Part-time Birding: Yellow-legged Gull

Showing posts with label Yellow-legged Gull. Show all posts

Black Redstart

Shelly Beach, Exmouth, Devon

I had to pop to Exmouth to drop my daughter to rehearsals this afternoon so I had a few hours to look around. I popped here and was straight on to a cracking Male Black Redstart on the apartment rooftops.

Black Redstart (Male)

Recycling centre, near Rugby club, Exmouth, Devon

I walked the short distance to look for the Yellow-legged Gull. This wasn't as easy. I was onsite until I had to leave to pick up my daughter when I finally got on to it. I couldn't manage a picture though.

Finally A Northern Wheatear, Some Nice Waders And A YL Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon

I was in Exmouth on an errand and had literally 10 minutes to spare. So I popped here for a quick look. Since moving and lockdown, I haven't been here in ages. It felt nice to be back on a familiar site. The target was Northern Wheatear and since a load had been seen at Beer Head. I thought there had to be some here. Anyway, I was able to see a single bird in my 10 minutes there. Amazingly, due to lockdown. This was my first of the year.

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

A quick visit this evening produced the Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff from the viewing area before the island hide. Lots of Dunlin and Common Ringed Plover about I also bumped into Steve Waite that let me know of an adult Yellow-legged Gull from the tower hide. I picked it out but the light wouldnt let me get a great photo with my equipment. Also a single Common Greenshank and lots more Dunlin from this hide.

Little Stint

Yellow-legged Gull

Temminck’s Stint

Chapel Amble, Cornwall
I had the day off so me and my mate Pete caught up for a spot of birding. As the Temminck’s Stint has been around for a while now. It seemed rude not to pay it a visit. We got to the village car park and got straight on to the bird in the field directly opposite. The bird showed beautifully although I struggled to get a decent photo. There was unfortunately nothing else special on site, despite recent reports of Water Pipit, Western Cattle Egret, Ruff, Western Barn Owl and Grey Partridge. However, I have to say, that’s the easiest Temminck’s Stint to bag ever!

Temminck’s Stint

Hayle Estuary, Cornwall
We moved on to look for the reported Ring-billed Gull. Despite there being a good number of Gull species around, a good scan couldn’t locate it. However, there were good numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull and a couple of smart Mediterranean Gull finally gave themselves up. I’m pretty sure I had a Yellow-legged Gull but this distance was immense, even for my optics! On Ryan’s field was the resident Eurasian Spoonbill, that was fast asleep.

Helston boating lake, Cornwall
As this wasn’t far away. We thought we would give this site a go as the Ring-billed Gull has visited this site. Our luck wasn’t in but we did see the almost certain plastic Ferruginous Duck.

Aylesbeare Common, Devon
A quick visit produced really nice views of a Male and Female Dartford Warbler. A nice way to round the day off.

A Potential Yellow-legged Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I had an optimistic look around after work but the only species of note were a group of mobile Meadow Pipits. I even had a brief sea watch but only managed a distant Northern Gannet.

Mudbank, Exmouth, Devon
I moved on from Orcombe Point to have a look at the Estuary. Plenty of birds around, mainly Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull. A few Eurasian Curlew and Eurasian Oystercatcher. I did have a decent candidate Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull but the sun was directly in my eyes and scope and the Gull in question wouldn’t move before I had to leave. I’d have liked to see the bird in flight or stretch it’s wings for me to clinch further ID features

I’m hopefully off to Porthgwarra on Wednesday or Thursday (if my boss is in a good enough mood to give me a last minute day off) as I feel the predicted conditions could prove very rewarding. Hmmm, I wonder if that Trindade Petrel is still around and fancies performing? Wake up Spence!

A Busy Week

Exmouth Quay, Exmouth, Devon
It’s been a very busy week in work which has impacted on my already limited time in the field. Today though I managed to get away early enough to spend a bit of time looking off the Quay. There was not a lot around but it was a welcome relief to be out. The best birds on offer were a single adult Mediterranean Gull and a group of Sandwich Tern on Great Bull Hill. A group of European Herring Gull were frantically feeding just off the Quay and one was giving off characteristics of a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Due to the amount of Gulls feeding it was hard work trying to figure it out in amongst the frenzy. Unfortunately I lost it and couldn’t relocate it once they had settled down on nearby boats and bouys! It looked good but just couldn’t get a 100% on the ID.

Dorset Tree Sparrow And A Self Found Black Redstart

Portland Bill, Dorset
Me and my mate Pete had a day in Dorset today. Our first stop was the bird obs to get the lowdown on the reported Eurasian Tree Sparrow. I had seen on yesterdays blog that there were 2 but today there was an increase to 3 birds. We were advised that the obs quarry was the best place to look. We had brief flight views of 2 individuals but an hour or so stake out didn’t produce any other views. The Little Owl was playing ball either so we decided to head off. We had parked near the Pulpit Inn and on the way back I was pleased to self find a Black Redstart. A rather showy bird and we enjoyed prolonged views of the bird. We popped in to the obs to ensure it made the day list and headed off.

Black Redstart

Meadow Pipit

Common Linnet

Red Hot Poker

Wild Celery

English Stonecrop

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset
Next stop was to take in the Little Terns and they didn’t disappoint. I was impressed with the numbers too. I’ve visited this site for a few years now and today’s tally was the highest I can recall there. Let’s hope their breeding season is a success.

Little Tern

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
This was our last site and the target species was Bearded Reedling. On arrival we stopped in the visitor centre for some food and refreshments. As ever we both still had our bins to hand and were glad we did as there was a 2 cycle Yellow-legged Gull on one of the posts in the lagoon. It didn’t hang around too long though. We also enjoyed close views of a Common Tern feeding. There were good numbers of Common Swift, Barn Swallow and Common House Martin with a couple of Sand Martin thrown into the mix. Around the reserve were lots of Eurasian Reed Warbler and several Cetti’s Warbler.