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Back at Shawell

November 26, 2016, 12:35 pm
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Four Caspian Gulls at Shawell this week: two adults and a couple of first-winters. One of the first-winters was a German colour-ringed bird. It was ringed at Grabendorfer See - a large lake near Liepzig. I visited this site in April when I took part in the International Gull Meeting. Not a classic, but probably OK. The greater coverts are a little more patterned than I like, but examples like this are within the accepted variation. It has replaced at least one median covert and all its scapulars, which bodes well. Hopefully it will return each year, so we can see how it matures.

First-Winter Caspian Gull X198 - Shawell Sand Quarry
I was excited when I spotted a white gull sleeping amongst the Herring Gulls, but as soon as it lifted its head I realised something was not quite right. It had a Herring Gull like bill and structurally it wasn't quite right.  last year's 'white-winger' season started with a Herring Gull with pure white primaries as well.

Presumed Leucistic Herring Gull



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A Paler Shade of Grey

December 3, 2016, 2:05 pm
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Since arriving back from Portugal I have had a few successful trips to Shawell, but it has been quite hard work. Why? Well here's the list: men with guns, men with dogs, buzzards, cormorants, herons,  peregrines and foxes. I would quite happily shove the 12 bore rifles somewhere where the sun doesn't shine. 

For the next few months Herring Gulls are the dominant species at Shawell. Today I read colour-rings on no less than 13 Herring Gulls, which is the best total I've ever had for this species since I began recording colour-rings at Shawell back in January 2012.

The highlights from my Wednesday lunchtime visit and today were three Caspian Gulls and a colour-ringed Lithuanian large gull. It seems to be mostly Herring Gull, but I wouldn't rule out a bit of Caspian Gull blood.

Today's Caspian Gull was a first-winter, quite an advanced one. Not only has it replaced its scapulars, but also many of its coverts including some outer greater coverts. The other first-winter this week was not so advanced. The advanced bird was also there last Saturday.

First-Winter Caspian Gull

Lithuanian Ringed Herring Gull

The Lithuanian gull is the first colour-ringed large gull from that country that I have seen at Shawell. I have had a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull from there though. It was ringed as a chick during May 2015 at Kretuono ež. Didžioji sala, Švenčionių r., Lithuania. 55°14'45"N 26°04'45"E.
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American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)

December 6, 2016, 12:40 pm
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I checked Facebook's Western Palearctic Gull Group this morning to see if I had any comments on a selection of photos I had posted. Staring back at me was a gull that I was very familiar with and it was captioned as an American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus). I knew when I saw it back in November that it was something interesting, but I could not put a name to it.

After my holiday I uploaded pictures of the gull to the Facebook group and asked for opinions. I felt that if it was the default species, Yellow-legged Gull (larus michahellis), then it was a very untypical one. The first answer I received was that it was a typical Yellow-legged Gull. Alex Boldrini from Italy suggested it was a Herring Gull, so well done to him. However, the fact it appeared to have yellowish legs pushed the general opinion to Yellow-legged Gull. Alex and I argued that it was not a typical Yellow-legged Gull, but we were shown some examples of so called similar gulls. Alex argued that they were not actually matches, but the thread dried up and we all moved on.

Well yesterday Peter Adriaens and two others were at the Portimao Fish Harbour and they independently found the same gull. Peter has studied and written about American Herring Gulls, so he has the skills to identify it correctly.

American Herring Gull, November 12th 2016, Portimao Fish Harbour


The key to the identification is only seen when the gull is observed in flight from above or during a wing flap whilst preening. The secondaries show black markings rather than vermiculations, which are shown by Old World Herring Gulls. This is perhaps something I should have known, but it just hadn't stuck in my head, probably because I hadn't seen one before. Its quite tough to learn about something you are unable to experience. The greenish tinge to the bill is said to be good for AHG and the black markings on the tertials are also a helpful feature. I have quickly learnt about these features, but things are always easier when someone points you in the right direction.

It was quite docile when I saw it and was hanging about on 'Death Row'. This is an area at the harbour where sick or injured gulls tend to congregate. As such it walked away rather than flew, so I didn't capture any flight images. 


American Herring Gull, November 12th 2016, Portimao Fish Harbour


American Herring Gull, November 12th 2016, Portimao Fish Harbour


American Herring Gull, November 12th 2016, Portimao Fish Harbour


American Herring Gull, November 17th 2016, Portimao Fish Harbour
I had no idea the complexities of gull identification when I began this journey, but I am having great fun learning.
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Dusky Thrush

December 9, 2016, 1:10 pm
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As you might know, a first-winter Dusky Thrush was discovered in Derbyshire earlier this week. Large crowds gathered and the TV cameras arrived. I had been very busy one way or another mid-week, so I put it to the back of my mind. However, I eventually succumbed to the pressure and decided to try a quick dash to Beeley this morning.

