Caped Crusader at Grafham Water!

On Wednesday 10th August, I was able to get an on the day A/L from work and together with the Fergusons drove to Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire via Bury St. Edmunds, 112 miles away. We arrived at Grafham water at 11.40am, the bird had flown from the railings just 20 minutes previously. We met a dejected JHG but we went over to the Water Park, where we saw an adult Yellow- legged Gull and san on distant shore by a long line of Cormorants where we spied a Black- backed Gull but it was too far away. John had to leave and barely 15 minutes after we left we had an interesting candidate perched on the "Q" buoy, it showed a white tertial crescent it showed all black primaries. When it stretched out its wings on both sides the primaries were all black. It also showed a big bill and looked like a big Gull too (bigger than LBB for example) The bird then flew right and then over the Sailing Club where I lost it, other birders then mistakenly got onto the wrong bird and when it settled closer to us on the water 2 tell tail white mirrors near the base of the primaries revealed its true ID as a GBB Gull! We walked back to the Reservoir centre and just bought some food, drink and ice creams, when a birder said the Cape Gull was flying towards the railings. We quickly finished the food and another birder said it had now settled on the railings, so it was a quick walk in blistering heat and we saw the bird perched reasonably close on the railings. Again a GBB Gull size with big swollen bill, black back and prominent white tertial crescent with all balck primaries and grey legs. It was the fantastic 3rd summer Cape Gull, a first for Britian that should normally be residing on the Cape in South Africa!