Ring info from the Polish ringed B H Gull Yellow T5VC seen yesterday.
Ringed 12 June 2019, Breeding adult with nest at Skoki Duze, Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Central Poland). Only been seen twice, both back in its breeding area in May 2021. This being its first sighting abroad. 1439Km, 987 days since ringing.
- 1st winter Caspian Gull on BCA roof this afternoon.
Another birder present, Steve T from Liverpool. We both watched as it was playing around with a stone? then it took flight and flew right over us near the 384 building with the item still in its bill.
- 1st winter Caspian Gull briefly in the yard (Definitely one of the birds from a few weeks ago) - 1 Grey Wagtail - 150+ Starling
Also a very interesting Gull that resembled an adult type Caspian, but in all honesty it could be the same bird I had last Sunday, a Herring Gull with probable Caspian genes. I called early afternoon after football but I couldnt locate it to get better views or a decent image to compare it to last week.
- adult Yellow-legged Gull this morning. Showed really well on the 384 roof, a cracking looking individual. It was present yesterday morning (as per photo) but I was in traffic when I spotted it so I didnt get the best of views.
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over Saturday lunchtime - 1 Raven over Alan Turing Way near the Fire Station Sunday afternoon - 1 Grey Wagtail - 4 Common Gulls (Having the tables turned on them being harassed by Herring Gulls)
Friday 4th Feb. Called in on way back to depot this afternoon, left around 3.30pm.
- no sign of any Caspian Gulls for me - 2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 1 imm Herring Gull with white head, same bird present few days ago - 1 Grey Wagtail - 2 Pied Wagtails - 1 Goldcrest in small bush near 384 building
I sent the sighting of what was thought to be N:35E from 15/01/22 to Tim Frayling with all credit going to Pete Hines and John Raynor for the find. I couldnt make my mind up if it was a Herring or Lesser Black-backed Gull, I posted it as the latter with a (?) as I thought it looked a bit slight in structure, slim bill, and had an overall look of one.
Ive had a reply from Tim who thinks its a Herring Gull and it was ringed as one, as a chick, at Walney Island (Cumbria) 20th July last year. This is the 1st resighting of this bird. I hold my hands up on this one, just proves how difficult they can be at that age.
Info back from a Dutch cr B H Gull EFOJ seen on 27th Jan 22.
Ringed as a 2cy bird on the island of Griend on 20th May 18. Seen/reported several times since then but never away from Griend so 1st sighting away from there.
Info still awaited for the Lithuanian cr B H Gull also seen on the 27th.
-- Edited by Craig Bell on Wednesday 2nd of February 2022 05:48:23 PM
Pulled up for tacho break on way back from Liverpool this afternoon and not a single Gull on site. 45 mins later as Im about to drive off, best part of 300 large Gulls turn up from nowhere swirling around the yard and over Redgate Lane.
3 Gulls landed on 384 roof and one was a 1st w Caspian Gull but no sooner I had it in my bins, it flew off and joined the bedlam of birds.
Just to add - the 1st w Caspian yesterday looks to be the same bird that was present early January.
Sunday 30th Jan. Morning visit and not a single Gull in sight. Oh here we go I thought, whats happening here?
Early afternoon visit and things picked up a bit with around 25 large Gulls. Couple of interesting individuals around then as if by magic
- 1st w Caspian Gull flew into the yard. - 5 Common Gulls chasing a Black-headed Gull - Herring Gull Y:685 (no stranger to Redgate, last here Boxing Day)
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 31st of January 2022 01:22:26 AM
Unbelievable !!! Its almost as if somebody flicked a switch and made the Gulls disappear.
2 visits this morning, not a single large white headed Gull in sight. Of note - 1 Redwing over - 1 Grey Wagtail
Afternoon visit, usually a good time to view when the Gulls are left to their own devices in the yard. 8 large Gulls only, including 2 Great Black-backed, 2 adult Herring, and 4 immature Gulls that were merely silhouettes battling the wind. How disappointing!
Couple of visits since Tuesday including this afternoon.
No sign of any Caspian Gulls for me since last Saturday, but one was reported yesterday so probably still around somewhere. Only other things of note - 20+ Argentatus Gulls - 2 Grey Wagtails - 4 Pied Wagtails - c250-300 Starling
Absolute shed loads of large Gulls, lots of Argentatus (25+) including this yellow-legged individual. I thought the mantle was maybe a bit on the pale side but the primary pattern looks ok for Argentatus with much white on it.
- 1st w Caspian Gull briefly on rubbish mound this morning (8.45am). I turned to the car to get my camera just as a member of staff walked thru the yard and inadvertently flushed the lot.
