Local birding: Fishmoor Res - 5th Feb 2008

This ad-type Caspian Gull like bird got the pulse racing. I emailed the images to respected Gull enthusiast Dick Newell who commented as follows: "I wouldn't like to call it. I guess it could be a Caspian Gull, though it looks a bit dark, which looks rather extensive to be explained as staining. Some argentatus can show a very long bill and can be as dark as this. If its head feathers are depleted, which look as though they might be, then that can make the bill look very long. So, no, I don't think it is clinchable as a Caspian Gull."

Damn!