Sabine's Gull (Larus sabini) at Blackleach Reservoir, Walkden on 16th August 1977, a species new to Greater Manchester.

At 11:30 a.m. while watching a small flock of 15 Black-headed Gulls at Blackleach Reservoir I noticed an unusual gull amongst them, readily identifiable by a different wing pattern. The bird was present until 20:15 by which time it had been seen by several other observers including J. D. Wilson and positively identified as an adult Sabine's Gull.

It was watched continually in wheeling flight and for short periods it settled on the water within forty feet of the observers. In flight the primaries showed black with four white tips on rear edge; the secondaries were white forming a triangle with apex at the carpal joint; wing coverts grey. The forked white tail was conspicuous when the bird was on the wing and was fanned out as the bird hovered tern-like above the water. As it picked up food from the water with it's black yellow-tipped bill the blackish legs were lowered towards the water. On the opposite bank there were four fishermen and the bird took some of the bait they were throwing out. On two occasions in flight the rather larger Black-headed Gulls half-heartedly mobbed the silent Sabine's Gull. The head was dark-grey with small flecks of white to the neck and small whitish area on the throat and forehead. There was a distinct narrow black collar around the nape.

P. B. Barlow