Garden Wildlife UK

gull by John Lindsey Photography, on Flickr

It looks like a juvenile Black Headed Gull that has been swimming in something that has stained it's feathers brown.
But I could be wrong. There is another possibility which is a much rarer bird the name of which escapes me at present. Was it at any time spinning around in the water in roughly the same place?

I thought so which is a shame. Water must not be that clean.

Depending on how big the bird was I may have another ID for this bird. I have checked my Bird books and it could be a Red Phalarope mid moult. In Spring during the breeding season they are a rich chestnut brown but moult to grey and white for the autumn and winter. They sometimes stop off in the UK on the way to their winter quarters in West Africa.
PS they are sometimes known as the Grey Phalarope.

It was a little smaller or similar to a black headed gull.

johnd83 wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:06 pm It was a little smaller or similar to a black headed gull.

I now think it is a Phalarope. A good spot by yourself

Most people I have asked think its a juvenile black headed gull but with oil stains due to unclean water.

johnd83 wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:08 am Most people I have asked think its a juvenile black headed gull but with oil stains due to unclean water.

It was my first thought too. There are similarities and it is an easy ID to make.