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Presumed Hybrid Herring x Caspian Gull
An interesting adult gull was present at Shawell A5 Lagoons today. On the water its grey upper parts appeared slightly darker than the nearby adult Herring Gull, but its head shape and size seemed...
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What Does Adventure Mean to Me?
I was sent an email by Berghaus recently, asking for adventurers to write a short piece on their Blog about ‘what adventure means to you’, so here goes...For me adventure is being challenged by...
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Birds are on the Move Again
The seasons seem to fly by these days - it only seems five minutes since we welcomed the return of the summer migrants and now they've done their business (hopefully) and are once more preparing to fly...
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Another Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull
A visit to Shawell A5 Lagoons tonight produced another juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. This one was different to the one I wrote about in my last post - there are differences in the pattern on the greater...
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Gulling - It's all in the Name
lately one of the most well read postings on my Blog is 'Back to Gulling'. This didn't make too much sense to me, as the video attached to that post was not getting a proportional amount of viewings....
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Juvenile Caspian Gull at Cotesbach LF
Earlier in the week I noticed a juvenile gull laying down by one of the pools at the Cotesbach landfill site. It was juvenile Yellow-legged Gull like, but something nagged at me. I didn't see it...
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Colour Ring Update
My obsession with gulls continues unabated and my efforts during the summer have been worthwhile. One of the things that has amazed me is just how many gulls are to be found in the centre of England...
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Another Juvenile Caspian Gull
Another visit to the Shawell area on Tuesday night and another juvenile Caspian Gull. It was the first gull I looked at and I immediately realised it was a good one. At first it wasn't as structurally...
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Just Like Midland Red Buses
We have a saying around ere that 'you wait ages for a Midland Red bus and then two arrive'.Well colour-ringed Caspian Gulls are no different.A large group of gulls arrived at Shawell A5 Lagoons this...
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More on Caspian Gull PADZ
Steve Lister has kindly reminded me that he saw PADZ at Albion landfill site in December 2013 and February 2014 (see chart below). He had commented on his first sighting that it was a typical Caspian...
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And Another Juvenile Caspian Gull
During the summer months, when I can, I like to have an early evening visit to Shawell on at least one day. This Wednesday evening I chose to look into the quarry next to the landfill site and see what...
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Hookpod - Saving the Albatross From Extinction
Whilst at the Birdfair yesterday I noticed a stand talking about saving albatrosses. I have made donations in the past to help this cause and so I was interested in what they were doing. They are...
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Just a quick note to say that the Hookpod Team have been successful, with the help of those who donated, in reaching their target of £100,000. Hopefully they will do well with the trials and hopefully...
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Caspian Gulls
I had a good time gull watching (not gulling) at Shawell yesterday evening. I read a total of 16 colour rings and saw three Caspian Gulls and quite a few Yellow-legged Gulls. The 1CY was slightly odd...
View ArticleCaspian Gull Sightings at Shawell so far During 2014
CDB's Caspian Gull Sightings at Shawell so far During 2014· Second-winter, January 11th· Adult, January 18th· Second-winter, January 18th· Fourth-winter, February 1st·...
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Not Even Loved by its Mother
Today I started with a trip to Brascote Pits. This site may be past its prime, because the best pool has dried out and a lot of areas are being choked by willows and scrub. However, I was pleased to...
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Juvenile Caspian Gull Re-visited
I have been going through my images of a juvenile Caspian Gull that I saw on three separate dates this month. I have changed my mind a couple of times as to whether it was the same bird, due to...
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Shawell Again
I spent the early part of the evening at Shawell again this Wednesday. Once again it was quite productive with a respectable total of nine colour rings being read including three from Norway.J148E...
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It's Amazing the Difference a Few Days Make
Last month I was tripping over Caspian Gulls, but whatever attracted them to Shawell is not working at the moment. Watching a site regularly is fascinating as you can actually witness the passage of...
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First WeBS Count
I have agreed to count Shawell A5 Lagoons for the WeBS (wetland bird survey), so although the official day is tomorrow, I did my first count today. Fewer gulls visit the site on a Sunday when the tip...
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