Richmond bank,

A day of not quite getting the images you want.



1stw

1stw

1stw

Adult/4thw Possibly some dark marks showing on the primary coverts

blurry pic showing full dark sub terminal band on p5

This gull was a long way off and bathing . The coverts show 2 pale horizontal lines formed by the pale tips of the greater and median coverts and white tips to the dark brown tertials

Prescot reservoirs,



The gull numbers have really dropped down with weather becoming a little warmer of late. Probably a couple of hundred herring gulls on this grey rainy day. A huge argentatus herring gull was interesting . The mantle colour was obviously darker than the nearby argenteus and had a complete sub terminal band on p5 which possibly makes this an argentatus from northern baltic/southern finland area. According to 'Gulls' Olsen and Larsson state this population has more black on p5 covering both webs in 30% of population. This bird has pale eyes although they do look dark in the photos.

Sub terminal band on both webs of p5

A huge bird compared to nearby herrings. Look at the size of the head.

Prescot reservoirs,
A 1stw and an adult yellow legged gull today. 35 Great black backed gulls was an excellent count for the res.
A huge flock of pinkfeet lifted off the distant mooslands and filled the horizon and several skeins flew over the res . A dunlin was on no4 reservoir and 3 skylark over..

Prescot Reservoirs,
The run of rare gulls continued with this 1st winter caspian gull at the reservoirs today . It showed briefly around midday and after some checking of the photos at home I was able to confirm it as a 1st w caspian gull. Several yellow legged gulls also today with 2 adults , a 2nd winter and a 1st winter was a good total among the couple of thousand herrings throughout the morning.
A female goosander, 3 goldeneye, 3 pochard, 5 teal and 10 tufted duck on the still partially frozen reservoir.

1stw casp

1stw casp

1stw casp

Prescot reservoirs,

A real rarity at the reservoirs is Glaucous gull and a juvenile today was the first for over 13 years. Glaucous gulls have been pretty scarce in the NW this winter and this bird was my first this winter. A nice addition to the ring billed and caspian gulls this winter at the res.

An adult med also today and BH reports a crossbill over this morning.

Ringing update,
I have just received a reply about the ringed common gull at prescot reservoirs seen on 5th Jan 2010.
It was rung on 10th july 2006 on the island of Amrum just off the north sea coast of Germany. It was then recorded each summer in 2007, 2008 and 2009 at Amrum and then finally by me at Prescot reservoirs in Jan 2010

Rung 10.7.06 at Amrum Germany
recorded 2.6.07 at Amrum Germany
recorded 6.6.08 at Amrum Germany
recorded 19. 5. 09 at Amrum Germany
recorded 5 .1.10 at Prescot reservoirs, UK

Seaforth NR
Nipped down to have a look at the adult ring billed gull this afternoon. Showed well with 3 adult meds. A few fieldfare and redwings on the reserve also.

Prescot reservoirs,
8 inches of snow and the reservoir 80% frozen
A couple of common gulls of interest today.
A red darvic ring with white letter and numbers A325 was on an adult common gull. It was ringed in Germany between 2005 and 2007. I have sent the details to the ringer so hopefully he will get back with more info.
A leucistic 1st winter common gull looked very wintery in the blizzard conditions .
Also adult med gull, 2 adult yellow legged gull, 3 goldeneye, 20 tufted duck,2 pochard , 10 little grebe and 2 snipe . BH reports 7 golden plover earlier.

Two very different 1stw common gulls

Moore NR,

A 2nd w iceland gull, 3 adult and 2 1stw yellow legged gulls, and an adult med gull today on Birchwood pool which was 90% frozen.

2nd w iceland gull

2nd w iceland gull

adult yellow legged gull

1st w yellow legged gull

1stw yellow legged gull

1st w yellow legged gull

A very caspian-like herring gull.