Rufford Gulls - 12th August 2026

 Yesterday, on the way back from Blacktoft Sands, Jayne and I had a quick, half an hour stop, at Rufford. It was very sunny and 32 degrees, so we didn't hang around too long. There were c.70 gulls present, and we managed to see 6 "darviced" Black-headed Gulls, 3 of which were new for the season.

The three "new" gulls were: 273C,(last seen on 17th February 2026), 225H (last seen on 8th March 2026) and 2V16 (last seen on 17th January 2026).

273C (born in 2023)

225H (ringed in December 2025, as an adult)

2V16 (ringed in February 2025, as an adult)

The other gulls seen were: 258A, 273A and 255F. These sightings were the second of the season. 

Other birds recorded were: Kingfisher (1 heard), Mute Swan (5 birds) and Greylag and Canada Geese.

Rufford Gulls - 2nd August 2026

 Yesterday, I had a quick 45 minute visit to Rufford. Gull numbers had increased to c.40 Black-headed Gulls, and included the first juveniles of the year (4).6 ringed gulls were seen, including some that I've not had there for quite some time.

258A was one such bird. First ringed in February 2020, this bird has been a regular visitor to Rufford, but yesterday's sighting was my first since January 2026. So far, there haven't been any summer sightings.

258A

273A was ringed, as a juvenile bird in November 2021, and , again, has been a regular winter visitor to Rufford. This sighting was my first since 3rd January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

273A

207C was ringed on 22nd December 2022, as an adult, and has been reported an amazing 47 times at Rufford. This was my second sighting this season.

207C

258C was ringed on 3rd December 2023, as a juvenile, and has been seen 30 times at Rufford. This is my first sighting since 17th January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

258C

255F was ringed 30th November 2024, as a juvenile. Yesterday's sighting was only my 5th sighting since ringing, and my first since September 2025. Presumably, it pops into Rufford when it first arrives back, and then overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings.

255F

2V03 was ringed on 18th January 2025, as an age 5, i.e. born on 2024. Yesterday's sighting was my first of the season, and only the fourth since ringing. I last saw this bird on 2nd September 2025. Again, presumably a bird that overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings yet. 

2V03

Rufford-17th January 2026

Last weekend, I had a couple of hours at Rufford. The ice had all gone, and there were fewer Black-headed Gulls (c.150),  but I still managed to see 14 ringed birds, including the Lithuanian- ringed P519 (now back for at least its 8th winter (first record was in January 2018), and first ringed, as an adult, in April 2010, so born, at the latest in 2008).

P519

Other birds seen were: 258A, 280B, 202C, 207C, 209C, 215C, 258C, 270C, 298C, 200H, 208H, 225H and 2V16.

3 new  birds were added to the Year List too: Red-legged Partridge (78), Song Thrush (79) and Marsh Tit (80).

Rufford Gulls - 21st and 23rd December 2025

 This last week, whilst off school for the holidays, I had a couple of visits to Rufford to see the Black-headed Gulls. The first visit was on 21st December, when I recorded 21 green-ringed and the Lithuanian-ringed bird P519. A quick, 1 hour visit on 23rd had 12 green-ringed birds, P519 and, best of all, an adult Caspian Gull (thanks Luke!).

The green-ringed birds seen on 21st were: 206A, 273A, 284A, 208B, 272B, 202C, 207C, 269C, 270C, 273C, 298C, 2V10, 2V16, 221F, 227F, 241F, 292F, 200H, 207H, 208H and 225H.

284A - my first sighting since March 2023!

Birds seen on 23rd were: 258A, 208B, 202C, 207C, 273C, 298C, 234F, 292F, 2V16, 200H, 208H, 225H. P519 was also seen again.

208H 

Rufford - 12th October 2025

Last Sunday, I was down at Rufford for a couple of hours, and had the best session of the autumn so far with 18 ringed birds (16 of "ours", a metal-ringed bird and a brand new Dutch-ringed bird) spotted.

