After returning to the same Gosport boating lake for 13 years I though it was about time to pay the Ring-billed Gull a visit.  Ring-billed Gulls are rare visitors from America.  This American visitor that has been visiting hampshire is so will known it even has its own notice board and nickname (Waldo)

I made the Journey south with two other Local birders Brian Thompson and Lee Gardiner and on arriving at Walpole Boating Lake, Gosport we meet up with my Uncle Ricky.  We found the Ring-billed Gull after a few minutes of scanning the Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls.  We fired off a few record shots and decided to return later when the light was going to be better. 

Ricky being a local took us to a few sites close to the naval harbour were we had a good chance of seeing Red-breasted Merganser and maybe even a Black Redstart.  Red-breasted Merganser were seen in good numbers but unfortunately no Black Reds.  Looking towards the Naval shipyard we could see a huge flock of waders these appeared to be mostly Dunlin.  These came and landed on a few boats something i had not seen before.

The weather gradually got better and the afternoon saw bright sunshine so we headed back to Walpole Park for the main attraction.  

Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014

​it didn't disappoint 

Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014

Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014 Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014 Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014 Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014 Ring-billed Gull, Gosport, December 2014

Also at Walpole there were several groups of Brent Geese not a rarity  on the South Coast but a delight to us Bristol Birders

Brent Goose, Walpole Park, Gosport, December 2014

All in all a great day on the South Coast well worth the visit.