Tuesday 7 January 2014

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.

A Winter's day at Shawell A5 lagoons

In all ten species of gull were recorded, of these six were seen on most visits.
Below is an account of each of these species:

Black-headed Gull    Chroiccocephalus ridibundus
Present throughout most of the year apart from the height of summer. The highest count during the year was c5000 on March 30th.

One colour-ring was read: March 9th white 662, ringed in Denmark on March 31st 2012.

Mediterranean Gull    Larus melanocephalus
A juvenile, just starting to moult into first-winter plumage, was at the A5 Lagoons on August 31st.

Mediterranean Gull

Common Gull    Larus canus
Present at all times in small numbers outside the breeding season. Numbers rarely exceed 50 birds.

Lesser Black-backed Gull    Larus fuscus
Present throughout the year including the summer months. Many counts of 2000 or more occurred during migration times. The highest count was 3000+ at the landfill site on 21st August. Many are of the sub-species intermedius. This was confirmed by reading colour-rings fitted in Norway.

I read 135 new colour-rings for this species and also re-read some that I first recorded in 2012. Many of them migrate to Spain, Portugal and Morocco for winter, and a few have been recorded even further south. Adult orange VV4T ringed at Rainham Tip, London, was sighted in Western Sahara during February 2012 and then spent August, September and October of this year at Shawell. On the 7th August I spotted a real globetrotter: orange E220, ringed in Rotterdam, Holland during the summer of 1995, was seen in Mauritania, West Africa on 18th November 2001. This is the furthest south a colour-ringed gull recorded in Leicestershire has migrated so far. I also recorded colour-ringed birds from breeding colonies in the far north of Norway and also Iceland.

Herring Gull    Larus argentatus
Seen throughout the year, with small numbers present even in mid-summer. The biggest numbers appear later than the Lesser Black-backed Gulls during the winter periods. During the first winter period, numbers peaked at just 357 in January. In contrast numbers during the second winter period were very high. They became the dominant species during November when 1000+ were recorded on the 23rd. Numbers continued to grow in December and a count of 2258 was made on the 28th.

High numbers during the second winter period helped produce a total of 27 colour-ring readings for the year.



No.
Date
Location
Species
Age
Metal Ring No.
Colour of Ring
Code
Ringing Co-ordinator
Ringing Location
Ringing Date
Notes
1
01/12/12
09/02/13
23/11/13
30/11/13
04/12/13
20/12/13
Shawell A5
& the landfill site
Herring Gull
Second-summer
?
Yellow
T:090
Euan Ferguson
Euan’s garden, Peterculter, Aberdeen
17/07/10
Seen at Shawell on 26/01/12 NWH
2
05/01/13
Shawell Landfill
Herring Gull, adult
adult
GN77433
Orange
0786
Sara Bone,
Defra
Gerrards Cross Landfill, Bucks
20/01/04
First sighting since ringing.
3
23/01/12
Shawell A5
Herring Gull

GC22706
Blue
787
Peter Stewart
Gloucester L.S
16/12/06
First sighting away from Gloustershire
4
23/01/13
Shawell A5
2nd-winter
Herring Gull
1st-winter
?
Yellow
1T1B
Jez Blackburn
Kings Lynn
29/10/11

5
26/01/13
Shawell A5
1st-W Herring Gull
1st-winter
GR58991
Orange
AY9T
Paul Roper
NTGG
Rainham Tip,
London
15/12/12
First sighting since ringing.
Seen again at Shawell 28/03/13
6
26/01/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult
4CY or older
GN88226
Orange
VS8T
Paul Roper
NTGG
Rainham Tip,
London
29/01/11
Somme, France, October 2011
7
27/04/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 4CY
1st CY
GN87738
Orange
YP4T
North Thames GG
Pitsea LF, Essex
30/10/10
First record
8
24/08/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, juv
pullus
GR62745
Yellow
F+C
Peter Rock
Gloucester
30/06/13
First record
9
19/10/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull
1st CY (3)
GR58904
Orange
MY4T
Paul Roper NTGG
Rainham Tip, Grtr London
03/11/12
First sighting since ringing
10
30/10/13 & 31/10/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 3rd-winter
Ist-year
GR15445
Orange
LV2T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
22/10/11
Seen at Shawell on 06/04/12 (SML)
11
31/10/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult

