Redesmere WeBS Count

On a grey and murky day at Redesmere I carried out the WeBS monthly bird count. It was a pretty quiet affair to be honest, with the usual suspects of mainly Canada Geese, Mallards and Coots. Sprinkled in were a fly over Great White Egret, a Little Egret, some Goldeneye and a few species of gulls. The majority of the gulls were Black-headed, but there was one Common Gull and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Always nice to see something not so common here.

You can see more of my sightings and here:

Common Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Redesmere Gulls

Redesmere doesn't really get many different species of gulls through the year. Black-headed are the most common by far, with the odd Lesser Black-backed some months, and even rarer here is the Common Gull. During the winter months there can be 100+ Black-headed gulls on and around the water. Some of these have been ringed birds, and traced back to Lithuania. The records show that they travel from Redesmere to Lithuania to breed and then return to entertain me for the rest of the year. It's quite amazing really when you think about it.

Common Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sitting on Thick Ice

 A couple of weeks ago I had a dental appointment in Macclesfield. Running a little early, and afforded the opportunity to drive somewhere in the car, I stopped off at a very frozen Redesmere on the way.

I'd say the mere was 85% frozen with thick ice. This meant that the gulls were close in and resting on the ice, while anything else was distant on the very small open patch of water. It's much easier to check out the gulls if they are not bobbing around on the water. 

The Black-headed Gulls here were plentiful, with this one particular bird in the centre already in full breeding hood. The legs were also noticeably darker.

There were a few Common Gulls on the ice too. You can see the yellowish legs on the one left of centre with two sat on the ice just to its right.

I do like the Common Gull. Unfortunately it is not actually that common. Of the two sat on the ice to the right of the bird stood (again just left of centre) one has not yet developed it's yellow bill and is more grey with a blackish tip. This will be a 2nd winter bird and will develop this more into adulthood.

Common Gull sat behind Black-headed Gull. Shows the difference in size between them. Common Gull is quite a bit larger, and has a streaky head.

A really good looking Lesser Black-backed Gull in the centre here. Again, shows how considerably larger it is in comparison to the Black-headed Gulls that surround it.

Everyone else making sure the Lesser Black-backed Gull has plenty of room. No ones friend.

Redesmere Lake

 I had a day off this week and it also just so happened to be a sunny but cold day. It was a sad day as it was the funeral of a good friend of mine. To take my mind off things I headed over to Redesmere in the morning to see if I could make use of the good sunlight. There was plenty around, both on the water and in the trees. Plenty of gulls, Tufted Duck, and Great Crested Grebe, with the odd Kingfisher and Redwing.

Great Crested Grebe in its winter plumage

This Treecreeper was busy picking away underneath the bark

The Tufted Ducks were looking particularly fine in the sun

There are only ever one or two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in amongst the Black headed Gulls. A good size comparison here with the Lesser on the right.

A very good looking Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gulling by Numbers

On a quiet day at Elton reservoir where there didn't seem to be an awful lot happening on the bird front, I took to playing a game. Match the gull to the number painted on the buoy. There are lots of these markers on the reservoir. I think they are for the sailing club to use, but not 100% sure about that. Anyway, Elton is a very good place for gulls, and I thought I'd see what we had out there, on what was a grey day.

In at number 9 is a nice looking Common Gull.

At 8 we have a Lesser black-backed Gull and juvenile.

At 6, a sleepy Black-headed Gull.

And finally at 3, another Black-headed Gull. It gave me something to do on my way round the reservoir. I'm sure there will be a rarity along very soon.

A Mixed Bag

A disappointing day that was spoilt by rain left me with only a few images. Nothing more frustrating, when you've been looking forward to getting out with the camera and then it rains. Still, there were a couple of dry spells. Just not as many as the rain filled ones.

First up, a Grey Wagtail that was very busy indeed along Clough Brook. This is a female and no doubt there will be a male about too, as they'll be ready to nest very soon.

Grey Wagtail

Herring Gull

Lesser black-backed Gull

On the beach at Pensarn, while waiting for a very elusive Iceland Gull, we were treated to a few glimpses of Meadow Pipit. We heard many others, but this one dropped down in front of me.

Meadow Pipit

Just going for a paddle.

New Brighton beach was very calm when I visited a few weeks back. The tide had just gone out and the sun put in a nice long appearance too. It allowed me to take a wander along what is very nice sandy beach. There wasn't a great variety of birds but those that were there looked very nice indeed in the sunshine. They included this Oystercatcher and some juvenile gulls having a paddle. I'm not great with gulls at all, but I think I have a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a larger Great Black-backed Gull (on the left).

I think this is a 1st Winter Oystercatcher, as the white collar would indicate.

Great (left) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Please let me know if I am wrong)

Summer Gulling.

I've always found it hard to love gulls. Initially because they seemed to be a pest when I was young. Always trying to steal your food on the beach, or waking you up early with a raucous call outside the window. Then, as a birder, finding it difficult to distinguish certain types due to the many different plumage the same species can have.
On lovely sunny days though I can't stop pointing the camera at them. They make it a little easier for you by sitting on the water. Then when you think you know which gull it is, doubts creep in and the books come out again. I'll love them one day. I think.

My head is telling me this is a Lesser black-backed Gull, but that dark bit on the bill throws in a small doubt.

I'm quite sure it is just the last features of a juvenile bird. 4th calendar year bird. (I think)

Is that a tear I can see?



 

Conwy - North Wales

I had a fantastic day last Saturday which started off at RSPB Conwy and then on to Llandudno for some much needed rest and relaxation on the beach. The weather was awesome. Wall to wall sunshine and it was pretty warm too.
At, RSPB Conwy I had lots of the usual birds around the reserve, with Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers, Little Egrets, Sedge Warblers plus many more. I didn't use the camera an awful lot, as I was enjoying relaxing. I did take a few though.....

Conwy Castle

My first Bee Orchid. What a beautiful flower.

The Great Orme.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Woodford (Back on the Patch)

I've been spending a fair bit of time recently back on my patch in Woodford. Along Church Lane each winter, a very large puddle, or flood (for want of a better word) occurs. This year has seen a very good array of wildfowl and waders. I finally got to catch up with a Redshank today that had been putting in morning appearances on and off over the last 2 weeks. It was soon joined by a Dunlin, but that didn't stay long at all. Others seen on my journey around Old Hall farm included Skylarks, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Kestrel, Linnets, Lapwings, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches plus plenty of Fieldfare. It should only be a week or two now until the Sand Martins return and the Northern Wheatears stop over for a few days. Roll on Spring, it's my favourite birding season.

A Lesser black-backed gull drops in at Church Lane.

One of the Oystercatchers.

A Reed Bunting hiding on top of a hedge on Old Hall Farm.(but I can see you..)

A mixed flock of Starlings, Fielfares and Redwings on a brighter evening this week.

The sun looked really large on the 14th. Here it is from Church Lane