Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Friday 26 February 2021

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.



10 comments:

  1. I've never seen a black headed gull. I'm not sure about the others but they look similar to the ones on my lake. I love seeing them on the ice like that.

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  2. They are so strong birds!
    Your shots are nice.

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  3. Great photos of the different seagulls.
    Beautiful series Adam.
    Greetings Irma

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  4. Hello,
    Great series on the various Gulls. It is nice to see the species together for size and details. Beautiful photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care and stay safe. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  5. Hello,:=) Gulls are strong in the cold. Loved seeing the different species of gull all together. The black backed gull is new to me. Very nice captures, and great knowledge.

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  6. Nice gulls! Watching birds walk on bumpy ice is quite interesting -- they seem to have the same problems we do. I saw a duck's foot actually slip as it moved across the ice. I wondered why it did not fly.

    be safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  7. The gulls are beautiful and you got great photos! I went to the dentist this week and got my teeth cleaned...felt so good!

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  8. It looks like a convention!
    ;)
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/03/bad-memory.html

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  9. Ineresting study of the ice-resting gulls.

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