29/08/2018 Dungeness RSPB, Romney Marsh, Kent

American Black Tern: This was my second visit to Dunge, after the infamous Arcadian flycatcher and once again it was a brief visit as I needed to head home after working in the area.

This time I was hoping to see the American black tern, a bird I missed only up the road from where I lived back in August 2012 on Eccleston Mere.

My first thoughts were that this was a particularly tricky little bird to pin down across the vast expansive lagoon and the dozen or so European black terns in the area.

But once you see it next to its much more common European cousins you can see that it is distinctive.

It's hoped that the American/European birds will be split which would then give up another life tick, so for now this little guy will sit in the bank.

12/08/2018 Hoylake, Wirral

Bonaparte's Gull: What a brilliant "Brucie Bonus" as while en-oute to Parkgates hen harrier 2018 rally the small scares gull turned up off Hoylake. 

This is a good comparison image showing the Bonaparte's as the slightly smaller of the two and the black-headed still with its fading summer plumage blackened head, the Bonaparte's also has a slim black bill and grey nape. 

The English name of the Bonaparte's Gull honors Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who made important contributions to American ornithology while an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia during the 1820s.

The last Wirral record was in 2004 & 1st ever Wirral record was in 1979 which also turned up in August.