Tag Archives: Black-headed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull – 1st February

February 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st February, 2019, Black Swan, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Deep Pit, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesse Black-backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This morning the three water bodies were all mostly frozen over. There were a lot of gulls resting on the ice, including Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed. Amongst one group of Black-headed Gulls on the Deep Pit was a Yellow-legged Gull. Also a pair of Black Swans have arrived from somewhere and are on the Deep Pit. At the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon a flock of about thirty Lesser Redpolls were feeding in the Birch trees. PS.

Pintail – 27th June

June 27, 2017Recent wildlife sightings2017, 27th June, Black-headed Gull, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Little Egret, Mallard, pintail, Shoveler, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning the female Pintail was still on the Slurry Lagoon as were the Shoveler pair and a Little Egret. There were also broods of Mallard and Gadwall. The first fledged Black-headed Gulls had also flown across from the Deep Pit. PS.

Stonechat – 19th February

February 19, 2017Recent wildlife sightings19th February, 2017, Black-headed Gull, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, StonechatPete Smith

This morning there was a massive movement of gulls through the lagoons, especially Black-headed Gulls, mostly going between north and west. There were also lots of Snipe flying in in small groups which added up to about 34 whilst watching, dropping into the Slurry Lagoon reed beds. The male Stonechat was still visible in front of the sub-station but the female did not show. PS.

Peregrine – 12th March

March 12, 2016Recent wildlife sightings12th March, 2016, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Cettis Warbler, Kestrel, Little Egret, peregrine, Wader Scrape, water railPete Smith

This morning there was a strong passage of Black-headed Gulls to the east. A Peregrine was on a pylon and later spiralled over the site. Also seen were a pair of Kestrels and of Buzzards, six Water Rail were heard plus five Cetti’s Warblers. Four Little Egrets were on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Common Scoter – 4th April

April 4, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 4th April, Black-headed Gull, common scoter, Little Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, Wader Scrape, Willow WarblerPete Smith

Late this morning a flock of eleven Common Scoters (8 males and 3 females) settled on the Slurry Lagoon and stayed all afternoon. There were several flocks of Black-headed Gulls passing through, which included two individual Little Gulls. Willow Warblers are now singing on site and a Little Ringed Plover was on the Wader Scrape. PS, RW.

Peregrine – 18th December

December 18, 2011Recent wildlife sightings18th December, 2011, birds, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Cettis Warbler, Fieilfare, Lapwing, peregrine, Redwing, tealPete Smith

This morning the frost had taken a hold of the site and thin ice was forming on most of the lagoons. There were large flocks of winter thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. By the Gravel Pits there were two Cetti’s Warblers and the Slurry Lagoon held over 300 Teal with Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings. A Peregrine flew low across the bank in front of us, skimming the tops of the reeds, directly at the flocks of birds, which erupted into the air as one. In the confusion the Peregrine missed its mark and withdrew to the top of a pylon. PS.

Little Egret – 28th November

November 28, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 28th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, tealPete Smith

At dusk the gull roost contained about 500 birds, consisting mainly of Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. there were also around 200 Teal and 70 Shoveler. Two Little Egrets and two Shelduck were also present and the Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly from the reed bed that the Starlings were roosting in. PS.

Ruff – 8th September

September 9, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 8th September, birds, Black-headed Gull, Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ruff, Sand Martin, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This evening two Ruff and two Dunlin dropped in, onto the Slurry Lagoon. There were also about 120 Sand Martins, 340 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1,000 Black-headed Gulls. RW.

Black-tailed Godwit – 11th July

July 11, 2011Recent wildlife sightings11th July, 2011, birds, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed godwit, Coot Lesser Black-backed gull, ducks, Grebes, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The Slurry Lagoon was a hive of activity this afternoon with young ducks, grebes and coots with their parents across almost the whole of its surface. At the back with some Lapwings were two Black-tailed Godwit and a fairly good roost of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, PS.

Jay – 11th April

April 11, 2011Recent wildlife sightings11th May, 2011, birds, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Grasshopper Warbler, Jay, Reed Warbler, Sedge WarblerPete Smith

As we watched the terns trying to drive the Black-headed Gulls from the breeding platforms, more birds arrived in ones and twos. Soon there were nine flying around and they gained the upper hand. In the distance a Jay flew through, high above the valley. Five Grasshopper Warblers are now singing and more Reed and Sedge Warblers have arrived. PS.