3rd year
GN88098
Orange
LS4T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
18/12/10
First sighting since ringing
12
06/11/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 3rd-winter

GN87962
Orange
KS0T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
11/12/10
Only sighting away from London
13
09/11/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult
adult
GC65637
Orange
2603
Sara Bone, FERA
Seamer Carr landfill site, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire
13/05/11
First sighting since ringing
14
20/11/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult

Adult
GR30258
Orange
LU4T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
17/12/11
First sighting away from London
15
23/11/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 3rd-year

3rd year
GR58274
Orange
MX8.T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Pitsea LF, Essex
10/03/12
First sighting away from London
16
30/11/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 1st-winter
1st CY
GR75680
Orange
F8HT
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
16/11/13
First sighting since ringing
17
07/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull
pullus
FA35413
Black
J3613
Ring merking
Husholmen, Froholman, Bjarkøy, Troms, Norway
29/07/11
Shawell is 2065 km from original ringing location. Seen near Vardo, Norway during June 2012
18
07/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 3rd-winter

2nd CY
GR58996
Orange
JY9T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
15/12/12
First sighting since ringing
19
07/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 1st CY
1st CY
GR62740
Yellow
D+X
Peter Rock
Gloucester
30/06/13
First sighting since ringing
20
09/12/13
11/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, 4th CY

2nd CY
GR30295
Orange
MU6T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Rainham Tip, Greater London
17/12/11
First sighting since ringing
21
14/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult

1st-winter
GN78018
Orange
1416
Sara Bone, FERA
Ellington Road landfill site, near Ashington, Northumberland
11/03/05
First sighting since ringing
22
18/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult

4th-CY
GC60923
Blue
BZV
Peter Stewart
Gloucester LF, Gloucestershire
17/05/08
First record away from Gloucestershire
23
18/12/13
Shawell A5
Herring Gull, adult


adult
GC60585
Blue
BSN
Peter Stewart
Stoke Orchard LF, Gloucestershire
15/12/07
Recorded at Shawell on 15/01/10


24
20/12/13
Cotesbach LF
Herring Gull, 2W

GR75889
Orange
W9DT
NTGG, Paul Roper



25
21/12/13
Cotesbach LF
Herring Gull, adult
adult
GR71915
Yellow
T13J
Euan Ferguson


Sinclair Street, Torry, Aberdeen, Scotland
03/08/2013
First sighting since ringing.


26
21/12/13
Cotesbach LF
Herring Gull, adult


Orange
0945
Sara Bone, FERA




27
22/12/13
Shawell A5 Lagoons
Herring Gull, 4CY/ adult
age 3
GR06158
Dark Blue
KCL
Peter Stewart
Gloucester LF, Gloucestershire
25/09/10
Dannes, Pas de Calais, France February 2013
28
28/12/13
Shawell A5 Lagoons
Herring Gull, adult
5CY+
4271603
Black
JX203
Ring merking
Hasselneset, Vardø, Finnmark, Norway
14/04/12
Probably seen by CDB on 21/12/13 but only J??03 read. Seen at Shawell by SML 25/12/13


As you can see, most of the colour-rings had been fitted in Britain, but the two from Norway have travelled a considerable distance south. The last one was impressive, as it was ringed during Gull Fest 2012 and seen by some British birders that were taking part in the festival.

Yellow-legged Gull    Larus michahellis
Recorded throughout the year in small numbers with sightings being made on 87% of visits. As usual numbers peaked in July and August, with the highest count being 20 together at the A5 Lagoons on August 21st. A combined total that day from the landfill site and the lagoons would have produced a much higher count.

Average Sightings per Visit Each Month During 2013

All age groups were seen. Highlights being a juvenile on August 15th and several first-winters from late August onwards.

First-winter Yellow-legged Gull

Caspian Gull    Larus cachinnans
A total of 38 different birds were seen throughout the year. The ones listed below I consider to be OK. I have taken a strict approach to assessment and from my initial list some have been removed and are now considered to be hybrids. This species can be troublesome due to hybridisation in the breeding colonies closest to Britain where they meet up with Herring Gulls.

