After an absence of most of the Gulls yesterday afternoon this morning has seen a welcome return of plenty of large Gulls including... - 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull - 3 adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 2 Argentatus Herring Gulls
Rob Creek said
Fri Dec 8 9:58 AM, 2017
Friday 8th Dec.
Plenty of large Gulls present this morning but again no Yellow-legged Gulls. - 3 Great Black-backed Gulls - 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
Ian I think you're right with 2G3B. Mike Jackson from Yorkshire Ringing got in touch and also agrees with you on the number and that it looks like one of Jez's. Will update as and when. Cheers
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 7 8:27 PM, 2017
Rob Creek wrote:
...and also an Argenteus Herring Gull with a yellow ring on its left leg and a small silver ring on the right. The number looked like "2G38" on the yellow ring. Any info as to whose ringing group likely matches this number sequence? Cheers
Could have been 2G3B and if so likely ringed near Kings Lynn, Cambridge or Doncaster. Try jezblackburn@sky.com to see if its one of theirs.
Rob Creek said
Thu Dec 7 7:53 PM, 2017
Thursday 7th Dec. 9.30am
- No sign of any Yellow-legged Gulls - 2 Great Black-backed Gulls - 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
...and also an Argenteus Herring Gull with a yellow ring on its left leg and a small silver ring on the right. The number looked like "2G38" on the yellow ring. Any info as to whose ringing group likely matches this number sequence? Cheers
Rob Creek said
Wed Dec 6 10:14 AM, 2017
Weds 6th Dec 9.40am
- 1 adult Yellow-legged only and so continues the slightly sombre mood! - 2 Argentatus Herring Gull - 6 Mistle Thrush - 3 Redwing
Rob Creek said
Tue Dec 5 4:29 PM, 2017
Late afternoon approx 3pm
- 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (the lone one) - 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (amongst others, that had virtually the same mantle darkness the Great Black-backed's) - 8 Redwing - 9 Mistle Thrush - 3 Blackbird
Rob Creek said
Tue Dec 5 10:07 AM, 2017
No sign of any Yellow-legged Gulls this morning
Rob Creek said
Mon Dec 4 11:53 AM, 2017
Monday 4th Dec 10am
Just 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull present in main yard area. Pretty certain it's the loner.
Hi Nev, it can be difficult to tell sometimes from just 1 image but looking at bill structure, goyn pattern, and general jizz, I'm pretty certain it's 1 of the long staying pair, and the larger of the 2, presumably the male as it always seems to be the more dominant of the 2. Cheers
Nev Wright said
Fri Dec 1 4:40 PM, 2017
One Yellow-legged Gull seen around lunchtime.
Not sure which one it is. One for you Rob I guess?
- could only see 2 Yellow-legged Gulls this morning but strangely the 1st one I saw was one of the long staying pair, and the 2nd bird looked like the single individual that's here. (I'm thinking chances are the 2nd of the long staying pair was present too) - 1 Great Black-backed Gull again - 2 Argentatus Herring Gull - 2 Mistle Thrush - 1 Robin - 1 Cormorant over
I've attached an image of a Yellow-legged Gull from yesterday lunchtime, taken by Nigel Philpott. I'm glad you saw them Nigel, they're cracking birds and make for good viewing. As do all Gulls
- All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present earlier at 9.44am. - c50 Redwings (along Bessemer St and near security) - 6 Mistle Thrush
Rob Creek said
Mon Nov 27 1:02 PM, 2017
Monday 27th Nov.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls present and showing well at 9.50am
Rob Creek said
Fri Nov 24 9:59 AM, 2017
Friday 24th Nov. 9.45am
3 Yellow-legged Gulls present still.
Rob Creek said
Thu Nov 23 9:58 AM, 2017
3 Yellow-legged Gulls present again this morning 9.50am
Rob Creek said
Wed Nov 22 10:04 AM, 2017
Weds 22nd Nov 10am
As far as I can see just the 2 long staying Yellow-legged Gulls present at the moment. Also a young Great Black-backed Gull.
