In March 2000 I found an adult Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff Seafront on my way back from watching a near adult Ring-billed Gull at Uncle Toms Cabin, only a few miles east along the coast.
This adult went on to bee see each subsequent winter until March 2011. Each year during his stay, sexed as a male due to size and overall bulk, he would arrive from mid August and depart no later than the first few days of April but generally was gone by the end of the 3rd week of March.
During his time he was nicknamed 'Rossi' due to his favourite hangout being the bech front by the Rossi'sIce Cream Parlour and was reliable a couple of hours either side of high tide. Over high tide he would generally roost on the roof of the nearby Casino.
Because of his annual winters he became a regular fixture on annual listers agenda's.
A cracking bird that often performed well; throw some bread out and he was usually the first to appear from nowhere. Sadly missed.
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