Sabines Gull

having never seen a sabines gull before news of a showy individual at an inland flash near Manchester proved rather tempting.

Prompted by a tweet from Flamborough birder Andy Hood I set off early on Saturday morning.

The drive over was pretty uneventful low cloud eventually giving way to glorious sunshine.

After parking up I had a quick look at one of the maps-I knew I had to be near Horrocks hide, as it turned out it was the one nearest the car park only a hundred yard walk.

I saw a small group of photographers and birders focussing on something close to the bank-surely this could not be it?

Upon closer inspection it was! a sabines gull not more than 10ft from the bank!

I got some shots of it low down in the water at firs,then some in sunshine and after that it performed magnificently flying by at head height, coming occasionally to bread and then feeding just off shore on tiny insects.

After a couple of hours I was on the way back.

A stunning rare bird and the photos don't do it justice.