Iceland Gull, Boston tip

John Harry · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:41 pm

Sorry to be a pain, can anyway provide a grid ref or google map marker of where to view from. Not sure of Boston and how to observe this bird from the locations stated. Cannot even see Skirbeck church on the map or even a tip!
Many thanks

Phil Espin · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:04 pm

Hi John

The bird can be viewed from the footpath on the east bank at TF344421. You can't miss the church on the right if you drive down Fishtoft rd far enough and you need to take the next road on the right after it, the road goes up to the bank and then turns sharp left, drive down to the end of that road and then walk south. You can see the tip from where you park.

try this:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=2 ... 14166,0.03

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:24 pm

I would add, just follow the signs to FINNFOREST, drive as far as you can, and then start walking. Phil's map is perfect, this is where the bird was today between 1130 and 1230...

Also, there were actually three interesting white-winged gulls at Boston today;

1) A 2nd winter (3cy....) Iceland Gull
2) An ALL white black-headed gull with black wing tips, that stood out like a sore thumb at distance
3) A part albino Herring Gull which in flight and at first glance looked like a gannet, but clearly wasn’t! :shock:

John Harry · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:25 pm

Thanks guys. Will find time to try and see this one!

All the best,

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:51 pm

Today I have updated the LBC Forum software. I have also added the CODE to add YOUTUBE video to the posts....

Dean Eades · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:03 pm

Very nice,

Phil Hyde · **Posted:** Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:48 pm

3cy Iceland Gull still present this afternoon, though no sign of the mooted Kumlien's,

Phil

John Harry · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:18 pm

Three hours this morning and no sign. Not one gull on tip so checked fields further South and nil there too.

Tip not working so not sure if that had any affect on its absence?

David Cohen · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:52 am

Apologies for the delayed post - no access to computer over the weekend.

I spent a couple of hours opposite Boston Tip on Friday with very few birds on the tip or the river but 1,000 or so on the arable field beyond the industrial estate. I spent an hour searching through this flock without picking out anything unusual.

At 13.00 gulls started to come down to the near edge of the river directly opposite the tip and the 2nd Winter or 3CY bird was present for about 30/40 minutes. It was not always visible as it did wander down to the waters edge and disappeared from view from time to time. It did fly around once showing very pale and relatively unmarked primaries (cf Andrew Chicks video).

At about 14.00, I started to walk back to my car when a second Iceland Gull appeared, again on the near side of the river. This bird was more coarsely marked than the first bird (cf Paul Sullivan's photos). Unfortunately, this bird soon took off and disappeared over the tip. The first bird got up from underneath the river bank and both birds were in the air at the same time for a matter of about 30 seconds. The first bird then flew strongly down the river and was lost to view.

As per the various photos on the web, both these birds had a pale iris.

Regards,

David Cohen

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Iceland Gull, Boston tip

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