Week ending Sunday 18th March

A funny old week, with visits at different times daily to Allerton Park to look at the gulls.  On Monday 12th, reasonably close views of an adult Iceland Gull, but little else of note.

Iceland Gull, adult.

Iceland Gull, adult in flight

Iceland Gull, in flight

On Tuesday 13th, no white-winged gulls, but a fine dark large adult Herring Gull, standing out from the nearby paler argenteus gulls.  The long legs were noticeably pale pink, and the shade of grey was consistently darker than the other gulls when viewed from different angles.

Herring Gull L. argenteus  (left) and argentatus (right)

Wednesday was the first blank day at Allerton, with no species of any interest.  I spent a couple of hours walking around Pilmoor, looking for Orange Underwing, but the only lep of note was an orange butterfly hurtling by, probably a Comma.  The cool breeze took the edge off the Spring sunshine, and a flock of c.50 Fieldfares chacking overhead was a reminder that it was still early yet.

Thursday saw a 1st-winter and two adult Iceland Gulls at Allerton Park.  

Iceland Gull, two adults, foreground left and fifth to the right of the front gulls.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

A brief excursion to the book fair at the Harrogate Showground on Friday morning, saw three Red Kite and a Buzzard soaring over the pavilions.  A lunchtime visit to Allerton Park saw a repeat of the previous day with 1st-winter and two adult Iceland Gulls. 

Saturday, a midday visit, with very few gulls present and at 1330, every single gull left!  So after a blank day, on Sunday back to form with a 1st-winter, 2nd-winter and adult Iceland Gull at Allerton Park. 

Yet more gulls

Since the last entry, visits to Allerton Park tip as it is referred to in the Yorkshire Bird Report, have continued daily.  On Friday 9th, a 1st-winter and 2nd-winter Iceland Gull, two pale-winged argentatus (one of which was new with slightly darker tertials and primaries and paler head), and the 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull with the missing primary.
A late visit on Saturday 10th produced very few gulls, and only a 2nd-winter Iceland and one pale winged argentatus were seen.  However, earlier in the day, Paul Irving had seen the Kumlein's Gull there, along with several Iceland Gulls and the 2nd-year Glaucous with the missing primary, and up to seven Red Kites.

A morning visit this morning, again not more than 200 gulls in total.  However, gulls floated in and other left, so at times there were no white-winged gulls, and at one time there were two 2nd-year Iceland Gulls, and two 2nd-year Glaucous Gulls present.  One of the Glaucous Gulls was a new bird, with a complete set of wing feathers, and a greyish cast to the pink bill.

There have been small numbers of obvious adult argentatus among the argenteus,  and here is a photo of an adult of each next to each other, showing the characteristics well.  When similarly aged gulls are not so close together for comparison it is much more difficult to discern.

Argentatus (left), argenteus (right).

As a round-up for the total number of odd gulls at Allerton Park Tip, I would say as a minimum there have been three Glaucous Gulls, ten Iceland Gulls, a Kumlein's Gull, three pale-winged argentatus, a Caspian Gull and  three Kittiwakes.  Not bad, eh?

Another great morning

With the forecast for Wednesday looking so poor, and the sun shining brightly again this morning despite the early frost, I just had to go and take advantage of the bright sunlight at Allerton.  Not many gulls on arrival and certainly nothing of note, and many of them drifted off towards the tip.  Still it was pleasant sitting in the car listening to singing Hedge Accentors, Reed Buntings and Tree Sparrows calling, and Long-tailed Tits working their way up and down the hedgerow.

Hedge Accentor

Long-tailed Tit

Some loud shots at the tip, presumably bird-scarers, brought most of the gulls on to the wash-pit, including two Iceland Gulls, an obvious 1st-winter, and a 2nd-year.

Iceland Gull, 2nd -year

No raptors for the first two hours, but then two Red Kites and up to six Buzzards circling on thermals at some height above the site, their presence only given away by their constant calling.

Buzzard

A small selection of other gull photographs, taken in flight as they commuted between the main tip and the wash-pit area where I was parked.

Black-headed Gull, adult

Herring Gull, 1st-year

Herring Gulls, two 1st-years and a 2nd-year

Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult

Allerton tip

What a fantastic morning, bright blue sky and sunshine although the stiff breeze was a bit on the chilly side.  I spent several hours at the washing pit next to Allerton tip, and although all the gulls were facing the same way into the wind, unfortunately they were mostly tail on.  Still, had some good views of the assorted gulls present, and at least 3 Iceland Gulls, probably all 2nd-years, and a 2nd-year Glaucous flew over, perching briefly on the far shore.

2nd-year Glaucous Gull

After a couple of minutes it took off with most of the other gulls and one of the photos I took managed to get it and an Iceland together.  Interestingly, there is a hint of a tail-band showing on the Glaucous, so possible some Herring Gull genes in there somewhere, and it also has a primary missing and some oil on the left wing.

 

Iceland Gull (upper), Glaucous Gull (lower)

Every now and again, the gulls would fly up, often due to one of a couple of Red Kites which flew back and forth over the site.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

A small selection of other gull photos were taken.  The vast majority of birds present were immature birds, as one would expect for species that take 2-4 years to become full adults.

Herring Gull (left) and Black-headed Gull (right), both 1st-winters

Herring Gull (left) and Common  Gull (right), both 1st-winters

Herring Gull (upper), Common Gull (lower), both 1st-winters.

A date with some Swedish birds....

Just going through some old photos, and came across some birds of prey photographed on a two-day visit to Falsterbo in southern Sweden in early October 2006.  I had been in Copenhagen on a work assignment and took an extra couple of days to cross the bridge into Sweden, and drove down to Falsterbo, in the south-west corner of the country.

Falsterbo peninsula, with the bridge in the background connecting Sweden to Denmark

What a place.  Sand dunes and slacks almost surrounded by a turbulent sea, wisps of waders skirting the shoreline, the iconic lighthouse, interesting copses and bushy areas for migrant passerines, and the nearby heathy open area which was best for watching thousands of migrating raptors.

There has been a Bird Observatory at Falsterbo since 1947 and over a million birds have been ringed there.  Follow link to see more about the Obs http://www.falsterbofagelstation.se/index_e.html 

And now for some of those birds of prey, starting with the most numerous, which were Sparrowhawks, which were passing over in their hundreds.  

Smaller numbers of Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel and Osprey, a few Rough-legged Buzzards and a good record of Spotted Eagle.

A great place, and would love to spend a bit more time there at peak migration time.

A couple of spectacular birds of prey

A couple of evenings ago, on the Skelton road out of Langthorpe, heard the unmistakable sound of Swallow's alarm call, and looked up to see a superb adult Hobby dashing across the sun-bathed field followed closely by half a dozen Swallows.  Then today on the Knaresborough road out of Minskip, saw a Red Kite languidly flying north over the cereal fields, with the forked tail flashing rusty red as it twisted in the sunlight.   Two cracking raptors.