One bird i didn't mention in yesterday's write-up (because I was tired and forgot) was one of the gulls at Southport beach. I was just approaching the pier and contemplating the least silly way of running up the concrete slope onto the walkway underneath the pier when a couple of large gulls flew overhead. One was an obvious herring gull. The other was the same size but slightly darker grey above and had a sooty grey hood. Many herring gulls have extensive streaking on their heads in Winter but this was a lot extreme: only the face in front of the eyes and the throat were white and the face messy. I didn't get any more than that first impression as it disappeared over the pier and away and I couldn't pick it up again later. So it's one of those "What the hell was that?" birds, all honest birdwatchers accumulate their fair share of them, I've had hundreds.
I know what I would like it to have been but that would be a new taxon for me and I'd want a lot longer and better view of one before even thinking of claiming it. Which doesn't mean I won't be keeping a close eye on the local bird reports just in case. I won't be able to retrospectively add it to my lists but I'll know what first impression to look out for.
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