Beeley is a small village, so I'm sure the residents are quite amazed by the invasion of birders. They seemed to be enjoying the event and were making the most of it. Tea and buns were on offer and I'm sure the village pub has done well out of it.

Anyway the bird was showing on arrival but distantly. Eventually it headed to a small field and fed on apples. Photography was very difficult due to needing to get close to the bird, but there was a 2 metre tall wall in the way. I did manage a few record shots by standing on my tip toes, but they are nothing to shout about.

Mission accomplished and back to work before I was missed - result!

First-Winter Dusky Thrush, Beeley, Derbyshire, December 9th 2016



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A Damp December Day at Shawell

December 10, 2016, 11:11 am
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Did it get light today? Very difficult conditions.

The gulls are a bit unpredictable at present - maybe the mild weather. The lagoons were the best spot until a buzzard came a hunting.

A first-winter Mediterranean Gull was a nice surprise. These are much rarer at Shawell than Caspian Gulls - I have only found 18 since 2012.

First-Winter Mediterranean Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, December 10th 2016

I'd love to be able to see all the gulls gathered together in one area at the moment, as I'm sure there must be more Caspian Gulls around. I had to settle for just one adult today. Compare its clean looks to the scruffy appearance of the Herring Gull. The small head and beady dark eye also help to separate it from the Herring Gull.

Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, December 10th 2016



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Caspian Gulls and Other Stuff

December 17, 2016, 9:36 am
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Today was another dull day at Shawell, but the sun was shinning when I called in for my lunch break mid-week. Whilst I was eating my sandwiches the gulls were enjoying a splash about. One of the nearest gulls was an adult Caspian Gull, so I took lots of photos of it. The light was a bit harsh, but some of my digiscoped efforts turned out OK.

Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell 14/12/16

Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell 14/12/16

Today I saw five different Caspian Gull at the Shawell. One was a bird I have seen three winters in a row now, but the others were not so distinctive. Many of the Caspian Gulls return to Shawell year after year. It is not always easy to know whether I have seen them before without a colour-ring to help, however. I managed to photograph three of today's Caspian Gulls. The light was really awful, so photography was quite a challenge.

Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell 17/12/16

Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell 17/12/16
Adult Caspian Gull, Shawell 17/12/16


A Herring Gull that was ringed in Finland repaired today. I have now recorded it three winters in a row at Shawell. It is a yellow legged individual white lovely long wings.

Finnish Ringed Herring Gull (C02CN)

I also saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull that I first saw back in 2013. This one was ringed as a breeding adult on the Isle of May, Scotland in 1991, so it is over 30 years old. It colour-rings are wearing out, the green one with the white letter M has migrated up its leg and the orange and red uncoded rings have broken up and become one ring.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Shawell 17/12/16. Ringed on the Isle of May as an Adult in 1991



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Merry Christmas

December 23, 2016, 11:51 am
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Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - thanks for visiting my blog during 2016.



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Shawell Again

December 28, 2016, 11:48 am
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Since my last update I have visited Shawell a few more times. One of the highlights for me is welcoming back returning colour-ringed gulls. The Herring Gull pictured below returned to Shawell on December 17th. It was ringed in Finland in 2007 and since 2014 it has wintered at Shawell. Today I saw a Herring Gull that was colour-ringed near Kings Lynn. I have seen that one (1Z1B) ever winter since 2012. I also saw German ringed Caspian Gull (XNDJ) again today - that one has also been returning to Shawell regularly since 2014.

Adult Herring Gull (note the yellow legs), Colour-Ringed in Finland C02CN

The A5 Lagoons are a bit hit and miss these days, due to disturbance from various creatures including a man who walks round the edge of the lagoons fairly regularly. I haven't caught up with him for a chat yet, but I will. As a consequence I have been devoting most of my time to watching the gulls at the sand quarry next to Cotesbach Landfill site. The good thing there is that all the gulls have there legs out of the water. As a result I get to read more colour-rings.

There are at least seven Caspian Gulls around at present: three adults, one 4CY, two 3CY, one 2CY and one 1CY. The 1CY was seen by Martin Elliot, but I can see from his photo that I saw it in both September and October.

