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Update from Shawell
It's been interesting so far at Shawell this winter - good numbers of gulls and surprisingly good numbers of birders. As most of you know, I have been studying the gulls at the site for many years, but...
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Adult Kumlien's Gull
Today was a great day for 'white-wingers' at Shawell Sandpit, two juvenile Glaucous and four Iceland Gulls including a subtle adult Kumlien's Gull.Adult Kumlien's GullAdult Kumlien's GullAdult...
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An Updated Review of the White-Winged Gulls Seen at Shawell
An updated review of all the 'white-wingers' recorded at ShawellIt's been another first rate winter season for both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls at Shawell.The first Glaucous Gull appeared on December...
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Another look at the Adult Kumlien's Gull that is Visiting Shawell
I nipped over to Shawell on Friday lunchtime and almost the first bird I clapped eyes on was the adult Kumlien's Gull. As I mentioned before, this bird does need to be scrutinised. The dark markings on...
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Juvenile Iceland Gulls
A couple of juvenile Iceland Gulls have visited Shawell this month. The first appeared on March 2nd and then went missing for 18 days. The last sighting of it was on the 21st when it showed distantly...
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Third-winter Iceland Gull
It was a little quiet this morning at Shawell, as most of the gulls were hiding out of view behind a large earth bank. Around 13:00 a few more gulls came to the sandpit off Gibbet Lane and whilst...
View ArticleVideo of Third-Winter Iceland Gull
The third-winter Iceland Gull was at Shawell again on Friday and Saturday. Below os a bit of video -enjoy!
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Winter's last Vestiges
An Iceland gull was enjoying the free buffet at Cotesbach landfill site today despite the sunshine and unusually warm temperatures for the Easter Bank HolidayFour Wheatears had also stopped off before...
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Second Calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull
I started today by visiting both Cropston and Swithland reservoirs hoping for something to have been blown in on Storm Hannah, but I was disappointed. Brascote Pits was my next choice of location, but...
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Cairngorms National Park
It had been a while since my last visit to the Cairngorms National Park, but I was back last week. Being busy during the run up to the trip, I had neglected to check the weather forecast. However, I...
View ArticleLittle Stint at Shawell
It's been a good month for waders at Shawell Sandpit. Highlights include a Wood Sandpiper, five Sanderlings and a count of 19 Dunlins. A Little Stint found yesterday by Steve Nichols was a really good...
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Finnmark
My good friend Morten Helberg invited me to Finnmark to look at some lovely Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Well I'm always up for an adventure, so I agreed instantly. Finnmark is the northern most region...
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Juvenile Caspian Gull
Today it rained all day, which is a little unfair for those who worked in doors throughout the heatwave, which ended last night. Funny how it rains so often on a Saturday.Anyway I still went to Shawell...
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News from South-West Leicestershire
Shawell:Gulls are a winter thing aren't they? Wrong, the summer can also be a good time. The 'white-wingers' are much easier to identify than the summer collection, but it's the ID challenges that make...
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Juvenile Caspian Gull
Another good session at Shawell after work tonight.Juvenile/first-winter Mediterranean Gull, a new juvenile Caspian Gull and 13 colour-rings read.The photo below shows some nice features that aid...
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Pied Flycatcher
A quick visit to Croft Hill yielded a longer than expected stay and a lovely female/1st-winter Pied Flycatcher.Croft Hill has proven to be attractive to this species over the years. Below are all the...
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Update from Shawell
During the last 10 days I've being having a colour-ring reading extravaganza at Shawell. I've made about 80 readings and for once I'm seeing the birds close. Norwegian Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus...
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Redstarts
After yesterday's Pied Flycatcher it was great to see two Redstarts at Croft Quarry. It had been seven years since the last one at Croft Hill. Foolishly I had made the rookie error of forgetting to...
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Another Redsart
Nick Sharpe found two Whinchats yesterday at Brascote, which continued the run of good birds in my local area. Adey Baker and I along with Nick looked for them early in the evening, but had no luck....
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Shawell A5 Lagoons
Another session after work on Thursday at the A5 Lagoons proved good. I have found a way of getting a little closer to the gulls, and as a result the colour-ring reading is a easier. Plenty of familiar...
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