Photo of the Black Redstart at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h18464ca2#h18464ca2
Record shots of the Little gull at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/littlegull/h18a1eeb8#h18a1eeb8
The Little Gull (First winter) was not co-operating and spent 30 mins flying round in the middle of the bay – seen from the barrage looking towards Morrisons.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
The gull is a Bonaparte’s Andy
Julian, thanks for the comment.
Surprisingly, I have been on the phone to Lol Middleton (who was with me this morning) and scouring the rest of my shots since 9pm this evening – trying to work out if it is a Bonaparte’s. Your comment appeared half way through.
There are 4 images – all taken at 200 metres so are pretty poor. Shots 2, 3 and 4 look very like a first winter little gull. Shot 1 does indeed look like a Bonaparte’s but shots taken in the few seconds before and after are of Little gull. I think the sun has washed out the black on the upper right wing. I am pretty sure the gull in 1 is the same as in 2, 3 and 4 – plus a new shot put up (shot 5). Have a look at the head (and it’s cap), the spot behind the eye and the leg colour compared to 5. I may be wrong – and will spend some time going through all the shots – I took circa 100 hoping it would come nearer.
Now, is shot 1 a different gull and a bonapartes? It does indeed look like one – hence our 90 mins on the phone – you are not the only one who thought it could be. One thing against the bonapartes is the black tail band which is visible in photo 1. The gull in photo 1 doesnt look like a first winter as there is little black or brown on the upper right wing. If it was a bonapartes then this would be an adult and hence not have a black tail band. If it was a first winter bonapartes I would expect more of a dark band over the head and this would be a new gull for the bay.
In summary, I think it is just an exposure problem of the black on the right wing (the sun was strong at times), but I am going to review all the shots again around the time of this one.
Make sure you check out photos 2,3,4 &5 to see if you think they are the little gull.
Andy
They all look like Little Gulls to me – confused?
Ah – Andy you posted the same time as me – rather more comprehensively 😉
Barry, thanks for the confirmation. It had me worried for a while so Julian wasn’t on his own.
I tracked the gull for quite a long time and it would have been a fluke if a Bonapartes had suddenly turned up for one shot. These were full frame shots cropped at 200% (!!!!) so lots of other info in the pics. None show anything other than the LG and BHGs. All the shots either side show a LG.
I’m certain now it is the sun bleaching out the upper wing primaries of the right wing. Perhaps not the best shot (as a first shot) to show all the distinguishing features, but it was the best showing the head, underwing and legs. A good reminder that you can’t trust a single photo on a sunny day – even one with no post processing.
Thanks to Julian and Barry for an interesting discussion.
Andy
Single photos can be very deceiving at times – the first pic on it’s own is pretty deceptive and would have made a good mystery bird photo!
Andy and Barry – now there’s how to get egg on ones face! I only looked at the first picture (were the others there last night?), failed to notice the tail band, didn’t pay enough attention to the primary tip patterns etc. etc. bla bla…. I just made a quick, blasé and incorrect assumption that the Bony’s had made its way into the Bay. Apologies
No worries Judd, you have as much street cred as anyone I know, but good to know you’re human too 😉