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
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...