American Wigeon and Iceland Gull

Whilst in Northumberland, enjoying the White-billed Diver, we also took the opportunity to see some other beautiful birds.

Our first stop was the Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Big Waters Reserve on the outskirts of Newcastle. We visited last year too, but didn't manage to catch up with the species we were after. Luckily, this year, we had much more luck, and had fantastic views of both a male American Wigeon (102) and an adult Iceland Gull (106). 

American Wigeon

Iceland Gull (asleep!)

Other species seen were: Tree Sparrow (103), Yellowhammer (104), Great Tit (105), Pintail (1 male), Wigeon (100+), Teal (10s), Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and  Herring Gull.

Our last species of the day was a Long-tailed Duck (107), that was seen on the River Tyne, whilst looking (unsuccessfully!) for a Ross's Gull.

Year List Update

It's been quite a while since I last updated the blog, so here's a post about the bird species I've seen since then.

The first new species for the year are Red-legged and Grey Partridges, which were seen near Rufford and at Apperknowle.

The next bird, a Black-throated Thrush, was a 1st winter bird that has been present in Grimsby for several weeks, and is the second time I've seen since this species in Britain, the first being way back in 1997! Here's a heavily cropped record shot.

Black-throated Thrush

The two owl species, Little and Tawny, were both added within 24 hours of each other! The Little Owl was seen perched in a tree in Apperknowle, whilst the Tawny Owl was heard calling (male and female) from the bedroom.

The last three species were added today in Keithley, West Yorkshire. The Waxwings (15 in total) were seen feeding on a Rowan tree, whilst the Iceland Gull, a juvenile/1st winter bird, and the Oystercatchers (2), were on Redcar Tarn, on the outskirts of Keighley.

Waxwings

Iceland Gull

Year List update:
84 – Red-legged Partridge
85 – Grey Partridge
86 – Black-throated Thrush
87 – Little Owl
88 – Tawny Owl
89 – Waxwing
90 – Iceland Gull
91 – Oystercatcher

Year List Update - 4th March 2019

The "Year List" has moved on again, with several new species added at Carsington Water last weekend (numbers 119 - 121), Red-legged Partridge at Linacre, Iceland Gull at Ogston Reservoir (1 adult and 1 1st winter) on Saturday, and Peregrine Falcon (Hardwick Wood fly over during a ringing session) and Great Grey Shrike at Clumber Park on Sunday.

Great Grey Shrike

Whilst at Ogston there were also a 1st winter and a near adult  "Viking" Gull a.k.a. a Herring x Glaucous Gull hybrid in the roost. The 1st winter looked very Glaucous-like, but had dark primaries, but I didn't manage to see the adult bird. Nice to see, even if it's not a  full species!

Year List update:
119 – Barnacle Goose (F)
120 – Tree Sparrow
121 – Snipe
122 – Red-legged Partridge
123 – Iceland Gull
124 – Peregrine Falcon
125 – Great Grey Shrike

Sheffield Iceland Gull

A couple of weeks ago I was in Newcastle birdwatching, and managed to get a brief view of an Iceland Gull at North Shields Fish Quay. Unfortunately, at the time, I was unable to get a photo, so I popped across to Sheffield this morning to see a 2nd winter bird that had been reported on Effingham Street.

Luckily, this bird was much more cooperative, and sat on a rooftop by the River Don, allowing me to get some decent shots.

Iceland Gull and Herring Gull

Also seen were: Black-headed Gull (c.150), Herring Gull (c.10), Great Black-backed Gull (2), Kingfisher (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Moorhen (1), Mallard (c.10), Feral Pigeons, Domestic Geese (5)and a single Chiffchaff (thanks Andy).

North East Adventure

Every February half term I like to have a day out birding somewhere different. This year I spent a day with Luke travelling around the North East, picking up 2 "lifers", and 21 "year ticks".

The first stop of the day was Skinningrove in Cleveland, where an Eastern Black Redstart had been reported on rocks by the pier. We arrived at 8.30am, and enjoyed a couple of hours here watching the bird as it fed in amongst the rocks. It was a very confiding bird, coming to within a few feet at times. Although, not yet a full species, it's still a great looking bird and very nice to see. See here for details of the different subspecies.

Eastern Black Redstart

Also present here were several Stonechat, 4 Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Pied Wagtails, 4 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, Rock Pipits and c.20 Fulmars.

Next stop on our day trip was the Northumberland Wildlife Trust's East Chevington Nature Reserve. The main bird we were here to see was a juvenile Pacific Diver. With a little persistence and some help from another birder, we found the bird, swimming distantly with Mute and Whooper Swans. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any photos, so click here for some amazing shots of the bird, taken earlier in its stay. Other birds present on and around the reserve were: Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Scaup (4), Slavonian Grebe (1), Gadwall, Skylark, Goldeneye, Mallard, Coot, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Curlew, Canada and Greylag Geese. Whilst here, we also walked down through the dunes to have a look for some Shorelarks and Twite that had been reported on the beach. Unfortunately, the Shorelarks weren't around, but we did see an amazing flock of c.90 Twite, and a few Linnets. Some seed had been put down by a couple of photographers and the birds kept flying in to feed about 10 feet away from us.

Twite

Ringed Plovers were also running around on the beach along with c.30 Sanderlings, including a colour ringed individual. Hopefully, I'll get the details of this bird, and update the blog later.