Rob Creek said
Tue Nov 21 11:58 PM, 2017
3pm today and not a single Gull on any of the rooves around the fish units or factories area. It was poor weather though and unusually dark and dull most of the day so maybe it was a 'turn it in and go to roost early' day? There was a small trickle of Black-headed Gulls over heading east following Ashton-old-road so no prizes for guessing where they were off to! Some of the Thrush flock were still along Bessemer Street, I've attached a couple of photos from yesterday including a Redwing from the flock and a shot of all 3 Yellow-legged Gulls in the same view, could've gone now that 3rd bird, I'll check in the morning to see what's turned up.
Only 2 Yellow-legged Gulls seen whilst on site, they looked like the Smithfield 2 and were mainly together so probably were. I'll be on site again later today so will update then.
Same mixture and approximate numbers of Thrushes around too.
Rob Creek said
Mon Nov 20 11:03 AM, 2017
Monday 20th Nov.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present and showing well this morning.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently present this afternoon and showing well. Interestingly...I've just witnessed some interaction whereby 1 of what I think was the Smithfield 2 suddenly flew over to the other one and spent a minute or so with that one then flew back again to the other one.
Also present was a Thrush flock in the Hawthorn hedges along Bessemer St and the green infront of security consisting of (or at least what I could see)... 12 Redwing 3 Fieldfare 4 Mistle Thrush 6 Blackbird
Rob Creek said
Sat Nov 18 2:07 PM, 2017
Saturday 18th Nov.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently present this afternoon and showing well. Interestingly...I've just witnessed some interaction whereby 1 of what I think was the Smithfield 2 suddenly flew over to the other one and spent a minute or so with that one then flew back again to the other one.
Rob Creek said
Fri Nov 17 9:40 AM, 2017
Friday 17th Nov. 9.40am All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently on Sykes roof with the newer bird keeping a little way apart.
John Rayner said
Thu Nov 16 12:11 PM, 2017
Rob Creek wrote:
Rob Creek wrote:
what's the chances of breeding Yellow-legged Gulls in Manchester next year, if they even hang around until then that is?? (It's over 4 months and counting for these 2)
Very little chance according to the latest British Birds Rare Breeding Bird Survey I have to hand (2013).
"Very Rare. 3 Sites: 1 pair, 1-2 mixed pairs. Reported from Dorset and Hampshire since 2007 with little indication of any increase in numbers there, or further spread elsewhere".
Cheers, John
Rob Creek said
Thu Nov 16 10:26 AM, 2017
Rob Creek wrote:
Thursday 16th Nov. 9.50am
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently showing on site. 1 on J&B Wildes and the other 2 on Sykes roof.
Left site around 10 minutes ago and as suspected, 1 of the Gulls on Sykes roof was the new bird as the other one flew over to join the bird on J&B Wildes roof, they then began their usual routine of bowing their heads, calling, and strutting around together. Too early to make any predictions but what's the chances of breeding Yellow-legged Gulls in Manchester next year, if they even hang around until then that is?? (It's over 4 months and counting for these 2)
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 16th of November 2017 11:10:32 AM
Rob Creek said
Thu Nov 16 9:52 AM, 2017
Thursday 16th Nov. 9.50am
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently showing on site. 1 on J&B Wildes and the other 2 on Sykes roof.
Rob Creek said
Wed Nov 15 10:03 AM, 2017
Weds 15th Nov 9.24am on site approx 15mins.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present and showing well at times but mobile.
Rough count of around 55 large Gulls and all mobile at times, but I managed to pick out 2 Argentatus Herring Gulls, a very pale and very large juvenile Herring Gull that stood out and I also managed a record shot of all 3 Yellow-legged's together!!! This site is getting better and better!
Rob Creek said
Wed Nov 15 1:58 AM, 2017
Further to my post for Tuesday afternoon.
Quite a few large Gulls present on Tuesday, more than usual, similar situation to Monday at Redgate Recycling. Lots of activity...must've been leftovers in boxes outside J&B Wildes, an initial scan produced 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (the Smithfield 2). Another flurry of activity ensued as Black-headed Gulls found missed titbits, that didn't sit well with the larger Gulls. Another sift through them as they'd all changed position produced the usual 2 suspects and now the 3rd Yellow-legged Gull.