The 16 birds were: 2V10 (2nd sighting this autumn), 2V16 (2nd sighting this autumn), 258A (4th sighting this autumn), 273A (2nd sighting this autumn), 283B (2nd sighting this autumn), 207C (6th sighting this autumn), 245C (3rd sighting this autumn), 258C (7th sighting this autumn), 209F (1st sighting, since ringing, as a 1st winter bird, in October 2024), 214F (1st sighting this autumn), 215F (2nd sighting this autumn), 217F (2nd sighting this autumn), 221F (2nd sighting this autumn), 234F (4th sighting this autumn), 239F (2nd sighting this autumn) and 262F (1st sighting on the autumn. Last seen in December 2024). The metal ringed bird was EM21570 (2nd sighting this autumn). 

209F

214F

262F

The new, Dutch-ringed bird, was an adult, with a white darvic EV.V2. It was originally ringed, as an adult, on 7th June 2022 at Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands, by Benny Middendorp. It was reported here again on 9th June 2022, and again on 10th March 2024, before my sighting at Rufford.

EVV2

Rufford Gulls - Old and New

I only had chance to spend half an hour at Rufford yesterday, but, in that short time, I manged to see 8 darvic-ringed Black-headed Gulls and a single metal-ringed bird. Along with this, I also managed to add a possible new breeding record for a damselfly species!

The birds seen were: 258A, 245C, 258C, 279C (a new, 1st-winter bird, ringed on Saturday), 215F (the first sighting since being ringed in October 2024),  217F ( my first sighting since February 2025), 239F (first sighting since January 2025) and 2V10 (my first sighting, since being ringed on 1st February 2025). The metal-ringed bird, a 1st winter, was seen, but not identified, as it flew off before I could read the ring! 

279C

215F

217F

239F

2V10

In addition to the gulls, there were also c100 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Mute Swans (Broken Beak, his partner and 3 cygnets), and 3 Willow Emerald Damselflies, including 1 pair egg laying - my first record here!!!

Willow Emerald Damselflies

Rufford Visit - 2nd September 2025

 Yesterday, I had my first visit to Rufford for a couple of weeks. It was bright sunshine (with a few rain showers) and 20 degrees, and there were about 70 Black-headed Gulls (c.40 juveniles). 7 darviced gulls were seen, and a new, metal-ringed bird was also spotted.

The darviced birds were: 258A (2nd sighting this autumn/winter), 207C (4th sighting since July), 258C (fourth sighting this autumn/winter), 221F (last seen in February 2025), 234F (second sighting this autumn/winter), 255F (first sighting since January 2025) and 2V03 (2nd sighting this autumn/winter).

221F

255F

The metal-ringed bird (EM21570) was a 3, i.e. born this year. It had been ringed, as a pullus, on 10th June, 158km away, at Marlingford Hall, Norfolk. This is, unsurprisingly, the first sighting since ringing. Hopefully, it'll hang around for the winter.

EM21570

In addition to the gulls, I also recorded 7 Mute Swans, including the 2 unringed birds seen last visit, along with 2 more adults (Broken Beak and his partner) and their 3 new cygnets, 2 Kingfishers, 1 House Martin, dozens of Canada and Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, Mallards and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Broken Beak and family

Lesser Black-backed Gull

In addition to those sightings, I also saw a familiar Black-headed Gull in Bakewell on Monday. It was quite a brief sighting, but enough to get the metal ring EW97345. This is a bird I first saw, in Bakewell, back in September 2018. The bird had been ringed, as an adult (at least 2 years old), in Boston, Lincolnshire on 9th January 2010. Monday's sighting was my first since July 2021.

EW97345

Rufford Gulls - 29th July 2025

 I spent two hours at Rufford yesterday afternoon. There were about 65 Black-headed Gulls present, including 17 juveniles, and 4 darvic-ringed birds.

The darviced birds were 258A (first ringed in February 2020 and reported 42 times, mainly in Rufford. Today's sighting was the first since March 2025), 207C, 258C (both first seen back on 15th July) and 234F (ringed on 9th November 2024, as a 1st winter bird, seen 8 times last winter and last seen in February 2025).

258A

207C

258C

234F

Rufford - 2nd March 2025

 My latest visit to Rufford was on 2nd March, when I had an hour, and spotted 14 Black-headed Gulls, including new birds; 2V03 (ringed on 18th January, as a 5, born last year), 218F (ringed by me, as a 1st winter bird, on 12th October 2024) and J3018 ( a new Norwegian-ringed bird, that was ringed, as a free-flying juvenile, in Oslo, on 5th August 2024).

