Bag a Wild One

Saturday, 8 March 2014

Germany to Senegal Via Shawell

On July 24th 2013 I spotted a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Shawell with an orange ring and the code PB4.T. It had been ringed at Rainham Tip, Greater London on August 29th 2009. Late spring records from Helgoland, Germany suggest it breeds in that area.

In January this year John Wright from Rutland visited Senegal searching for Ospreys from the Rutland Water Osprey Project. As well as finding lots of Ospreys he also saw quite a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Amongst them, you've guessed it, was PB4.T. Quite a coincidence really and the saying 'it's a small world' fits these sightings well.

This is the furthest south a LBB Gull recorded in Leicestershire & Rutland has migrated.

John saw PB4.T at Tiougoune, Senegal, which is between Dakar and Saint Louis.

Thanks to John for allowing me to show you his splendid illustration.

Lesser Black-backed Gull PB4.T (illustration by John Wright)

Sightings so far for PB4.T

Friday, 7 March 2014

Mussel-Pecker

Whilst I was birding the coast around Nairn last week I spoke to a wonderful Scottish lady who told me about the Mussel-Peckers. Initially I struggled to understand as she had a really broad Scottish accent, but eventually I worked out that she had said Mussel-Peckers. Shortly afterwards the penny dropped and I realised she was talking about Oystercatchers.

Mussel-Pecker was a new name to me and it put a smile on my face as I realised that I would be using this name regularly now.

A Couple of Mussel-Peckers

Sunday, 2 March 2014

Cairngorms February 2014

Looking up from the comfort of my armchair I could just make out the lower slopes of the Cairngorm Mountains, but the summits were still hidden from view. The rattle of the tiles above told me that I would have to wait a while longer before setting off on my adventure.

The forecast looked good for Friday, so I cut my pieces of freeze proof cake, donned my multiple layers, fastened my boots and checked once more that I had all my safety equipment.

The plan was to slog my way up the steep ridge that arrives on the Cairngorm plateau below the summit of Cairngorm. The sun was out as I set off, but the wind was fierce. Crampons were soon needed, as the combination of slippery ice and strong wind threatened to dump me on my arse.

As I neared the plateau the visibility had reduced dramatically, but I was feeling strong and the summit of Cairngorm called. It was now time for goggles and my trusty balaclava.

Though it was very cold, the conditions were fantastic on the summit, but where was the weather station?

Cairngorm Weather Station 2014

Burghead Harbour

Blue Skies, calm seas and spectacular birds - what more do you need?

At Burghead, last week, a Great Northern Diver was fishing inside the harbour, Long-tailed Ducks dazzled and Eiders 'ah-ooed'.

Confiding Purple Sandpipers and a flock of Pale-bellied Brent Geese graced the shores near the Nairn golf course and offshore divers and sea duck beguiled.

Male Long-tailed Duck

Kumlien's Gulls etc

I normally spend my February trip to Aviemore playing in the snow, but gale force winds and white outs limited my outings into the Cairngorms to just two.

On the non-mountain days I spent my time birding. The coast between Nairn and Burghead provided some of the highlights, but trips to Gairloch, Gruinard Bay, Thurso and Scrabster were also memorable.

Gulls, surprise surprise, provided lots of entertainment. The list included a Bonaparte's, two Glaucous, two Kumlien's and five Iceland Gulls. The other highlights of the trip will feature in future postings.

The first Iceland Gull I saw was at a pig farm near Elgin. An adult was resting in a field close to the pig farm and for a while I thought I'd got a juvenile Kumlien's Gull, but on close inspection I realised it was a partially leucistic Herring Gull. It showed pale buff markings on the longest primaries, but structurally it was not right although at least it was educational.

At Gairloch I visited the outflow of the Kerry River where two juvenile Iceland Gulls had been reported. Three maybe four juveniles were there and involved in a feeding frenzy near the end of a pipe. I'm not sure if it was sewage or just the outflow from the fish farm that had attracted the gulls.

Thurso and Scrabster provided real entertainment. On arrival at Thurso I found the regular Bonaparte's Gull roosting on an island in the river, but the light was really poor, so photography proved difficult. At the Scrabster harbour single juvenile Kumlien's and Iceland Gulls showed well and posed for photographs. The first 'white winger' that put in an appearance was what I considered to be an Iceland Gull. It was much paler and the longest primaries were clean white. Once the Kumlien's Gull put in appearance there was no mistaking it.

Juvenile Kumlien's Gull

Juvenile Iceland Gull

After the excitement at Scrabster, I returned to Thurso. The Bonaparte's Gull had disappeared but what greeted me was every bit as good. Resting amongst the gulls on the riverbank was what appeared to be an Iceland Gull, but I was looking into the sun. I moved and quickly realised it was a Kumlien's Gull - get in there! I also realised that the gull next to it was juvenile Glaucous Gull.

In the photo below you can see the grey wash to the longest primaries. Initially I thought it was a third-winter because of the amount of grey on the mantle and scapulars, but Kumlien's second-winters are often said to show grey saddles. The actual grey wash was very obvious when viewed through my scope, I believe more so than in the photograph. The eyes were dark, which is a good feature, as many Iceland Gulls at this age have paler eyes. The flock of gulls were disturbed by a car alarm (to be honest I was disturbed by it as well). As they wheeled around I got back onto the Kumlien's, and from my position higher up on the river bank I saw the upperwing and the grey wash was most obvious on the outer primaries and the inner primaries appeared paler. I also noticed that the tail band was quite distinctive.