Sat 30th Nov Early morning visit at first light then a late morning visit.
- a cracking Raven over the yard - 40 ad Great Black-backed Gulls - 28 Argentatus Herring Gulls (Many Gulls unaccounted for in the way of identification as they were asleep on BCA roof so primary patterns not visible and light wasnt the best so probably a lot more) - 2 ad Common Gulls chasing Black-headed Gulls
Tues 26th Nov - Pete Kinsella & Mark Nightingale were on site, they?d had a 1w Caspian Gull shortly before I arrived early afternoon.
Thurs 28th Nov - Black-headed Gull XU42 German ringed, at Löbnitz, 10.05.24. According to the info its a male and is at least a 2CY, appears it was also reported on Tuesday by Pete Kinsella.
Sun 24th Nov A 2 hour stint early morning and although there was nothing in the way of rarities, there was a few things of notable interest. Probably c200-250 large Gulls around the site.
- Argentatus Herring Gull with yellow legs - possibly c50+ Argentatus Gulls - c120 Black-headed Gulls - 25+ adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 1w Lesser Black-backed Gulls N:28J & N:46K .. difficult to tell if LBb or HG with 1w, could be either or
Argentatus Herring Gulls Obviously winter is the best time for UK Argentatus as numbers increase at various sites and I usually get a few here at Redgate, with around 20+ birds being the most Ive had. Today I counted 29 individuals which as far as I know surpasses that, BUT I have wondered why its not higher, even though 29 is a good number for this site (I was quite chuffed to be fair) its probably not even a dent in the numbers that some county sites get. Maybe I was being a bit optimistic as lets not forget its only a smallish site and NOT a ROOST where numbers will be higher. But the case might well be Im not giving them enough credibility in my identification of them. Im letting some individuals go as Argenteus mainly for 2 reasons - I think Im possibly looking for them to have more white on the primaries than whats already evident, and secondly if the mantle looks a bit on the pale side even though its got a good proportion of primary white, and yes I know there is vast variation in both races.
A realisation hit me earlier, and for the reasons given above, its only fair that I conclude there was more individuals present, so I would estimate there couldve been likely 50+ Argentatus today. Its a mistake on my part and I can only apologise for that, but hey ho - it happens.
- 1w Caspian Gull Different bird to the Redcar Tarn individual a few days ago. Showed well on 384 roof. - 12 adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 20+ Argentatus Herring Gulls - 5 adult Common Gulls
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 23rd of November 2024 10:26:01 AM
Norwegian ringed JE643, ringed as a chick in 2010 Ive had this bird at Redgate a few times in the last few years and so has Dan Gornall. Theres a long list of Norwegian sightings, but other noteworthy UK sightings include Ashworth Moor Reservoir in Rochdale and Whinney Hill tip near Blackburn.
Also of note.. What I thought was a decent candidate for an adult Yellow-legged Gull but I only got a glimpse of the open wing primary formula so Im hoping it visits again so I get a chance to properly assess it, for now it will have to be relegated to a pale mantled Lesser Black-backed, a fine looking individual all the same.
I received a comment along with an image (presumably from a Yorkshire birder) on my Twitter in response to my post regarding the 1w Caspian Gull I had here at Redgate on Saturday. Turns out the same individual was at Redcar Tarn for the last month - image below.
- 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