The last stop of the day was North Shields Fish Quay, where we hoped to catch up with a couple of "white-winged" gulls. The first species, a 1st winter/2nd calendar year Iceland Gull, was seen flying around as we parked up, but couldn't be found again (!), whilst a 1st winter/2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull was a lot more confiding. The bird flew in to some bread and sat a few feet away begging for more for the whole time we were there. Needless to say, we managed to get some great photos.

Glaucous Gull

Other birds seen around the quay were: Herring, Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, 2 Guillemots, several Shags and Cormorants and 11 Eider Ducks.

Year List update:
80 – Red Kite (5 seen on the journey)
81 – Stonechat
82 – Eastern Black Redstart
83 – Rock Pipit
84 - Shelduck
85 - Pacific Diver
86 - Red-breasted Merganser
87 - Whooper Swan
88 - Scaup
89 - Slavonian Grebe
90 - Gadwall
91 – Skylark
92 - Goldeneye
93 - Ringed Plover
94 - Sanderling
95 - Twite
96 - Linnet
97 - Red-throated Diver
98 - Iceland Gull
99- Glaucous Gull
100 - Eider Duck
101 - Curlew

Iceland Gull

Hot on the heels of last week's Glaucous Gull, comes the other "white winger" with an adult Iceland Gull at Poolsbrook Country Park. Here's a photo of the preening bird.

Iceland Gull

This bird has been seen on and off for the last few days, and I managed to catch up with it this afternoon. As you can see from the picture, the bird spent most of the time preening or asleep!

The gull, along with Canada and Greylag Goose that were also seen at Poolsbrook. have now been added to the "year list", along with Mute Swan, Gadwall and Grey Heron, that were seen on an afternoon trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Year List update:

 

65 – Canada Goose

66 – Greylag Goose
67 – Iceland Gull
68 – Mute Swan
69 – Gadwall
70 – Grey Heron

White-wingers!

Every year several so called "white-winged" gulls appear in the UK to spend the winter. Neither of the two species are particularly common, so when I got the opportunity to look for both I jumped at the chance. Both species, Iceland and Glaucous Gull, have been reported on Birdguides at the Fish Quay at North Shields in Newcastle, so whilst visiting my son and his girlfriend, I popped across to have a look.

I spent a couple of hours on site yesterday morning and managed to see both species, a 2nd winter Iceland Gull and a juvenile/1st winter Glaucous Gull.

Iceland Gull

 

Glaucous Gull

 

These species can be quite tricky to tell apart, but luckily the BTO have put together this short video to help.

Also seen on site were over a dozen Cormorants, several Shags, Eider Ducks (make and female), Black-headed, Great Black-backed, Herring and Common Gulls, a winter-plumaged Kittiwake (my first ever) and a Turnstone.

Kittiwake (note the dark smudge on the head)

Year List:
88 – Shag
89 – Eider Duck
90 – Turnstone
91 – Iceland Gull
92 – Glaucous Gull
93 – Kittiwake

Iceland Gull success!!

Following Friday's failed attempt at finding a "white winger" at Poolsbrook CP I was very lucky to get a second chance, this time at North Shields Fish Quay near Newcastle. This trip was a lot more successful and I managed to see 2 birds, an adult and a juvenile!

The adult bird, my first, was a very easy find as it flew past the car before we'd even got out! I managed to follow the bird to the top of the fish quay where I got a quick record shot, before it flew off again!

Iceland Gull (adult) Note the white wings.

Unfortunately it didn't sit still so I didn't manage to get any more shots. I did, however, find and photograph the juvenile bird, which was also sat on the roof of the Fish Quay.

Iceland Gull (juvenile)

Other birds present were: Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Eider Duck (year tick), Cormorant and Shag (year tick).

The Year List moves on by 3 more species:

86 – Iceland Gull
87 – Shag
88 – Eider Duck

A Day at the Seaside - Scarborough 2nd January 2011

It's become a bit of a family tradition to have a day at the seaside in the early new year and so this year we decided to visit Scarborough for the day.

Scarborough Harbour

When we arrived it was just 1 degree celsius, a chill wind was blowing and it had just begun to rain! However, being the "hardcore birders" that we are we did a quick circuit of the harbour to locate the juvenile Iceland Gull and Great Northern Diver that had been reported on Birdguides. I'm very glad we did, because both birds were still there and we managed to see them both before the rain got harder and began to turn to sleet!

After a spot of lunch in the local pizzeria, the sleet had gone and the sun had come out (well nearly!) Another circuit of the harbour and a quick scan over the south bay added Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull to the day's list.

                                                                     Great Black-backed Gull

A quick walk on the pier saw us surrounded by a group of approximately 30/40 Turnstones and, as a lovely surprise, 2 winter plumaged Sanderling, all the way from Arctic Canada!!!

Turnstones feeding on discarded bread

Sanderling feeding behind a fenced off area, not in jail!!

Iceland Gull in Preston- 30th December 2010

Ever since I began subscribing  to the Birdguides website about 5 years ago my knowledge of rarer birds in Britain has increased greatly. Although I don't consider my self a full blown twitcher, I do sometimes like to travel around looking at particular birds. So it was then that I set off for Preston, Lancashire this morning to see if I could catch up with a lovely juvenile Iceland Gull that has been seen in the Docklands area of the city.
 After a very uneventful 2 hour trip across the Pennines I arrived at Preston Docks at approximately 8.30am. 4 local birders were already present on site and they very kindly put me straight onto the bird.It was sat on the ice about 20m out showing very well.

Iceland Gull

As you can see on the photo, the white primary feathers are very noticeable on this juvenile bird, hence the description as a "white-winged gull". A very nice bird and a great way to end my birding year.