A decent gull roost this evening produced the following:
Caspian gull 1 2nd winter
Iceland gull 1 2nd winter
Mediterranean gull 1 adult
10 birders present as is the norm at the moment, including John Tymon, Mike Passant, Damian Young. Sorry, I don't know the rest of your names.
The attached photos are my best by a mile so far of the Caspian gull. I've also included for interest a photo of a lesser black-backed gull with a dark hood.
Highlights from this morning for me... 49 Lapwing on the spit 43 Redwing in one flock on the golf course 41 Teal in various places 35 Tufted Duck again various 31 Cormorant on spit 16 Gadwall in various locations 15 Shoveler again various 15 Goldeneye on main flash 13 Goosander in various locations 7 Lesser Redpolls near Teal Hide 6 Bullfinch all from Bunting Hide 4 Stock Dove there as well 4 Mistle Thrush on golf course 3 Common Gulls near Car Park 3 Reed Bunting from Bunting Hide 3 Willow Tit (2 Bunting/1 Pengy's) 3 Little Grebe from Ramsdale's Hide 2 Pochard from Pengy's 1 Grey Wagtail on Westleigh Brook 1 Treecreeper on tree near Canal and 1 Water Rail from Bunting Hide Plus usual species - 45 species in total.
-- Edited by Kristian Wade on Saturday 20th of January 2018 05:06:56 PM
Water Rail under the feeders at the Bunting Hide Willow, Blue, Great, Coal and Long Tailed Tit Bullfinch Kestrel Chaffinch Wren Dunnock Robin Canada Goose Mute Swan Great Crested and Little Grebes Black headed, Herring and Lesser Black Backed gulls 20+ Goosander at various places Reed Bunting Coot Moorhen Shoveler Gadwall Goldeneye Teal Tufted Duck Mallard Lapwing Cormorant Grey Heron Little Egret Blackbird Wood Pigeon
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15.00-17.00 I primarily went for the gull roost hoping for the Iceland Gull but I couldnt locate it unfortunately.
However I did pick out: 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult in near full hood 1 Yellow-legged Gull - the regular 3rd winter. Initially picked up out on the flash, the bird came very close to the car park as people fed the ducks bread giving some great close views as it flew around and settled on the water close to the shore.
Other birds of note: 1 Woodcock over the car park at 5pm Flock of Pink-footed Geese over in the gloom - heard only
3rd Winter Yellow-legged Gull: good viewing this pm, 12.45 to 2.30 Picked this gull up on arrival on yellow Buoy near yacht club. Then spent an hour in Horrocks hide, with John Tymon, watching it move around. John knows this bird like the back of his hand and was very helpful.( Gull seen even better in John's new Kowa scope) County lifer for me
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Couple of hours this morning
3 Little Egret from Ramsdale hide
2+ Kingfisher
Nuthatch in trees behind Horrocks hide
Dipper on westleigh brook between golf course footbridge and college.
Water rail showing well from Bunting hide
2 drake Pochard from pengies hide
and unfortunately 6 dead Black Headed Gulls at the front of Horrocks and on spit ,that makes 10 in 2 weeks ,so there is suspicion it could be air rifles at night?I can't think of any other reason,as it would be unusual to have 6 die in the same area overnight and 2 with legs in the air. :(
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 13th of January 2018 07:23:36 AM
I am half tempted to come down and have a try for the Caspian Gull at Penny, but have never stayed before for the winter Gull roost and not sure where best to stand; is it best from the Rucks please?
When glassing through waders and gulls on the spit in the afternoons previously, I quite like sitting by the two big rocks on the Rucks and scoping from there, but perhaps the locals prefer the yacht club side for the big roosts?
Any help would be appreciated please.
Regards,
Mike P
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Foggy conditions made the gull roost extremely difficult and frustrating viewing today. The 3rd win yellow-legged gull and adult Mediterranean gull were present but most other gulls were lost in the fog.
Dipper again on Westleigh brook this morning in extremely dismal and murky conditions. Today it was from the bridge nearest Leigh college about 200m down stream from the bypass bridge where it was seen yesterday. With Bill Harrison.
Here's a few photos of mine of yesterday evenings 2nd winter Caspian gull if they help, (taken through John's scope). As John said, it was nearly dark when these were taken (around 4:30).
John (Tymon), Have you got any pics of the Caspian Gull facing left? Keen to try and determine whether itâs the same 2ndw as present at Fishmoor Res, Lancs, 30-31st Dec. Thanks.
Yes but not that clear as it was dark when I was taking them . Full set of pictures have been sent to Ian.
John (Tymon), Have you got any pics of the Caspian Gull facing left? Keen to try and determine whether itâs the same 2ndw as present at Fishmoor Res, Lancs, 30-31st Dec. Thanks.
56 Species this am including 5 Siskin, at least 7 Willow Tit at various points and the regular 3rd Winter Yellow Legged Gull sat on the Orange bouy in East bay at 11.30 to at least 11.45am.
Yellow Legged Gull - 1 3rd winter down to 10 feet today regularly under car park . Little Egret-2 (1 on teal ,1 on westleigh brook) Teal-45 Shelduck-1... Goosander - 22 Cormorant-28 Snipe-2 Tufted Duck - 45 (massively down on the norm) Great Crested Grebe-21 (again well down) Goldeneye-12 ( low number) Bullfinch-6 Kingfisher-2 plus the usuals.
picture 3rd w yellow legged gull
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 31st of December 2017 07:51:43 AM
Excellent if very cold afternoon at the flash of note
Yellow Legged Gull - 2 = 1 x 3rd Winter (Regular bird) and a pristine new Adult that arrived at the same time as the regular bird and at times the regular bird was interacting and displaying to the Adult bird ,both arrived at 2.30 and the Adult flew high circling about 3.30 and was lost after that - record shot of the new Adult bird below.
Iceland Gull - 1 x 2nd Winter that again came in after dark at about 4.20 (found by Phil Rhodes)
Kestrel- 2
Sparrowhawk-1
Cormorant -32
Goosander-21
Wildfowl numbers seem very low,ive never seen so few Tufted Duck at this time of year ,probably no more than 50. where we would not long ago have 500 at this time of year.
Pictures new Adult Yellow Legged Gull
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 27th of December 2017 07:54:27 PM