Northern Gulls

It is probably relevant that the mystery gull below turned up during an influx of 'high latitude herring gulls'- a few examples here of presumed first winter argentatus which are often in juvenile plumage through a lot of the winter.

Beddington Mystery Gull December 2010

Pic 6-9 from Roger Browne : http://dodge007.blogspot.com/2010/12/answers-on-post-card-please.html

BEDDINGTON ON ICE

MORE ON VARNA GULLS

http://larusfuscus.blogspot.com/2010/12/gulling-in-varna-again.html

VARNA GULLS

A very interesting group of large gulls around Varna- attracted to the hot springs on the sea front and also there is a tip nearby with bathing pools.

Highlight was a possible Heuglin's. http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/12/hueglins.html A large long-winged and slate-grey mantled 3rd/4th winter gull which out here is as likely (or more likely) to be Heuglins as graellsii.

Also a fascinating assortment of Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls with a bewildering array of variation. I have attempted to classify them into:

a) 'Good Caspians' : http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/12/caspian-gull.html

b) 'Good Yellow-legged Gulls: http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/12/yellow-legged-gull.html

and

c) 'Unassignable Variants/hybrids': http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2010/12/only-god-knows.html

Also here is a great link to more Caspo's in eastern Europe including lots more photos from Dimiter Georgiev (from Neophron Tours) and Gabriel Martin taken at Varna earlier this year :

http://larusfuscus.blogspot.com/search/label/Larus%20cachinnans

Hueglin's ??

Caspian Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Only God Knows :-)

A Good Life

Spent today on Paul's eco-home farm (pic 1) discussing the ethics of composting toilets (pic 2). Then did a bit of sustainable farming (pic 3) followed by some sustainable shopping (pic 4) and ended up with some sustainable drinking.

More on Paul and Co's eco-experimental project here:

https://sites.google.com/site/permaship1/Home

WnNKA !!!

I was reminded today that the local alphabet bears little similarlity with the alphabet I am more familiar with.

Pic 2- Great Grey Shrike victim

Pic 3- Farming and wildlife as it should be. A reminder that farmers dont have to be WnNkAs.

Mission Planning with the locals

JACK SNIPE FLUSH

WINTER WONDERLAND X

Top to bottom: The Northern Lake, The Beddington troops, Me and my new knitted thermals, The canal.