Sharp Shin
Stewart Belfield
I've been away but now seen this. I have attached an image of a Glaucous Gull wannabe, very like Glaucous Gull on the 4th April and was one for a long while whilst on the tip but it has features consistent with a hybrid but these would be difficult to determine on a bird a long range and would simply be a Glaucous Gull. There have been numerous hybrid things on the tip this year, right next to Bowers, and at least 4 very white leucistic things as well, Herrings and Great Black-backed Gulls so I suspect a very white bird to be one of these.
I have noted on the EBS website that visitors to the stilts also reported numerous Glaucous Gulls but given the overarching hybrids and leucistics this year I feel some, possibly all, of these will be these long staying individuals, one white/leucistic bird has been around for years.
There is a balance here. You don't want to sit on the possibility of a rare sighting until it's too late, but (on the other hand) it not a wise thing to make a matter-of-fact, public recording about a rare gull, when there is every possibility that it might be mistaken.
I am reticent about setting myself up as a good example but, with regard to the putative Glaucous Gull discussed in Steve's post, I: expressed misgivings; sought local information and advice; received it (thanks Neil); and then corrected / amended my public records accordingly (which is not too difficult to do). Perhaps those others in NE Essex who are under discussion here, might (if appropriate) consider a similar course of action!
Stewart