Mega Gull And MSQ Migrants.......

Scarlet Elfcup.

1st winter Thayer's Gull,courtesy of C.Atkin esq.

1st winter Thayer's Gull,courtesy of C.Atkin esq.

After a total runaround yesterday trying to connect with the Thayer's Gull at Elsham,an early morning start with Chris today paid dividends with us gaining superb views of this Canadian Arctic Mega.We arrived at first light with a few gulls beginning to trickle in but not settling and numbers eventually building up,but then the same pattern as yesterday,with the gulls being difficult to view in an inaccessible area of the field they were feeding in.But thankfully,today they flew across the road into the field across from were we had parked the car and we managed to get cracking views of the gull on the ground and in flight.On first views it looked like a diminutive juv. Bonxie and was an amazing looking gull,what a fantastic find by Tom Lowe and only a mile and a half from my house!!.The gulls stayed put for about 20 minutes before taking flight again and this carried on with us getting more great views in flight and later on the ground near Melton Ross.This is the first sighting of this extreme rarity for both Chris and Myself and a totally unexpected addition to the Lincolnshire list.While watching the gull we saw our first Swallow of the year flying high over the fields to the south and a couple of Common Buzzard.After enjoying the Thayer's,we headed over to Messingham in,now,more overcast conditions,but managed some  nice sightings.This included our first Willow Warbler's with 2,Sand Martins with 8 and House Martins with 5.The Willow Warbler was watched singing on the edge of the heathy area,giving nice views,with another being heard later on near the car park and the House and Sand Martins were watched feeding together over the main lake.Other sightings here included a single Avocet,Willow Tit and 42 Fieldfare.Non bird highlights were provided today,by some superb views of Scarlet Elfcup growing in the plantation.A cracking days birding and wildlife watching again.