2V03

218F

J3018

Other gulls seen were: 206A, 258A, 273A, 293A, 251B, 254B, 207C, 258C, 270C, 298C and 230F.

Rufford Update - 15th February 2025

 I've just had a look at the blog, and realised that I haven't posted this month yet!! During this time, I've had a couple of visits to Rufford (both cold and rainy!), adding a few new Black-headed Gulls to the list.

The first visit, on 8th February, saw the following birds reported: 273A, 295A, 202C, 207C, 258C, 264C, 273C, 298C, 221F, 234F and 2V16 (my first sighting, about 2 hours after ringing!)

2V16

On yesterday's visit, 15th February, I saw: 258A, 273A, 293A, 295A, 280B, 202C, 207C, 255C (the first ever sighting, since being ringed, as a 1st year bird, in November 2023!), 264C, 207F, 221F, 234F, 292F and Lithuanian-ringed bird, P519 (first sighting since 4th January).

255C

292F

P519

Rufford Again - 23rd December 2024

 I was back at Rufford yesterday. Unfortunately, Black-headed Gull numbers were slightly down on my last visit (c150), but I still spotted 13 ringed birds, and, what is potentially a new species for this site, a Caspian Gull. 10 Goosander (6 males and 4 females) were also seen, as were a pair of Gadwall and 4 Teal.

Black-headed Gulls seen were: 258A, 273A, 293A, 295A, 280B, 202C, 207C, 258C, 264C, 298C, 223F, 234F and 261F.

The Caspian Gull landed briefly on the lake, and I managed 4 photos before it flew off.

Rufford Gulls - 6th October 2024

 On the way back from Norfolk on Sunday, we popped into Rufford for a short, 1 hour visit. There were a lot more birds present, up from c.40 to c.170, and included 6 or our darvic ringed birds.

The birds seen were: 206A, 258A, 293A, 295A, 207C and 258C. All, except 295A, had been reported already this autumn. 295A was last seen back in February (see here).

295A

258A and 258C

Soggy Rufford!!

 I didn't go to Rufford last weekend, because of the heavy rain, so I really wanted to get back across today. I went, and ironically, it was pouring with rain!! There were only 40 Black-headed Gulls today (presumably the others were still out on the fields enjoying the rain!), but I did manage to see 5 darviced birds.

The darviced birds were: 206A, 258A, 297A, 207C and 245C. The first birds are regulars, but for 245C, it was the first sighting since 4th February 2024, and only my 5th re-sighting since it was ringed in October 2023. See here for a picture of the same bird, back in December 2023.

245C

206A and 245C

Broken Beak (a male Mute Swan) was still present today, along with his mate and 3 cygnets, as were 25 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Grey Wagtail, c20 Mallards and a singing Chiffchaff.

Broken Beak and family

Rufford Gulls - 3rd September 2024

 Last Tuesday was the last day of the summer holidays, so I popped to Rufford to get my first September visit to the Black-headed Gulls. I recorded 7 of "our" gulls and a new Lithuanian-ringed bird, a juvenile.

Our gulls were: 258A (my 35th sighting), 293A (my 31st sighting), 297A (my 11th sighting), 283B (my 4th sighting),  205C (my 2nd sighting), 207C (my 18th sighting) and 258C (my 11th sighting).

The Lithuanian-ringed gull, a juvenile with the metal ring HA60.507, was hanging around with the other gulls. I sent off the record, but, unfortunately, it hasn't been registered with the Lithuanian Ringing Scheme yet, so I'll have to wait a bit longer to find out where and when it was ringed! Until then, here is a photo.

HA60.507

Other birds seen were: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (1st summer/2nd year?), c30 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, Mallard, Tufted Duck, a Kingfisher (my first record here) and a very interesting-looking hybrid goose.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Hybrid goose

UPDATE: The Lithuanian gull was ringed, as a pullus, 1,766km away (in Lithuania!) on 13th June 2024, 82 days before being spotted at Rufford.