The Last Picture Show?

aka: Ivor's Story

No, not the last picture show ever but I suppose this may be the last post before Christmas or even the last post of the year.

Anyway, after today's little outing that hardly matters. I managed to draw level with last year's year total of 278 and to reach a tantalising 399 on my life list.

However, Sunday first. I spent a quiet, ordinary day's birding round Hartlepool. No sign of the iceland gull I hoped to photograph. Plenty of Mediterraneans: 2 at Newburn Bridge and 3 on the rocks on the Headland. I finished up having lunch in Phil Stead hide photographing some common birds in nice light. But before all that I spent half an hour curlew watching along the North Gare access road...

Curlew

Curlew

A shoveler splashed down and disturbed the curlews. I suppose this is an astronomical bird: it's a partial eclipse!

Shoveler

A common gull caught my eye. I am puzzled by this picture: it's probably just a trick of the light or something but the bird looks as if it's got a prosthetic leg!!

Common Gull

On then to Saltholme. I was amazed to watch a redshank in deep water swimming happily across the pool. I hadn't seen this before.

Redshank

Same redshank after his swim!

Redshank

A shelduck was enjoying the [relative] warmth in December sunshine.

Shelduck

Mallards always seem to cackle like the laughing policeman! Here's one, squawking away!

Mallard

Monday was a special day.

16.12.13

Up in the dark and on my way to Patrington Haven. Parked up by 8am - about 6 cars already there! I set off with another birder as we chatted about caspian gulls and other shared birding memories. Apparently the bird was showing well by the pumping station. Now unfortunately I had decided that the bird would be miles away on the mud so I took scope and bins. The bird was on the grass by the pump-house and could be watched at 30 feet! I had to make do with a mobile phone photo. Sorry it's pretty awful but at least I have a bit of a record. It was wonderful in flight: so white and pointed wings like a flying blade. Brilliant!!

Here's the photo.

Ivory Gull

I went back!

On Wednesday I couldn't make up my mind. Should I go back and try and get some decent photos of the gull? Would it be there? Would the weather spoil things? [The forecast wasn't great for the afternoon.]

I went back. I trudged back out to the pumping station. On the way I met folks who said it was still there.

Nearly there. Met a birder who said: 'Best get your skates on, mate. It's going down the channel out to sea!' I felt too fatalistic to try even looking for my skates. I was carrying scope, bins and camera. I had one speed available: slow walking. At least I wasn't wearing flip-flops!

No sign for an hour and 45 minutes. The wind was becoming ever stronger. Birder I was chatting with said, almost in one sentence: 'I'll give it 5 more minutes and then I'm off; what's that coming in?' I saw where he was looking and said: 'That's it! It's here!' I called. About a dozen scopes still there, still hoping. The light was beginning to go. First view - better than the camera shot at least.

Ivory Gull

Thought it might stay out there for some time.

Ivory Gull

Then it took off. For a moment it looked like it was off south-east Spurn-wards again.

Ivory Gull

But like Whittington, it turned again. The rest is, well, Ivor's story - in pictures.

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Suddenly the bird was coming straight at us having circled round behind the pump house. About 10? feet over our heads, the next 4 images are uncropped.

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

The bird looked spectacular when photographed at this angle over the marsh.

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Farewell, youngster. Here's hoping you find your way back to where you belong.

On the way back I met Alan Whitehead coming for another look. He had shoes on, I noticed.

Ivory Gull

So, folks, this will be the last post of 2013: I couldn't ever top that set of images could I? So a stunning place to finish - for now.

Had this photo in mind for some time as a good 'farewell for now' image. The old dog walks off into the undergrowth ready, we trust, to do it all again next time...

Fox

UK life list: 399.

Year list 2013               Final total: 278

I've been wondering... Bird of the Year? Dead heat: bridled tern and ivory gull.