A close encounter of the SABINE'S GULL kind...

Unusually strong SW/West winds during the first few days of August 2015 resulted in the finding of Greater Manchester's 5th SABINE'S GULL on 4th - showing down to literally just a few yards close to the Horrock's Hide at Pennington Flash Country Park. The bird quickly drew a large crowd, culminating in well over 300 visitors during the course of the day, as it associated with a large Black-headed Gull flock waiting for scraps on the mere. Although I was at Spurn Point when I heard of it's finding, it was a bird I could not resist seeing and after a drive of 98 miles across the M62, I eventually arrived on site just after 3pm. It was nice seeing so many well-known faces - all of local origin - and the bird, well, just look - showing well you could say, thanks to the car park burger van and her supply of soft buns........

A couple of juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULLS were also in amongst the throng of Black-headed Gulls