Well, it’s the latest sightings blog after a bumper Big Garden Birdwatch. We hope you enjoyed gazing out at your gardens last weekend, to see who visited.
It was really peaceful here at Coombes on Saturday morning. Looking out towards the feeders, there were a couple of blue tits and a great tit enjoying the peanuts on the feeders in the sunshine. The sun didn’t stay around for long as the clouds drew in.
Black-headed gulls
Out of nowhere, a flock of around 400 black-headed gulls appeared circling over the top pasture, before flying off to find shelter from the imminent storm.
Although a common species, it was still some sight to see so many gulls circling quite low over the grass. People often associate gulls with the seaside. Kittiwakes, for example, nest on sea cliffs and spend most of their time feeding out to sea. However, some species spend as much time inland and black-headed gulls do just that. They prefer to make their home mainly on marshes, near lakes or in urban areas.
Black-headed gulls can be seen in large flocks in the countryside making the most of cultivated fields, feeding on insects that have been forced to the surface. In wet weather birds can be seen ‘puddling’, the action of stamping their feet over and over in one place to flush out worms.
Black headed gulls are widely distributed and can be found in North East America right through to Asia. The UK has a resident population of black-headed gulls, as well as providing a winter home for gulls coming from Russia and Scandinavia. Some gulls that spend the Summer in the UK, spend winter in France, Iberia and North Africa.
Black-headed gull with winter plumage, Ben Hall (RSPB-Images.com)
Frost flower
The recent cold snap has been turning Coombes into a winter wonderland. Earlier this week, we mentioned on Facebook that the team came across a strange formation on a fallen branch. This is known as a frost flower. When moisture from plant material gets exposed to freezing cold air, delicate threads of ice form to make these natural ice sculptures. Pretty cool.
Frost flower, Andy Hay (RSPB-Images)
Trees
Winter is a great time to see the woodland in a totally new light. Trees take on their own characters, showing their many different shapes and sizes you wouldn’t see when the leaves are on the trees. You may also have noticed from our Facebook page, we have begun a winter tree I.D. feature every Wednesday. Have a look to see if you can name that tree. Don’t forget to pop down to the reserve to test your own winter tree I.D skills.
Trees, by Becky Austin
As a final note, Thursday saw snow return to the reserve, turning the top pasture and fields beyond white. That is until the rain came once again.
Snow at Coombes by Carl Capewell.