The 2CY in the video below showed very well this afternoon. The video doesn't do it full justice as the lovely silver grey of the mantle and the median coverts has lost something. Nevertheless it shows how distinctive the body shape is compared to the nearby Herring Gull.


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Surf Scoter at Rutland Water

December 31, 2016, 7:30 am
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On Tuesday an immature scoter was spotted off the dam at Rutland Water. Its identity was revealed when it wing flapped and showed plain brown wings. Velvet Scoters have a white wing panel, so this bird was a first-winter Surf Scoter - a county first!

I was at work most of this week, so I had to wait until this morning to go for it. I thought I'd made a bad decision setting off early as it was very foggy on route. Luckily the fog wasn't too bad near the dam, although it was still very murky.

The Surf Scoter was still associating with a small flock of Tufted Ducks near to the shore about halfway along the dam.


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More From Shawell

January 7, 2017, 12:31 am
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Since January 1st I have visited Shawell a few times, as I'm sure you've already guessed. No white-winger yet, but there's loads of time.

The gull numbers are building up well. c6000 Black-headed Gulls and well over 3000 Herring Gulls have painted the site pale grey. Amongst these I've pulled out four Caspian Gulls, two second-winters and two adults. A first-winter gull could well be a Caspian, but it may not be from pure stock, so I haven't made my mind up about it yet.

Amongst the Herring Gulls are some obvious eastern birds. The Finnish ringed one is still around and several adults have nice yellow legs, long wings and a Caspian Gull like primary pattern. I see this type every January and speculate that they come from the Baltic area. Colour ringed Herring Gulls ringed in northern Norway confirm that northern argentatus HGs are visiting us in Leicestershire.

Below is a video I took yesterday afternoon during a brief stop off at the lagoons. I was surprised to see iced up areas. The first gull is a stocky second-winter Caspian Gull, then a first-winter argentatus. This should be from northern lands, as it is still in juvenile plumage. They breed later, so the young gulls are behind in their development compared to those born further south.

The second video shows a first-winter Caspian Gull regurgitating its lunch. its a good job it did. Thank goodness we are trying to cut down the amount of plastic bags we use. I took this video just before the end of 2016.

If not already set to HD then change the setting for best results.




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Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis)

January 7, 2017, 11:10 am
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Since 2013 I have been studying and photographing Yellow-legged Gulls at Portimao, which is in southern Portugal. The fish harbour there attracts many gulls and they are generally quite confiding and allow close approach.

Amongst the gulls are some tricky individuals that don't quite conform to the rules. The first-winters can be very difficult to separate from Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Some of these are not typical of the nominate Larus michahellis michahellis and a few may well be L.m lusitanius, or be closely related.

For anyone with an interest in these gulls I have put together a gallery of images.

CLICK HERE to access the gallery

Yellow-legged Gull


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Glaucous Gull

January 11, 2017, 12:06 pm
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It was blowing a gale today when I stopped off at Shawell on my way to Northampton. Most of the gulls were hunkered  down in a field very close to the village. I stopped briefly and managed to spot a large adult male Caspian Gull amongst them. I didn't hang around, as it was very windy.

I moved to the lagoons where there was only about a 100 gulls on the water and most were mobile due to the wind. I almost left straight the way, but I decided to see if any gulls were on the bank. The gulls were strung out in a line towards the bank and the last one was a mighty juvenile Caspian Gull.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons
Juvenile Glaucous Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons

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A Trip to Romania to See Some Caspian Gulls

January 18, 2017, 12:49 pm
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The challenge of identifying Caspian Gulls is understanding how variable they can be and understanding features that may be OK but could also be a result of hybridisation. 

The problems is that they are not all text book specimens. Many, especially females, have unremarkable length bills and legs and they are not all snouty.

The closest Caspian Gulls to Britain come from the German mixed gull colonies, so we receive a few challenging individuals here and if you are not careful you can become become paranoid.

Anyway I decided to go further east after travelling to Germany last April. I chose Bucharest in Romania and I wasn't disappointed. Dawn and I stayed in the Herastrau Hotel in the Hesrastrau Park. A large lake in the park attracts many gulls.

It had snowed for 14 hours before our arrival, so the park looked as pretty as a picture. During our four day stay we never left the park apart from to visit another park across the road. As well as the gulls there were plenty of woodland birds including five species of woodpecker and I scored with Pygmy Cormorant, which was a lifer. The park was large enough for us to walk 11 miles one day.



The Caspian Gulls put on a fine show and as well as getting lots of pictures to help unravel the complexities of identification I also got some stunning sequences of them fighting.











