Iceland Gulls in Oxwich Bay

The feeding bonanza in Oxwich Bay appears to peter out at the end of last week. Among the feeding masses, the highligh was probably the appearance of four Iceland Gulls, each being in a different age class, these being:

1st winter plumage : 28th Dec - 8th Jan

2nd winter plumage : 28th Dec - 7th Jan

3rd winter plumage: 7th-8th Jan

Adult winter plumage : 7th Jan

Although birds have now dispersed, it's quite possible these and other Iceland Gulls will turn up at other sites such as Blackpill, Whiteford or in the Burry Inlet. Another 1st winter bird has also been seen at Aberavon, so 2012 could turn out to be a bumper year for this normally scarce Arctic gull.

2nd winter Iceland Gull 30th Dec.
for non-birders, it's the 'white-winged' gull in front.