Third-winter Caspian Gull

Sightings Per Age:

Adult: singles on January 5th and 26th, February 22nd, April 6th, November 9th, 20th and 30th and December 20th and 28th. Total nine.

Fourth-winter: singles on March 9th, October 30th and November 23rd. Total three.

Third-summer: single on July 27th. Total 1.

Third-winter – singles on March 30th, August 24th and December 21st. Total three.

Second-winter – singles on February 2nd and 12th; two on April 6th; one on September 26th; two on October 12th with further singles during October on the 19th and 31st and finally two on November 30th. Total 11.

First year: one on January 31st; three on February 16th; one on March 9th; three on April 13th; two on April 27th and one on December 22nd. Total 11.

Hybrids:

       Adult, Caspian x Herring Gull, January 20th.
       Second-winter, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, February 9th and 12th, March 3rd, 13th and 16th and April 3rd, 6th and 17th.
       Third-winter, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, February 16th.
       Adult, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, March 9th.
       First-winter, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, March 9th.
       Second-winter, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, March 13th.
       Second-summer, probable Caspian x Yellow-legged Gull, June 19th and 22nd.
       First-winter, Caspian x Herring Gull, September 7th.
       Third-winter, probable Caspian x Herring Gull, December 22nd and 29th.
       Third-winter, Caspian x Herring Gull, December 22nd and 29th.

Iceland Gull     Larus glaucoides

    a juvenile / 1st-winter on February 9th)
    a pale first-winter on March 9th, 27th and 28th and April 6th

Faded First-winter Iceland Gull 

Glaucous Gull     Larus hyperboreus

Six were recorded:
  • fourth-winter on February 16th
  • juvenile on February 22nd
  • second-winter on March 9th
  • juvenile on March 16th and 27th
  • adult on march 28th
  • second-winter on December 14th
Juvenile Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull    Larus marinus

Seen throughout the year with the largest numbers appearing in winter. The highest count was 562 on December 28th.

I managed to read eight colour rings - see the chart below:


No.
Date
Location
Species
Age
Metal Ring No.
Colour of Ring
Code
Ringing Co-ordinator
Ringing Location
Ringing Date
Notes
1
23/01/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull


Blue
JDL
Peter Stewart
Gloucester L.S
24/04/10
First sighting away from Gloustershire
2
23/01/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull


Black
JP573
Ringmerking
Vest-Agder, Norway
30/06/12
1st winter
3
09/02/13
Shawell Landfill
GBB Gull
2nd year


Black
JP070
Ringmerking
Vest Agder, Norway
06/07/11
Dogsthorpe Tip, Cambs
05/11/11
4
04/12/13
07/12/13
28/12/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull, 4th CY
3rd CY
MA28643
Orange
VK6T
NTGG, Paul Roper
Pitsea Landfill, Essex
13/10/12
First record since ringing
5
07/12/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull
pullus
3038651
Black
JJ018
Ring merking
Lyngøy, Tysnes, Hordaland, Norway
02/07/12
First sighting since ringing.
6
11/12/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull, adult
adult
HT75927
Blue
CSB
Peter Stewart
Gloucester LF, Gloucester
22/12/07
Sightings from Denmark during autumn 2011 & 2013. Last sighting at Hirtshals Havn, Nordjyllands Amt, Denmark on 29/10/13


21/12/13
Shawell A5
GBB Gull, adult
5CY+
MA28620
Orange
TK5T
NTGG, Paul Roper

Rainham Tip, Greater London
11/02/12
Pas de Calais, France, 06/11/13
7
28/12/13
29/12/13
Shawell A5 Lagoons,
GBB Gull,
3rd or 4th winter
2nd CY
MA28609
Orange
DK5T
NTGG, Paul Roper

Pitsea LF, Essex
28/01/12
First sighting since ringing
8
28/12/13
Shawell A5 Lagoons
GBB Gull, 2W
2nd CY
MA28703
Orange
A1AT
NTGG, Paul Roper

Pitsea LF, Essex
02/02/13
First sighting since ringing







































1 comment:

  1. Really fascinating stuff Carl, reading those colour rings certainly gives us a real insight into the lives of these birds, it's amazing what they get up to!

    ReplyDelete