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Romanian Caspian Gull Gallery

January 20, 2017, 12:21 pm
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I'm really pleased with the results from my trip to Bucharest. It was very educational, especially as I was able to study the behaviour of the Caspian Gulls in their natural domain. Unlike in England there were sufficient numbers to study them behaving as they do with their own kind.

For anyone interested I have created a gallery of images - click on LINK below:

CASPIAN GULL GALLERY


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Glaucous and Iceland Gull at Shawell

January 21, 2017, 9:39 am
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This morning didn't start to plan, as I was expecting sunshine not fog.

Nevertheless I set off to Shawell. The gulls were obviously lost in the fog somewhere, as there were none in the sand quarry. There was a few at the A5 Lagoons and I managed to read three colour rings including a re-read of the Herring Gull that was my 1000 colour-ringed gull at Shawell.

I moved back to the sand quarry opposite Gibbett Lane mid-morning and some gulls had gathered there. The first scan revealed nothing unusual, but as I scanned back to the left I picked up a juvenile Glaucous Gull. It was paler than the one I saw last week. Its bill lacked a fine pale tip, so it should be a second calendar-year bird.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull

Something spooked the gulls and they all took off. Amongst those that eventually returned was a juvenile Iceland Gull.

Steve Nichols managed to arrive in time to see the Iceland Gull, but another chap arrived too late to see it. Shawell is a very difficult location to twitch gulls, as the area they use is large and they are mobile. I do so well because of the time I put in and because I wait for the gulls to come to me.

Juvenile Iceland Gull

I have now found 14 Iceland Gulls at Shawell and 15 Glaucous Gulls. In total I have seen 16 of both Iceland and Glaucous Gull there.
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Visitors From the Arctic

January 27, 2017, 1:37 pm
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I had a bit of time of work today and as usual I went over to Shawell. This winter has proven to be good for white-winged gulls, but they are not the only gulls that visit us from the Arctic in winter. I spotted a Herring Gull at the lagoons that was wearing a black colour ring with a data logger attached to it. The colour-ring's code was JU683. Black colour-rings with the first letter being J always come from Norway. I saw another Norwegian colour-ringed Herring Gull JX511 last November, which had a data logger attached to its colour-ring and that one came from the very top of Norway close to the Russian border. JU683 was also ringed during the breeding season at Hornøya, Vardø, Finnmark - 2577 km away.

Herring Gull (JU683) at Shawell A5 Lagoons, January 27th 2017

Another juvenile Glaucous Gull was at the sand quarry today. This was the smallest of the three seen so far.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, Shawell Quarry, January 27th 2017

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Glaucous Gull Again

January 28, 2017, 12:22 pm
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I returned to Shawell this morning and the juvenile Glaucous Gull I saw yesterday was once again in the sand quarry off Gibbett Lane. Many of the gulls were on the east side of the landfill site perhaps due to the wind. These days the gulls don't hang around after lunchtime and the A5 Lagoons are very hit and miss.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, January 28th 2017, Shawell Sand Quarry


As well as the Glaucous Gull, a first-winter Caspian Gull was there for its second day.

First-winter Caspian Gull,  January 28th 2017, Shawell Sand Quarry


Steve Nichols and I also witnessed a dog fight over the landfill site between two Peregrines.
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White-Wingers at Shawell During My Watch - 2012 to Present Day.

January 30, 2017, 1:19 pm
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White-wingers (Iceland and Glaucous Gulls) are the highlight of the cold winter months for any gull watcher prepared to suffer the cold. Below is an account of all the denizens of the frozen Arctic wastes that have graced Shawell since 2012. I have been lucky enough to have seen all of them apart from a juvenile Glaucous Gull seen by Neil Hagley on January 4th 2012. No Glaucous Gulls had been recorded at Shawell prior to 2012 as far as I know. In comparison six Iceland Gulls had been recorded at the site between 2009 and 2012. 

The finder is the first name or initials. I have used my initials (CDB) and everyone else is named.

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gulls are a scarce but regular winter visitor to the Shawell area of Leicestershire.  2013 was the best year so far with seven different ones: six in the first winter period and one in the second. 18 in total.

2012

  • Juvenile, Cotesbach Landfill site on December 28th (CDB). At the time it was raining very heavily and it was very windy, so I didn’t risk damaging my camera.


2013

  • Fourth-winter at both Cotesbach Landfill site and the A5 Lagoons on Fer(CDB, Andy Forryan and  Garsham Roberts). 




















  • Juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on February 22nd (CDB). 




















