Glaucous-winged Gull

West Cork turned up trumps again with the Glaucous-winged Gull that was found there a few weeks ago, following on from the wonderful American Bittern at Castlefreke last month.  Fortunately it has stayed around so I finally got an opportunity to take a trip to Castletownbere to see it last Tuesday. The bird wasn't immediately visible at the harbour when I arrived but it appeared shortly after some bread was presented to the local gulls.

The bird seemed to favour the tops of the street lights on the road to the east of the harbour and it retreated there each time the bread was gone.  I was surprised how timid it was when competing with the Black-headed Gulls for food.  It tended to hang back and seem to get very little of what was on offer.  It was also harassed by one of the Herring Gulls on one occasion.  Even though it moved around a few times while I was there it spent most of the time sitting on the water or perched on top of street lights so I didn't get much opportunity for flight shots.