© S. Nuttall

© K. Clements

An adult Franklin's Gull, the first record for Staffs, was found at Blithfield Reservoir during the evening of August 9th 2006. The photos above were taken by Steve Nuttall and Kevin Clements at dawn the following morning. Soon afterwards the bird departed to the NE. It is presumed to be the same individual that was seen at Grunty Fen, Cambridgeshire, on July 29th.