In Pursuit of the rare Arctic Ivory Gull

Saturday 7th December not 1 but 2 Ivory Gulls were seen together at Seahouses in Northumberland. An extremely rare event in Britain and one that was too good to miss, so Sunday Glyn, Richard and myself set off in the hope that we might see just one of these superb arctic gulls. On arrival at Seahouses there were plenty of other birders with the same idea but unfortunately the day was a disappointment to all concerned, as there wasn't a sniff of an Ivory Gull anywhere.

We spent most of the day at Seahouses Harbour, over looking The Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle and distant Lindisfarne , watching Long-tailed Duck, Eider, a few divers, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper and plenty of gulls. A consolation prize was 6 Waxwings on our way back south at Felton. So I'm going to bore you to tears now with photos of Gulls and Oystercatcher and a record shot of the Waxwings.

Lindisfarne, Northumberland from Seahouses – Tony Davison©

Above 6 images – Juv / 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Above 3 images – Adult winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Adult & Fourth winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison© 

Above 3 images – Adult winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

4th winter Great Black-backed Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Above 3 images – 1st winter Herring Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Above 7 images – Adult winter Herring Gull – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Above 6 images – Oystercatcher – Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Common Eider – drake – Amble, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Waxwing – Felton near Beadnall, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Bamburgh Castle from Seahouses, Northumberland – Tony Davison©