Cacher In The Rye

July is called Heinäkuu in Finnish, or "Hay/grass/rye" month.

On Friday I posted a link to a Facebook group concerning juv Caspian Gull ID. Somewhat of a premonition as on Saturday morning I found this beauty in classic "scenic" conditions.



Juv Caspian Gull - That sleek bill.

Parking up at the waste pile, I was a little disappointed that the numbers of gulls seemed low. Maybe because it was Saturday, or maybe because of the heat (30°C or so).

In recent months the management company had been doing some work, including exposing a gigantic rock mound near the entrance, which the gulls have taken to sitting on. This makes it somewhat more difficult to go through them, as they are above you and at a poor angle.



Nonetheless a few birds started to come in to the trash and as a pale bird came in over me I knew I had something good. 

It landed straight in with a couple of juv Herring, looking dark and mysterious, with a lovely leafy pattern in the coverts.

This is my first ever fresh July juvenile, so was a real delight and experience moment.


Compare and contrast - note the differing pattern in the upperparts relative to the juv Herring on the left, especially in terms of the wing coverts.


Juvenile Caspian Gull - the hanging nappy effect.


Juv Caspian Gull - Already quite white on the underparts


Juv Caspian Gull - another couple of comparison shots with a well marked juv Herring.





Juv Caspian Gull - note the paler inner primaries


Juv Caspian Gull - an already well progressed white underwing.








Juv Caspian Gull - gorgeous tail. But then they all have lovely bottoms.

This was the first juv this year in Finland so far as I know and so nice to pick up at one of the smaller dumps.

Otherwise it's been a quiet couple of weeks as we deal with the summer heat.

I've visited Laajalahti once or twice, enjoying the build up of post breeding Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and other waders, as well as the loafing flock of Caspian Tern.







Caspian Terns - monsters

I also managed to add the rare Grey Wagtail to my Finnish list after years of simply not bothering to look for something so common back home.







This Moose was the best of the rest, giving itself up as it helped itself to a wheat lunch.






Here's to the start of the autumn. I can hear flocks of Crossbill going over regularly these days, finches are moving through our garden, and the first Tree pipits are going over too. It all wraps up so quickly.

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