Iceland in Switzerland

On February 9th 2013, I awoke at our apartment on Lake Thun in a winter wonderland.

It was the perfect time to take a snowshoe walk up to Zettanalp, on virgin snow.

That same day I went down to the lake to see something much more special. Sitting at the edge was an Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides), in 2nd winter plumage - with a blue and black bill, and light pink legs. When it is a full adult it will have dark pink legs, a yellow bill with a red spot, and much greyer wings. Iceland Gulls breed in the arctic regions of Canada and Greenland (not Iceland, as the name suggests) and in winters will normally be pushed south by harsh weather as far south as Britain. This one has been pushed too far. It was the first time an Iceland Gull had been seen in Switzerland, and still the only time.