The second year Glauc was on fine form halfway down the Green Beach just before work this morning - strutting and scowling as I approached, before flying out towards the low tide channels, and circling lazily over the sands.
Suddenly it swept down and pounced on a young Lesser Black Back - pummelling it without mercy.
Even allowing for the fact that Glaucs are meant to have brutality in spades, the attack was surprising - this one is far more hardcore than the first winter bird, which I believe was still around Weld Road today (I didn't get a chance to get up there).
It landed and watched as the battered LBB limped away, while a cloud of crows and gulls began to gather.
I assumed the Glauc was just sorting out breakfast, but then it left the injured LBB and flapped back up the beach to do unspeakable things to the corpse of a Cormorant.
Yup, the dark areas to the right of the bird in the pic above are all that was left of the Cormorant after the "Badass" Glauc had finished with it.
And judging by the look in its cold cold eye, I think it had the LBB it attacked earlier firmly in mind for elevenses.
What a bird.
Didn't get a chance for much more birding after that today, although a very quick look at the Marine Lake at lunchtime produced Goldeneye, Wigeon, 35 Pintail, numerous Pochard and a Scaup.
I flushed a Woodcock in the dunes south of Shore Road in the afternoon - always nice to see one, and as the sun began to sink, I watched as a Peregrine perched up on a piece of tidal debris on the beach.
The falcon allowed me to get to within 70 feet, thereby adhering to the immutable "John ain't got a scope so can't get a decent pic" rule.
Had to make do with yet another blurry "point and press" shot.
One day baby, one day...
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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I had, what I think, was the original Glauc at Weld Road at noon yesterday. Yours is a lot whiter and fitter looking.
I have a photo if you tell me how to send it, you can compare.
Mine looks sick, although it's stopped limping now, it's wings look droopy and it's a bit lethargic, although it can fly ok, so maybe it'll make it home again ??
JD: Yup, that's the 1st winter bird Neil - if you look back on the blog, you'll see a few pix of it since it turned up on Dec 24.
21 Goldeneye at least on the Marine Lake this morning, 49 Pochard and Shag also.
Interestingly 19 Shelduck off Weld Road at lunch time, there were none at all on Saturday and I covered about 1.5 miles from Weld Rd south. I thought it odd that none were present.
John,
After a long search through a flock of about 3000 Pinkfeet on Downholland Moss this afternoon, I located a group of four Tundra Beans. They were hard to spot as they were spending about half their time sitting down. Maybe a family party but I couldn't be sure.
Phil.