Quite Franklin my dear...

Three years ago I probably got a life tick at Blashford Lakes, but I don't count it. A rare American larid, Franklins gull, was appearing in the evening roost. I got there in good time and sat in the hide as it both got dark and filled up with literally hundreds of gulls. The gulls were right at the far side of the lake and even though I stayed till dark and other people claimed to have seen it I couldn't make it out. Not even half a tick. Since then I haven't had a chance to get a grip back on that one. Two days ago one dropped into Radipole lake car park in Dorset just before dark. Initially it was identified as another Yank, a laughing gull. This is equally as rare but is one I have already seen. Quick though it changed into a Franklins gull as photos were studied. No sign the following morning but it dropped in again in the evening. So, today had me barrelling down the M3 to Weymouth.
I got there way too early, just after midday. The car park at Radipole lake is a magnet for gulls. The lake offers food and washing facilities for them and they come onto the car park to dry off and loaf around. There were already over 50 gulls and 6 birders on site.

The previous two nights the Franklins hadn't arrived till 3 so we agreed it would a long wait. We had a good chance to study the other gulls though which were mainly black-headed

and Mediterranean gulls.

There were a couple of common gulls mixed in as well

but the larger gulls were not really coming in apart from a few herring gulls.

As the clock moved on towards three more gulls and birders started to arrive and the flock topped out at well over 100 birds and 25 birders. They were constantly moving, often flying off when disturbed by walkers or cyclists but always returning. At 2.45, the flock took off again and flew around us. The bloke next to me called out "its there" before they started to settle. I quickly got onto a much darker bird as it landed - the Franklins had joined the flock much earlier than normal.

We had been discussing the finer points of its identification in case it arrived - the dark legs, the dark bill. In practice it stood out really well. It has a mantle closer in colour to a lesser black-backed gull and was totally different to the other small gulls.

 This gives a good comparison shot. The size to a black-headed gull is similar but you can clearly see the differences in leg, bill and mantle colour as well as the black semi-hood. Look at that eye make-up as well.
It spent only about 5 minutes on the deck having a good preen.

Suddenly the flock got spooked and they all lifted off taking the Franklins with them. It rose up and headed off towards the bay where it roosts.

We all waited for 10 or 15 minutes but it showed no sign of returning so I gathered up my gear and headed off before the traffic got too bad. Another lifer and a good one to grip back after the dip at Blashford. Still a few weeks to go this year, wonder what else might drop in???