I took plenty of images that proved the Smithfield 2 were together on Sykes roof together for a minimum of 13 minutes, and the 3rd individual barely moved (if a few mm's) for a minimum of 19 minutes on the other roof, the key being the image times along with the marks, stains and roof pattern, and the other Gull in one of the images, not shown all the images just enough for proof. Cheers
Currently 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls on site. 2 on Sykes roof, 1 on JB Wildes roof, all 3 in view.
Rob Creek said
Mon Nov 13 10:00 PM, 2017
I was on site for a relatively short period of time today due to the collection of an order being changed to tomorrow but whilst on site I managed a bit of Gull watching.
The long staying 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were present and what I believe was a 3rd adult Yellow-legged too. I took some photos of the Smithfield 2, together and individually on the multiple units roof, and some of the 3rd bird on Sykes roof. The times on the images show that the 3rd individual didn't move from an exact spot on Sykes's roof whilst the other 2 were still on the adjacent units roof.
I hope I'm correct and Ian confirms that the photos do indeed show a 3rd bird, if I'm wrong then I will edit this post accordingly and take it on the chin
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 2.45pm flying round and then landed on Hodgkinson Fresh Fish roof. 2 Argentatus Herring Gull also present amongst the large Gulls
Rob Creek said
Sat Nov 11 1:50 PM, 2017
Saturday 11th Nov.
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 1.37pm, sat on Sykes roof along with... 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Argentatus Herring Gull 1 Argenteus Herring Gull 2 Black-headed Gulls
...and 2 Mistle Thrush on the green infront of security, No Redwings!
Rob Creek said
Fri Nov 10 10:14 AM, 2017
Friday 10th Nov.
9.44am just 1 Yellow-legged Gull seen flying round the main yard from Bessemer St. Hardly any large Gulls present in that area this morning so it was fairly easily picked out. Still some Redwings around the green and the Hawthorn hedges at the top of Bessemer St, lots of berries there and a pair of Mistle Thrush were doing their best to drive the Redwings away.
Rob Creek said
Thu Nov 9 9:30 AM, 2017
Thurs 9th Nov.
9.19am both Yellow-legged Gulls present. 1 on Smith Sagar roof, the other on a lamp-post slap bang in the middle of the yard as viewed from Bessemer St. Few Redwings present again on Bessemer St.
Rob Creek said
Wed Nov 8 10:12 AM, 2017
Weds 8th Nov
9.52am both Yellow-legged Gulls present on China Star roof and 4 or 5 Redwings present again in hedges on Bessemer Street feeding with 2 Blackbirds and a riled Mistle Thrush.
Rob Creek said
Tue Nov 7 9:31 AM, 2017
Tuesday 7th Nov 9.10am
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present again this morning. One mobile and calling, around Bessemer St / Ashton Old Rd and the other was on J&B Wilde's roof.
Also a small flock of Redwings again, just off the green in the hedges where it meets Bessemer St.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 7th of November 2017 09:39:05 AM
Rob Creek said
Mon Nov 6 1:03 PM, 2017
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 12.40pm on China Star roof next to Sykes. Literally in the last couple of minutes they've flown off towards Ashton Old Rd.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 6th of November 2017 11:08:27 PM
Following on from John Tromans' post earlier today on the Bits & Bobs thread, I had to nip back into the city centre this afternoon to see a customer so I stopped off here on the way.
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull only (2.44pm, camera says 3.44pm in the image, the time has now been corrected) - 1 Herring Gull (Argenteus) - 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 6 Redwing feeding on the green infront of security
I popped back around 4.15pm and both Yellow-legged Gulls were flying round and constantly calling, but light was fading and my camera wouldn't pick them up properly.
After an absence of most of the Gulls yesterday afternoon this morning has seen a welcome return of plenty of large Gulls including...
- 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
- 3 adult Great Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Argentatus Herring Gulls
Plenty of large Gulls present this morning but again no Yellow-legged Gulls.
