- adult Great Black-backed Gull with a somewhat slightly palish mantle providing a bit of contrast with the blacker primaries and its legs appeared to have a slight yellowish hue. Probably nothing unusual to the more experienced Gullers amongst us but I thought it looked a little bit odd
- sub adult Yellow-legged Gull (Pretty sure same bird as Thursday) - Argentatus Herring Gull - Lesser Black-backed Gull N:47J again
Also 2 Lesser Black-backed Hills hanging around recently showing paler mantles than Id expect, similar hue Yellow-legged Gull mantle, but Ive got them down as LBb
- sub adult Yellow-legged Gull Some slight streaking on the head so I didnt think it was full adult - Great Black-backed Gull Massive individual (comparison with Lesser Black-backed) possibly same bird as last week with yellowy legs
- 3CY Yellow-legged Gull Thought it couldve been a sub-adult at first when it was at rest on the 384 roof, but it was clearer to see its moult in flight and it looks like a 3rd year bird to me. Ill be brutally honest though - it has a yellowish orbital that did spark a slight worry, but I think it looks ok for YLG
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 17th of September 2024 11:45:31 PM
Sun 1st Sept 1st of 2 visits today, early morning.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull Bit of an unusual looking beast in my opinion but that probably means its absolutely normal. Long gangly yellow legs, good mantle hue, bit of head streaking tho, but we will see.
2nd visit late afternoon whilst United were crumbling, again!!!
- juvenile Caspian Gull Very nice bird indeed, firstly just its head showing on the yard roof, then it stood near the roof edge and I noticed it was ringed. But it wasnt until it flew into the yard to feed until I could get a view of the ring, looks like a German yellow ringed bird XMLK. A cracking individual.
The earlier Yellow-legged Gull was also present and showing well in the yard.
Bank Hol Mon 26th Aug Morning visit and a productive one at that.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull on 384 roof - another or same Yellow-legged Gull on BCA roof little later - intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull - N:09J Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over towards Openshaw
- Herring Gull 159:C early morning. Looks like this one will remain entangled for the foreseeable but it doesnt appear to be affecting it adversely as yet, flying and feeding ok from what I observed.
Also N:5V3 what I think is a Lesser Black-backed Gull, probably one of Tim Fraylings Bowland birds, I will find out in due course. Images were poor but got the number in my bins as it was feeding near the yard gates.
- sub adult Yellow-legged Gull A large individual with an obvious hooked bill and plenty of red bleeding into the upper mandible. Legs not a particularly rich yellow but a good looking bird all the same on my opinion. - Lesser Black-backed Gull N:5B0 again
- adult Yellow-legged Gull A cracking individual in main yard and it had the rubbish mound mainly to itself, not many other large Gulls present. - T0XM & 159:C again (everyday this week) - 3 Ring-necked Parakeets over
- 2nd of 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls Wanted to be careful with this one and not just post it as one for the sake of wanting it to be one, I think it is one! No sooner had the 1st one disappeared - I did a quick scan and picked up on this one, obviously a different bird from the other, I think the primary pattern looked fine, the general structure of the bird looked ok, and as a little bit of luck would have it - it landed nearby to other adult Gulls to show a good mantle comparison.
Also .. - Lesser Black-backed Gull T0XM Isle-of Man - Herring Gull 159:C Ireland
- 1st of 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls Showed well on the 384 roof, handsome individual that stood out next to the Herrings and Lesser Black-backeds to give a nice mantle comparison. It eventually flew off with many of the Gulls to the distant BCA roof where it stood for a few minutes before walking over the apex on to Belle Vue side of the roof, thats when I picked up on the 2nd bird.
Sat 10th Aug Morning visit before going to Blackpool to see the Red Arrows.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull After a lengthy debate with myself I finally think it looks good for one and that being the case, I will submit it as a YLG.
The primary pattern had me doubting myself, but after a bit of research it appears that they can indeed (mainly eastern pops) have a p10 white tip that extends to merge with the mirror, producing a wholly white tip as seen in western Caspian Gull pops.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull on BCA roof. I this one looks ok structurally but again Im lacking an open wing shot to be safe, but it looks ok in my humble opinion. Quite happy to be corrected if need be!
- adult Yellow-legged Gull This one was on the BCA roof so a little bit distant and as a result I wasnt going to post it, but the more I observed it and got a feel for its structural appearance I felt a bit more confident that it having a good chance of being one.
The mantle comparison was on offer, the bill and head shape looked ok, but I will be totally honest and say the one thing not going for its identification is an open wing shot and unfortunately the bird didnt oblige to give one either.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 21st of August 2024 11:58:38 PM
Sunday 4th Aug Morning visit before the churchgoers arrived at the 384 building.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull or what I think was a good shout for one, albeit with its wishy washy yellowish legs and yellowish orbital - leading me to think it could be the occasional visiting bird of recent weeks.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 21st of August 2024 08:17:52 PM
- What I think was an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the yard and then possibly the same bird on BCA roof. After assessing the images, it appears to show a yellowish orbital ring and could well be the individual thats visited a few times recently. Obviously if Im incorrect then Ill quite happily take it on the chin
- Irish ringed Herring Gull 159:C returning bird, now a 1st summer. Unfortunately both legs on this bird are tied up with twine and what looks like wire.