Caspian Gull new for the Darley Dale area

The recent heavy rains have caused flooding in some of the fields bordering the river Derwent and the Wye. Simon has been checking the area by Four Lane Ends opposite Milner 4x4 between Darley Dale and Darley Bridge today and found a 1st winter Caspian Gull. 
This area has always been good for gulls when high river levels cause flooding in the field but no one can remember seeing so many large gulls on the fields. Today there were at least 300 large gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed but with many Herring also plus at least two 1st winter Great Black-backed Gulls which are the first I can recall seeing locally.
Inevitably the gulls are fairly distant so a telescope is needed to view them. Periodically they take to the air with much calling which I can here from my house!

The Caspian Gull is a scarce visitor to Derbyshire with around 50 records per year and mainly at the larger bodies of water where gulls roost during the winter months such as Ogston, Pools Brook and Carsington.

Caspian Gull 1st winter (centre bird on two upper photos and left hand bird on lower)

Identification of Caspian Gull is as much based on structure as it is on plumage features. Compared to Herring Gull it is longer legged, smaller headed and longer winged giving it a more elegant appearance. The bill is also generally longer and slimmer. In 1st winter plumage the head is white and the mantle generally looks paler the 1st winter Herring also the greater coverts are less spangled often looking darker than those of Herring.

Great Black-backed Gull 1st winter

Simon also thought he had seen an adult Caspian Gull so there could be other birds of interest amongst this flock. A great local find in any case and well picked out amongst the very similar Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.