More gull catching

A bit more gull catching has occurred this week resulting in 8 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls going away with bling. I am pleased that the Herring Gulls have been playing ball as I’ve got quite a few colour rings in my ringing box which would look much better on a gull. You might remember last summers visit to the Portland harbour breakwater where we were ringing gull pulli. All the Herring Gulls were colour ringed, so we’ve got plenty of colour rings for Herring Gulls. We decided that any Herring Gulls caught through the winter could also have a colour ring. We hope to back on the breakwater next summer where we’ll hopefully ring largish numbers of Gull pulli but in the meantime keep your eye’s peeled for black rings with three white numbers just like this one! (ignore the coot poo all over my hand!)

This Black-headed Gull was posing nicely

Legs of a Black-headed Gull aged as a 7 meaning it was hatched in 2010. They are very orange compared to an adult.

Also couldn’t resist catching a coot which was practically standing on my boot. Well... it would be rude not to!

Ups and downs of gull watching

Radipole was stuffed with gulls today, which for someone keen on gulls such as myself it was paradise. Started the day with the adult Ring-billed Gull which was a nice start to the day then whilst scanning through the rest of the flock I noticed a second Ring-billed Gull. This time a second winter bird which got me pretty excited as a second winter bird hadn’t been seen for a while so thoughts of it being a different bird came into my head. That would have been a nice find for myself had this been the case. Sadly, a few birders said later that day that a second winter was present yesterday! I didn’t know this so the excitement decreased rapidly.

The adult bird was about off and on during the day presenting a few decent photo opportunities.

This is the second winter bird.

As darkness approached another gull caught my eye whilst I was having one last look at the ‘Ringer’. This time it really was something to get excited about. A 1^st winter Caspian Gull!

Radipole is having such a good winter for gulls I am starting to wonder what will be next? Here’s a final shot of the Caspian Gull.

A gull with yellow legs

I’ve mentioned Yellow-legged Gulls quite a bit over the last few months, probably to the point that bores people to death. But this one has actually got yellow legs, well just about. This 3^rd winter bird was hanging around Radipole Lake yesterday. Ages other than juvs and 1^st winters are quite unusual at Radipole so this one was a nice surprise. Perhaps it was seeking refuge after listening to the Jeremy Vine show yesterday where people were phoning up suggesting that we shoot every gull in the UK and stamp on any nest you come across. Surely it’s these people who were whinging about gulls are partly to blame for the increase of urban gulls. Landfill and rubbish on the streets all contribute to the problem plus other issues such as over fishing has caused gull numbers to decrease on the coast which has resulted in gulls having to look elsewhere for food! Rant over... enjoy the lovely gull pictures.

Gull Grabbing at the seaside

After a few days of not ringing I was itching to get out try out my new gull site. A few weeks ago I was looking for a reported Glaucous Gull in Weymouth harbour and noticed a very tame Great black backed Gull which was feeding from someones hand. Since then I've got permission to ring around the edge of the harbour. This afternoon I dragged Terry out to see if we could get our hands on some gulls. On the way to the harbour I got a 2nd winter Herring Gull which was already ringed. Would be nice if its a control but theres' been quite a few Herring Gull ringed around Weymouth, mostly young birds which have been reared in captivity as a result of falling off roofs etc.

Down at the harbour the gulls didn't seem to keen but Terry caught a fine looking adult herring gull (which then caught him!) then I got a Black headed Gull. On the way back to the cars we stopped again at Radipole where I got hold of another two Black headed gulls.

Totals were:
Black headed Gull -  3 new
Herring Gull - 1 new, 1 retrap.

Must also mention that yesterday afternoon in work, we got a call from a member of the public who said they had Waxwings outside their house. Went along to check it out and after a 40 minute wait three Waxwings descended onto a small rowan tree at Canterbury Close on Cobham Drive. A few quick calls and a a few birders got onto them before dusk. They are back at the tree today so must get along soon for some nice picies. In the mean time I'll post a picture of a Waxwing I took in Wales a few winters ago.