackwall Tunnel. Traffic was bad and it took just over an hour to get there arriving to news that the bird had just flown off west. We decided to stick it out at the outfall believing that the bird would return to feed at some point and two hours later it did and showed really well for the small crowd gathered.

I managed a few shots but with dark clouds moving in we left around 7pm to head home satisfied with the year tick (222) and the London tick (240)  I picked out a single Med Gull amongst the gathering of Black-headed Gulls but little else of note whilst we waited.

Great to see Mick S. there for a catch up, it's been a long time coming and with Mick's experience of seeing these birds abroad it was of course he who called the bird when it first returned. And good to see Nev there getting his 400th tick.











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