The third-summer Yellow-legged Gull was again off Mudbank this morning and, on closer inspection, the penny dropped - this is the returning bird, first seen in August 2021 when it was a juvenile! Just something about the way it looks. It has returned every year since - see more details here. I'm guessing it didn't reappear this spring as it would have been attempting to breed somewhere. Keen to prove beyond doubt that it's the same bird I later popped down its favourite haunt - the coastal waste recycling centre and bingo - there it was!
Also off Mudbank today - a big jump in Mallard numbers with 74 birds present. Also - 16 Whimbrel, c25/30+ Dunlin, 1 Knot, 2 Common Terns, a small number of Sandwich Terns and at least 5 Mediterranean Gulls.
An evening dog-walk with Lu produced another Yellow-legged Gull - a different juvenile to yesterday's and the third juvenile so far this summer.
Chalk and cheese in flight - juv Herring Gull above, juv YLG below.
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