Thayers Gull Report

Steve Watson · **Joined:** Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:03 pm **Posts:** 95

Bird Guides is reporting a Thayers Gull in Brigg? or area I suppose.
Anyone heard anything??

Steve

Derick Evans · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:16 pm

Birdnet reports a 'Possible' Thayers Gull. Apparently between Elsham and M180 J5. In field opposite pumping station at 3.55pm.

Derick Evans · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:29 pm

I understand the Thayers Gull was seen well again in the same area and both Videoed and photographed today.

Reports on Birdforum state. "The bird shows a full suite of features as a 'classic' individual" and that "The gulls are being attracted to the field by muck spreading".

Has any Linc's birder managed to get any Pictures or any positive news on this bird please?

Paul French · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:35 pm

Photos here http://pewit.blogspot.co.uk/

If I'd found this i would be jumping up and down and demanding it go out as a mega! Looks amazing.

Derick Evans · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:22 am

Thanks Paul.

Anthony Bentley · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:28 am

Can Anyone Give a Specific location or even how to get there from the M180 Services at elsham?

Russell Hayes · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:36 pm

try this link:

http://www.birdguides.com/common/gr.asp?gr=TA043122

Phil Espin · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:15 pm

Russell's link is pretty good and points to where the bird showed well around 1.30pm this afternoon. It's hard work though, some people were there at first light today and didn't see it till then. Only 3 people had seen it up until today. There is a flock of several thousand large gulls milling around. The Thayers was seen just after midday, flying NW over the road from the J5 roundabout towards Elsham Country Park. It was then briefly relocated on the lake in the park before it flew back to the field marked on the map in Russels link which is a bare tilled field currently being treated with slurry. Thats where I saw it at 1.30. Its very difficult to see the gulls on the ground from the road as they seem to favour a location just over the brow of the hill.

The flock was very flighty and the bird was difficult to get onto. It flew and circled for around 10 mins before heading back in the direction of the lake where it appeared to come down.

If you go, be patient and be prepared for a long wait and spending alot of time looking at every gull that flys over your head! You really need to use a scope if you want decent views. When I got there at 9 there were about 10 people there. By the time I left it was more like 70 and if the bird stays it will get very busy as this is definitely the biggest bird in Lincs since the Lesser Sand Plover 10 years ago. Congratulations to Tom Lowe who found it and Graham Catley, whose excellent photos in difficult conditions yesterday afternoon are on his pewit blog, which Paul French has posted a link to above. There is plenty of parking on the verges but try and get off the road as far as you can.

Anthony Bentley · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:56 pm

If anyone is passing the area of Brigsley tomorrow A lift would be very appreaciated

Phil Hyde · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:37 am

The Thayer's was back with the gull flock feeding in the field with the white tankers in from about 7.15-7.30 am, as per Russ' map and only giving brief flight views. However, and fortunately for the gathered few (c.20), the flock then flew on to the field on the opposite side of the road and was showing very well (at grid tef TA040148 appx.) for some 15-20 minutes from the vicinity of a small pumping station enclosed by green wire mesh. The flock then flew slightly further south towards the petrol station. I believe Roy H got some footage

Cheers,

Phil

Derick Evans · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:17 am

It was never going to be easy finding this gull in a flock of thousands and it wasn't.
The Thayers Gull eventually showed very well early afternoon in flight and on the ground in the field marked on Russ' map. The bird also commuted between here and 'Elsham Country Park'.

Glad I went yesterday as it will likely be chaos parking over the w/end on the narrow roads, or if it spends any time in the park.

Big thank you to Tom Lowe for finding the bird =D>

and to Graham Catley for putting those invaluable photos on his blog. =D>

Phil Hyde · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:57 pm

Note that my message refers to this morning, Friday, and Derick's was yesterday, Thursday.

Phil

Roger Hebb · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:29 pm

Saw it in flight,good views circled above us,this morning,then eventually around 2pm or just after on the deck in a field close to the road,nice bird!!.
Rog..

Alastair Carr · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:34 pm

I saw great views of it today, with my father, Rob Carr. Flew over our heads - well, someone 3 metres away, anyway.

But, Thayer's Gull, Kumin's Gull and Iceland Gull, are they all the same species?

I'm getting two stories from two sources. They are:

1. Thayer's Gull and Iceland Gull are considred, in this country, sub-species (at the moment). The hydrid being Kumlin's Gull. An excellent example is the Carrion and Hooded Crow.
2. Thayer's Gull and Icelend Gull are seperate species. Kumlin's Gull is just a race of Iceland Gull.

Which, or both, are correct? Hey, maybe we could have a debate about this on live TV! As someone said to me "That's the big question," when I askewd him.

The Big Questions - BBC One - Are Iceland Gull and Thayers Gull different species? Are Kumlin's Gull hybrids? :lol:

Roy Harvey · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm **Posts:** 956

Some more teriffic shots of the Thayer's Gull - by Alan Lewis, on Surfbirds.

Roy

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Thayers Gull Report

Who is online