Not that many Gulls present but of note - 21 Great Black-backed Gulls - 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 15+ Argentatus Herring Gulls - 2 Common Gulls - 2 Grey Wagtails - 2 Dunnocks
Friday. 2 visits, morning and afternoon. No sign of any Caspian Gulls for me, missed the reported adult.
Saturday. Early morning visit before Lucas football session. Mid-morning visit after football. Lunchtime visit, did an extensive search of all the roofs and the yard. No sign of any Caspian Gulls for me.
Only Gull of note was a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed (?) with a green ring N:35E Found by Pete Hines and John Raynor
- 1st winter Caspian Gull present again briefly this morning. Picked it up in flight around the yard and over 384 building but it soon disappeared over towards BCA roof.
Another quick visit after Debdale Park with Lucas. Rob Adderley was watching the bird when I arrived, it was BCA roof and was still there when I left, thanks Rob.
Black-headed Gull blue 2R39 - was ringed at Salford Quays 01/12/2019 - first sighting since.
Great Black-backed Gull black JE643 ringed in Vest-Agder, Norway 09/07/2010, seen at Redgate last winter also and seen back in Norway between now and then. Interesting to see where some of these wintering GBBGs are coming from.
I had a Black-headed Gull with a black leg ring but it was positioned in such a way that it was always obscured by the corrugated roof and I just couldnt get a good look at the code. However I did manage an image which at the time I thought couldve been a T at the beginning, but nothing came up on cr-birding. I took a chance on emailing the Finnish group to see if they could shed any light on the possible location of ringing and I got this reply from Jarkko Santaharju.
Same bird as yesterday still present late afternoon 3.45pm then flew off just after 4. Late morning visit today too but only thing of note were approx 25+ Argentatus Herring Gulls and that was the 384 roof and in the yard combined.
Pretty sure its the same bird. Weather, light and bird mobility playing a part in thinking there couldve been 2 different birds. Certainly a different bird to the long billed individual a couple weeks ago.
- 1st winter Caspian Gull At least one present this afternoon although theres every chance it could be the same bird seen in different light and in different location. Dark rain clouds made for constantly changing light (Images to follow)
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 7th of January 2022 03:58:24 PM
New Years Day. Quick visit this afternoon after Debdale.
Not as many Gulls today probably because theres no wagons coming in and nobody working to agitate the rubbish mound. - c60+ adult Great Black-backed Gulls - c25-30 Argentatus Herring Gulls - 2 Grey Wagtails (1 right next to the car) - 3 Pied Wagtails - 1 Kestrel straight through
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 1st of January 2022 04:39:17 PM
Herring Gull - 2 green ringed birds today N:00R and N:06R (photo's). Data from Y:A85 recorded on 13th Dec - ringed 17/02/17 at Rufford Waste disposal Site, York, also sighted at Whimney Hill tip, Altham, Lancashire on 07/12/20 and River Dee, Abderdeen on 08/08/21
Showing well late on, on the rubbish mound in main yard. Seemingly the most dominant Gull there. It was still there at 3.40pm when I went to MacDonalds in Ardwick with Lucas and it was still there at 4pm on my way back.
Also - 2 Grey Wagtails near my car - 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 28th of December 2021 06:02:25 PM
- 1st winter Caspian Gull Sat on Stoodleys roof viewed from Hyde Rd, then landed on 384 roof for a few minutes then back again to Stoodleys, a smart looking bird.
The 2nd winter Caspian from yesterday was present a little earlier on Stoodleys but when they all took flight I lost it. I believe it has been showing well since though, info thanks to Steve Burke.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 28th of December 2021 01:13:43 PM
- 2nd winter Caspian Gull Literally just flew in and landed infront of me on 384 roof late afternoon. For some reason it reminded me of the bird I had here back in March this year, its face and bill look the same.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 28th of December 2021 11:26:11 AM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 28th of December 2021 11:27:44 AM
- c120 (min) ad Great Black-backed Gulls 83 on BCA, easily 40+ on 384 and yard - Argentatus Herring Gulls Never seen as many here, possibly c40 - 2 Common Gulls chasing Black-headeds - 2 Grey Wagtail - 5 Pied Wagtail
Bit of ringed stuff but only got one code. 2 Herring Gulls with yellow darvics incl Y:685 1 Great Black-backed Gull with black ring but didnt get number
Xmas Eve. Early afternoon visit on way back to depot for early finish.
Not too much of note apart from c50+ adult Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Robin, and a distant Common Buzzard towards Openshaw.
But what I was impressed with was the number of large Gulls. Mostly up in the air circling very high at one point, but many came down on various roofs, probably around 300 birds or more.