Decided to try for the Bonaparte’s Gull which has been settling to an area E of the A189 flyover on the Wansbeck estuary. Parking at North Seaton Colliery & coming in from N end worked out well. Found the Bonaparte’s immediately just E of the flyover as distinctly smaller than the Black-headed’s accompanying it. In fact at first though it small enough to be a Little Gull but plumage features became apparent whilst scoping & flight views showed it to be very different. Behaved admirably as later came much closer on to N bank of estuary. Really dainty gull & always much more jizz of Little Gull than a Black-headed. Well pleased & after a pub lunch at Plough Inn at Ellington (also recommended!) on to Druridge Pools. This gave us a prime opportunity to compare Little Gull with Bonaparte’s as three first-summer Little Gulls from N hide flying close to hide. Hence flight picture here is the close-up rather than the distant flight pics of the Bonaparte’s. Also at Druridge were 5 Ruff , some males in immaculate plumage. No sign of Broad-billed Sandpiper though seen here by lucky people on 31st May.
T R Dean / J Dean
