Black-Headed Gull with full breeding black head! which in mid winter is something of a rarely.
There's been one showing at Elton in mid-December. It is unusual, but you can always expect the odd one to be ready early in the season scattered about somewhere.
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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Friday, 22nd January 2021. Early afternoon exercise walk.
Kestrel x 2 Buzzard x 1 Stonechat x 4 Pochard x 2 (first for me on this site) Gadwall x 25 Bullfinch x 4 (2M and 2F) Reed Bunting x 3 Mistle Thrush x 1 Meadow Pipit x 3 Tufted Duck x 1 Canada Geese x 27 Great Black-Backed Gull x 1 Herring Gull x 40 Black-Headed Gull x 30 Moorhen x 15 Coot x 10 Magpie x 7 Crow x 3 Woodpigeon x 5 House Sparrow x 10 Robin x 7 Chaffinch x 1 Great Tit x 4 Dunnock x 3 Mallard x 15 Blackbird x 4 Starling x 20 Long-Tailed Tit x 7
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 23rd of January 2021 12:39:47 PM
A wander around the east end of the site was interesting with 4 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling approx 780 birds, all heading west./south west. The birds appeared to be coming in from a n.e.direction,always impressive to see that number of wild geese. The birds went over at 10.30,10.45,10.47 and 10.50. Around the site there were at least 30 Skylarks, similar numbers of Meadow Pipits 12 Goldfinch and 22 Linnets. 4 Common Snipe were accidentally flushed walking across the site,a single Stonechat and a hunting Kestrel were the other birds of interest. On the large bottom pool about 50 large gulls mainly Herrings,a few each of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall and Coot as well as a number of Canada Geese.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 6th of November 2020 02:51:29 PM
A quick check on the eastern end of the site this morning was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a few waders on the muddy pools but unfortunately they were all overgrown with reedmace and grass. A Kingfisher was on the bottom pool together with Tufted Duck, Coot ,Little Grebe etc. Elsewhere on the site good numbers of Skylarks,some nice flocks of 50+ Meadow Pipits and a couple of small flocks of Goldfinch. A couple of Kestrel were hunting over the site and 2 Buzzards were high up.
A quick stroll around the east end of the site this morning. There were good numbers of Swifts feeding over the site and adjacent fields, also a few Swallows and a single House Martin. Plenty of singing Skylarks all areas of the site, a couple of Reed Buntings, singing Reed Warbler and Whitethroat,and a couple of Lapwing and Little Grebe holding territory. All the gulls are using the bottom pool near the railway line as it's the only bit of water left,over 100 Lesser Black Backs and a few Herring Gulls were present, but a bit flighty due to number of people by the pool.
The Iceland Gull quite often roosts on flooded land behind Kenny Waste depot, no doubt where it feeds.There is very easy access to this area by parking in Wharton Lane,which is off M/c Road(A6).It's only a couple hundred yard walk down Wharton Lane,over the metal stile, to view the flooded area on the rhs .Obviously the bird isn't always there but best bet is late morning thru to early afternoon to see it there.
Cetti's Warbler heard to give 2 bursts of song but no further sound of it, a first record for the site. 12 Whooper Swans over heading SE c350 Pink-footed Geese over SE in 4 skeins 90+ Fieldfare over 3 Stonechat 1 Green Sandpiper 500+ Herring Gull 55 Snipe 1 Water Rail 27 Skylark 9 Lesser Redpoll 5 Siskin 1 Little Grebe 12 Tufted Duck 45 Meadow Pipit 23 Linnet
A quick walk round the eastern side produced:- 2 Raven 2 Buzzards 3 Kestrel At least 12 Skylark And 5 Meadow Pipits No gulls on site but they were all in the flooded fields south of the railway behind ,Common Farm
A quick stroll around the eastern end of the site produced:- 244 large gulls at the top daytime roost,but most interesting bird amongst them was a juv.Greater Black Back gull. Still at least 35 Swallows still feeding over the area,also a Reed Warbler,Whitethroat,a few Chiffchaff still,a Common Snipe anòd a couple of White Wagtails and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the pick of the rest of the birds seen.
A quick look at the gulls on the daytime roost produced the usual juv. Yellow Legged Gull and an adult Yellow Legged Gull in about 150 Lesser Black Backs and and 30 Herring Gull
Friday, 23rd August 2019 11:30 - 15:00 hrs. Dry and Sunny.
Willow Tit x 1 Little Grebe x 1 Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wren x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Goldfinch x 200 House Sparrow x 40 Buzzard x 3 Kestrel x 2 Swift x 3 Swallow x 40 House Martin x 20 Cormorant x 1 Heron x 2 Robin x 2 (1 adult and 1 juvenile) Black-Headed Gull x 50 Coot x 7 Moorhen x 1 Starling x 15 Woodpigeon x 20 Magpie x 5 Crow x 10
In addition - south of the railway line: Collared Dove x 1 Blackbird x 2
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 24th of August 2019 10:21:46 AM