(gelochelidon nilotica)
The Gull-billed Tern is an irregular vagrant to Scotland and the rest of Britain - there are a few records annually. Its normal breeding range is in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, wintering in Africa. I have seen small flocks of them on occasion in Turkey. The bird photographed here was present for a while in Kinneil Lagoon which lies in the shadow of the petrochemical works at Grangemouth. This is possibly one of the most unpleasant birding locations in Scotland with a choking smell of chemicals and a roaring flame stack. The light was very poor this day and the last two photos show a typical Scottish summer day's weather.