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| Carrion Crow |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring & Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull & Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull & Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull & Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Mallard |
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| Mallard |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Mallard |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Mallard |
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Mallard
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How often do you look at Herring Gulls? Sorry, I'll rephrase that, how often do you REALLY look at Herring Gulls? They are year round probably the commonest gull in towns and cities, at least locally here in Scotland, though Lesser Black Backed and Black Headed Gulls are numerous at other times of year, but Herring Gull seems to be THE urban gull.
It is only really when you stop and actually look at them as individuals, rather than as a species, that you start to appreciate the huge variety of plumages and combinations of features that these birds have, yet all are one species - though there are other species/subspecies which are part of the 'super-family' - American Herring Gull, Argentatus subspecies Herring Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow Legged Gull to name a few which can sometimes turn up in the UK, though mostly further south than here. However, I am determined that I am going to learn what to look for and then to find a 'rare' Herring-type Gull eventually.
Having spent a really enjoyable Friday out and about with my pal, Nat, and a Sunday outing with my pal, Rhona, ahead of me, I didn't want to just sit in all day. The weather forecast wasn't brilliant though with rain in the morning and winds strengthening to 50+ mph gusts as the day progressed. That combination ruled out an early start and also venturing too far from home, and shelter. Having recently found a young Norwegian ringed "Argentatus" Herring Gull at Swannie Ponds I figured I may as well head out for a wee while and see if the bird was still around, and if there were any other interesting gulls there also.
With the rain having gone off, though with a hint of possible showers still hanging ominously in the air, I decided to risk heading out at about 1240. A Blackbird and a Herring Gull were first on the list. I wasn't expecting to see many species with most small birds likely to be keeping to more sheltered areas and thus likely out of sight. A Carrion Crow cawed from a rooftop as I headed for Clepington Road. An apparently jet propelled Magpie shot over, the gale force tailwind speeding it on its way over the tenement roofs. I heard a Collared Dove but failed to see it.
Nearing Swannie Ponds a few minutes later I could see a few Feral Pigeons around. On reaching the ponds I found a complete lack of smaller gulls - no Black Headed or Common Gulls. There were still plenty of Herring Gulls and a smaller number of Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Mallards and a few Tufted Ducks made up the numbers on the water. Although there were few smaller birds around, a few Chaffinches flew over to the island, with Blue Tit coming the opposite way, into the wind. The local Woodpigeon pair foraged around on the grass. A Carrion Crow flew into land in the trees on the island with a beakful of nesting material, which appeared to be plastic 'tape'
I found a relatively sheltered spot and scanned through the gulls with binoculars initially, photographing anything that looked 'different' - birds with apparently longer bills, birds with more black on the 'spots' on their bills, birds that looked a bit different to others of the same age. Then they would all take flight and I would lose the more interesting birds and have to start again. Still it kept me occupied and it meant that I was looking properly at the gulls. Some appeared to have small dark eyes, others large pale eyes. Apart from a few adult birds, and the Lesser Black Backeds, there appeared to be no two Herring Gulls which looked the same, except superficially.
I photographed as many of the individual birds as I could, or if there were a few varieties side by side I would photograph those. Trying to track the birds in flight in the hope of getting the wingtips in shot, was frustrated at times by birds banking round behind the island just as the camera was achieving focus. A pair of Dunnocks appeared on the path as I was changing my perch, to a more sheltered bench, with the birds having moved slightly further away en masse. A male Blackbird foraged among the bushes.
A few Feral Pigeons and Woodpigeons flew over from time to time. A small bird flying out from the island caught my attention and I managed a poor photo which showed it to be a male Bullfinch - the first I've seen at the ponds. One of the Mute Swans glided round on the water from behind the island. A few of the Lesser Black Backed Gulls tussled with each other and Mallard drakes chased one another away from 'their' female, who usually looked less than impressed by their advances also.
Withe the wind strengthening I decided to head for home with over 200 photos of Herring Gulls and a handful of other species to sort through. Only 14 species seen, but an interesting way to spend 90 minutes or so.
Species seen - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Feral Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.
If anyone with more knowledge of gulls than me finds anything 'interesting' among the pile of photos above, please let me know.....
Also, the views on this blog have recently taken quite a sizeable leap upwards, so thanks to everyone who takes time to have a wee look at my handiwork. It would be nice to know who is looking, (and maybe where you are, how you found out about this blog and what you think of it), so please feel free to leave a comment below with any of the above info....