Bag a Wild One

Saturday, 18 January 2014

White-wingers at Shawell

I was hoping to see at least one 'white-winged' gull today, as there had been quite a few around the Midlands during the week. I went to the landfill site first and it didn't take me long to spot a Glaucous Gull. The light was quite poor, but I managed to get a few images of it. Ageing it isn't that easy but it looks like a second-winter. Its eyes are starting to look pale and the bill tip is no longer black. The plumage could match either age, but the plain mantle favours second-winter.

Later it was at the A5 Lagoons where it showed well as it preened.

Glaucous Gull

Shortly after finding the Glaucous Gull, I spotted a second-winter Iceland Gull.

2013 - A Review

A trip to Norfolk on the 1st was a perfect start to the year. The early wake up time was worth the effort, as the waders on the Wash put on a great show. As normal during January I did a bit of walking in the snow in the Peak District to get me ready for a full on winter expedition to the Cairngorms.

Red Grouse

Parrot Crossbills

It has been a few years since I last saw Parrot Crossbills - 29 to be exact. As a young chap I visited Wells Woods both in 1984 and 85' to see the ones that were breeding there at the time. After all this time I was ready to have another look at this bull-necked beast of a finch. Luckily, as you probably know, there is a small flock of them at Budby Common, Nottinghamshire at the moment.

I parked up at Budby and headed to the last area they had been reported from. However, it took longer to find the location than I would have liked, but eventually I managed to get good views of them feeding in the pines and drinking from some small puddles.

Male Parrot Crossbill

Gulls at Shawell During 2013

This is an account of the gulls I recorded in the Shawell area of Leicestershire during 2013. The attraction for the gulls is the ready meals at Cotesbach Landfill Site. They also congregate at the nearby lagoons, known as the Shawell A5 Lagoons. The latter site is on the border between Leicestershire and Warwickshire and right at the side of the main A5 road. The lagoons are just inside Leicestershire.

I averaged just over one visit per week throughout the year apart from when I was away on holiday. Sticking to it all day throughout the freezing cold weather of the first-winter period was tough, but it had its rewards. On one occasion I had to give in when the hood over the big end of my scope continuously filled with snow.