Sandbach 27th February 2020

I happened to be passing Sandbach on the way back from Stoke when news came through the adult Kumlien's Gull was again on Pump House Flash, so it would have been rude not to call in. There were no other birders present as I arrived, but it was easy enough to pick out amongst the 200 or so other large gulls (mostly Lesser Black-backeds, which are now on the move along with Common Gulls). Views were good if a little distant, and certainly better than my hand held phone scope photo. It amazes me this bird breeds in Arctic Canada yet is all the way over here as if it were nothing. No doubt in a few weeks it will commence it's epic return voyage to the edge of the Ice.

Kumlien's is a race of Iceland Gull, so shares the same characteristically elegant profile and true to form this was a cracker. Glad I made the effort.