Back to Shawell A5 Lagoons

You would think that the gull numbers would be really low at an inland landfill site during late May and early June, but I estimate that up to 500 gulls are still visiting Cotesbach landfill site at present.

Smaller numbers are spending the afternoon at the nearby Shawell A5 Lagoons. Yellow-legged Gulls have already started to appear, with up to seven being seen at the lagoons at the same time. The 1st-summer gull in the picture below is most likely a Yellow-legged Gull. The features that support this are, black bill with a pale tip, white head, very dark tertials with neat pale edges and reddish brown coverts that contrast with the mantle and scapulars. 1st-summer gulls are not easy as many of them have really badly worn feathers, especially in June.

First-summer Yellow-legged Gull

A second-summer YLG was present for ages yesterday. Its saddle was slightly darker grey than the Herring Gulls that occasionally stood near it and its legs were already a dull yellow.

Second-summer Yellow-legged Gull (top)

With the help of Steve Nicholls, I've cleared a path at the side of the A5. It is now possible to walk to both viewing points without have to stray on to the road. The road is very busy and it is particularly dangerous there as it is narrow, which means that lorries get very close as you walk to the viewing points. 

When I arrived yesterday, I spotted a young Stoat playing around in the entrance to the small industrial area.

Stoat

Stoat

Stoat