- 3 Great Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
Ian I think you're right with 2G3B. Mike Jackson from Yorkshire Ringing got in touch and also agrees with you on the number and that it looks like one of Jez's. Will update as and when.
Cheers
Could have been 2G3B and if so likely ringed near Kings Lynn, Cambridge or Doncaster. Try jezblackburn@sky.com to see if its one of theirs.
- No sign of any Yellow-legged Gulls
- 2 Great Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
...and also an Argenteus Herring Gull with a yellow ring on its left leg and a small silver ring on the right. The number looked like "2G38" on the yellow ring. Any info as to whose ringing group likely matches this number sequence?
Cheers
- 1 adult Yellow-legged only and so continues the slightly sombre mood!
- 2 Argentatus Herring Gull
- 6 Mistle Thrush
- 3 Redwing
- 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (the lone one)
- 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls
- 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (amongst others, that had virtually the same mantle darkness the Great Black-backed's)
- 8 Redwing
- 9 Mistle Thrush
- 3 Blackbird
Just 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull present in main yard area. Pretty certain it's the loner.
Hi Nev, it can be difficult to tell sometimes from just 1 image but looking at bill structure, goyn pattern, and general jizz, I'm pretty certain it's 1 of the long staying pair, and the larger of the 2, presumably the male as it always seems to be the more dominant of the 2.
Cheers
One Yellow-legged Gull seen around lunchtime.
Not sure which one it is. One for you Rob I guess?
Cheers
Nev
- could only see 2 Yellow-legged Gulls this morning but strangely the 1st one I saw was one of the long staying pair, and the 2nd bird looked like the single individual that's here. (I'm thinking chances are the 2nd of the long staying pair was present too)
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull again
- 2 Argentatus Herring Gull
- 2 Mistle Thrush
- 1 Robin
- 1 Cormorant over
I've attached an image of a Yellow-legged Gull from yesterday lunchtime, taken by Nigel Philpott. I'm glad you saw them Nigel, they're cracking birds and make for good viewing. As do all Gulls
- Could only see 2 Yellow-legged Gulls together on JB Wildes
- also 1 Great Black-backed Gull still
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 30th of November 2017 10:07:54 PM
Around 80 large Gulls present this morning.
- 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 2 Argentatus Herring Gull
- c20 Redwing
- 2 Fieldfare
- 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still here (10.15am)
- 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
- 5 Redwing
- 5 Mistle Thrush
- 4 Blackbird
- All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present earlier at 9.44am.
- c50 Redwings (along Bessemer St and near security)
- 6 Mistle Thrush
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls present and showing well at 9.50am
3 Yellow-legged Gulls present still.
As far as I can see just the 2 long staying Yellow-legged Gulls present at the moment.
Also a young Great Black-backed Gull.
There was a small trickle of Black-headed Gulls over heading east following Ashton-old-road so no prizes for guessing where they were off to!
Some of the Thrush flock were still along Bessemer Street, I've attached a couple of photos from yesterday including a Redwing from the flock and a shot of all 3 Yellow-legged Gulls in the same view, could've gone now that 3rd bird, I'll check in the morning to see what's turned up.
Only 2 Yellow-legged Gulls seen whilst on site, they looked like the Smithfield 2 and were mainly together so probably were. I'll be on site again later today so will update then.
Same mixture and approximate numbers of Thrushes around too.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present and showing well this morning.
Also...
11 Redwing
3 Fieldfare
6 Mistle Thrush
4 Blackbird
5 Pied Wagtail
Also present was a Thrush flock in the Hawthorn hedges along Bessemer St and the green infront of security consisting of (or at least what I could see)...
12 Redwing
3 Fieldfare
4 Mistle Thrush
6 Blackbird
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently present this afternoon and showing well.
Interestingly...I've just witnessed some interaction whereby 1 of what I think was the Smithfield 2 suddenly flew over to the other one and spent a minute or so with that one then flew back again to the other one.
9.40am All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently on Sykes roof with the newer bird keeping a little way apart.
Left site around 10 minutes ago and as suspected, 1 of the Gulls on Sykes roof was the new bird as the other one flew over to join the bird on J&B Wildes roof, they then began their usual routine of bowing their heads, calling, and strutting around together.