  • Second-winter at both Cotesbach Landfill site and the A5 Lagoons (Steve Lister, CDB). 




















  • Juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on March 16th (CDB). It spent all afternoon on the lagoons.




















  • Juvenile at Shawell A5 Lagoons on March 27th (CDB).  I consider it to be a different individual to the one on March 16th due to its small size and plumage differences.




















  • Adult at Cotesbach Landfill site on March 28th (CDB). 




















  • Second-winter or pale juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on December 14th (CDB, Steve Nichols). 



















2014

  • Second-winter at Cotesbach landfill site and the A5 Lagoons on January 18th (CDB). 



















2015

  • Second-winter at the A5 Lagoons and Cotesbach Landfill site on January 20th to 24th (CDB, Steve Nichols, Dave Scott and Andy Forryan). 




















  • Third-winter at Cotesbach Landfill site on January 25th (CDB). I



















2016

  • Juvenile at Cotesbach Landfill site on January 9th (CDB). 




















  • Juvenile on January 16th & 21st and February 18th (CDB, Steve Nichols). I





















  • Second-winter, January 21st at the A5 Lagoons (CDB, Steve Nichols). It had an injured leg.





















  • Fourth-winter at both Cotesbach landfill site and the A5 Lagoons on February 18th (CDB). 




















2017

  • Juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on January 11th (CDB). 


















  • Juvenile at the sand quarry on January 21st (CDB). 





















  • Juvenile at the sand quarry on January 27th & 28th (CDB).



















Iceland Gull

They appear at the same time as the other large white-winger although they can turn up later than the Glaucous Gull. Sightings have been made as late as April. 2012 is the best year so far with five individuals. I have seen 15 so far at Shawell since 2012.

2012

  • Third-winter at the A5 Lagoons between January 9th and 28th (CDB, Neil Hagley et al). 




















  • Second-winter at the A5 Lagoons on February 29th (CDB). This one was probably a male and it had a distinctive bill pattern. Not photographed due to camera failure.



  • Second-winter at the A5 Lagoons on March 3rd (CDB, Steve Lister, Garsham Roberts).




















  • Adult at the A5 Lagoons on March 1oth and 17th. (Neil Hagley, CDB and Steve Lister). Seen by Neil on the 10th and re-found by CDB on the 17th. Not photographed.
  • Second-winter at the A5 Lagoons on March 23rd (Dave Gray, CDB).


























2013

  • a biscuit coloured Juvenile at the landfill site on February 9th (CDB). Not photographed.
  • a pale juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on March 9th, 27th and 28th plus April 6th (CDB, Steve Lister).


























2014
  • second-winter at both the landfill site and the A5 Lagoons on January 18th (CDB, Steve Nichols, Dave Gray).

























  • Adult at the A5 lagoons on march 15th (CDB).





  • Third-winter at the A5 Lagoons on December 17th and 20th (CDB, Steve Nichols)

























2015
  • Juvenile at the A5 Lagoons briefly on March 14th (CDB).


























2016

  • Juvenile at the A5 Lagoons on February 12th (CDB). 























  •  Faded juvenile at the A5 Lagoons regularly from March 16th (CDB, Steve Nichols). Sadly it broke its wing and had to be taken into care and put to sleep as the injury was too severe. 















  • third-winter at both the landfill site and the A5 Lagoons on April 9th (CDB).
















2017
  • juvenile at the sand quarry on January 21st (CDB, Steve Nichols).
















To be continued...
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Another Good session at Shawell

February 4, 2017, 2:12 pm
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What a beautiful day - excellent visibility, blue skies and very little wind.

This morning thousands of gulls were loafing around in the sand quarry. Amongst them were four Caspian Gulls and a splendid adult Iceland Gull.

Adult Iceland Gull

First-Winter Caspian Gull

The gulls disappeared mid-morning, but luckily they returned in the afternoon and Steve Nichols spotted the juvenile Glaucous Gull that was present last week.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull
























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First-winter Caspian Gull Influx

February 7, 2017, 11:42 am
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So far this month I have seen at least eight different first-winter Caspian Gulls at Shawell. It is interesting that Caspian Gulls seem to arrive in small groups of the same age. Below are a selection of the first-winters I've seen. Only one has moulted many of its coverts. In Bucharest the majority were further advanced with their covert moult than the ones I'm seeing at Shawell. The brown closed wing formed by the solid brown coverts makes these first-winters distinctive.

I still wonder whether the increased number of Caspian Gulls I'm now seeing is a result of a real increase or whether I'm just better at picking them out nowadays?






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