Too early to make any predictions but what's the chances of breeding Yellow-legged Gulls in Manchester next year, if they even hang around until then that is?? (It's over 4 months and counting for these 2)
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 16th of November 2017 11:10:32 AM
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls currently showing on site.
1 on J&B Wildes and the other 2 on Sykes roof.
All 3 Yellow-legged Gulls still present and showing well at times but mobile.
Rough count of around 55 large Gulls and all mobile at times, but I managed to pick out 2 Argentatus Herring Gulls, a very pale and very large juvenile Herring Gull that stood out and I also managed a record shot of all 3 Yellow-legged's together!!!
This site is getting better and better!
Further to my post for Tuesday afternoon.
Quite a few large Gulls present on Tuesday, more than usual, similar situation to Monday at Redgate Recycling.
Lots of activity...must've been leftovers in boxes outside J&B Wildes, an initial scan produced 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (the Smithfield 2).
Another flurry of activity ensued as Black-headed Gulls found missed titbits, that didn't sit well with the larger Gulls. Another sift through them as they'd all changed position produced the usual 2 suspects and now the 3rd Yellow-legged Gull.
I took plenty of images that proved the Smithfield 2 were together on Sykes roof together for a minimum of 13 minutes, and the 3rd individual barely moved (if a few mm's) for a minimum of 19 minutes on the other roof, the key being the image times along with the marks, stains and roof pattern, and the other Gull in one of the images, not shown all the images just enough for proof.
Cheers
2 on Sykes roof, 1 on JB Wildes roof, all 3 in view.
I was on site for a relatively short period of time today due to the collection of an order being changed to tomorrow but whilst on site I managed a bit of Gull watching.
The long staying 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were present and what I believe was a 3rd adult Yellow-legged too.
I took some photos of the Smithfield 2, together and individually on the multiple units roof, and some of the 3rd bird on Sykes roof.
The times on the images show that the 3rd individual didn't move from an exact spot on Sykes's roof whilst the other 2 were still on the adjacent units roof.
I hope I'm correct and Ian confirms that the photos do indeed show a 3rd bird, if I'm wrong then I will edit this post accordingly and take it on the chin
Images of both Yellow-legged Gulls from yesterday afternoon.
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 2.45pm flying round and then landed on Hodgkinson Fresh Fish roof.
2 Argentatus Herring Gull also present amongst the large Gulls
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 1.37pm, sat on Sykes roof along with...
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Argentatus Herring Gull
1 Argenteus Herring Gull
2 Black-headed Gulls
...and 2 Mistle Thrush on the green infront of security, No Redwings!
9.44am just 1 Yellow-legged Gull seen flying round the main yard from Bessemer St.
Hardly any large Gulls present in that area this morning so it was fairly easily picked out.
Still some Redwings around the green and the Hawthorn hedges at the top of Bessemer St, lots of berries there and a pair of Mistle Thrush were doing their best to drive the Redwings away.
9.19am both Yellow-legged Gulls present.
1 on Smith Sagar roof, the other on a lamp-post slap bang in the middle of the yard as viewed from Bessemer St.
Few Redwings present again on Bessemer St.
9.52am both Yellow-legged Gulls present on China Star roof and 4 or 5 Redwings present again in hedges on Bessemer Street feeding with 2 Blackbirds and a riled Mistle Thrush.
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present again this morning.
One mobile and calling, around Bessemer St / Ashton Old Rd and the other was on J&B Wilde's roof.
Also a small flock of Redwings again, just off the green in the hedges where it meets Bessemer St.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 7th of November 2017 09:39:05 AM
Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 12.40pm on China Star roof next to Sykes.
Literally in the last couple of minutes they've flown off towards Ashton Old Rd.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 6th of November 2017 11:08:27 PM
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull only (2.44pm, camera says 3.44pm in the image, the time has now been corrected)
- 1 Herring Gull (Argenteus)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 6 Redwing feeding on the green infront of security
I popped back around 4.15pm and both Yellow-legged Gulls were flying round and constantly calling, but light was fading and my camera wouldn't pick them up properly.