Gulls galore!

Now is probably one of the best times to view the range of gulls that live here on the reserve as well as ones who visit for the winter. However, telling them all apart can be tricky even for a seasoned birdwatcher. Some of the gulls, like many birds, have summer and winter plumage so look different at different times of year. Other gulls have different plumage depending on how old they are. A one-year old gull can look very different to a three-year old bird of the same species.

For an example I will use a particular gull that I'm sure most of us are familiar with. The Herring Gull. Considered a pest for being brave enough to nick your chips at the sea side, these birds are actually in serious decline and are threatened by habitat loss, climate change and illegal persecution. The first picture shows an adult herring gull (catching its dinner) with its white plumage, black wing tips and bright yellow beak. The second picture also shows a herring gull but this one is a juvenile with a dark beak and speckled brown feathers. You will see more of these hanging around with the adult gulls when they've just fledged the nest in the late summer time. They are usually still begging for food from their parents and are still fairly reluctant to leave home.  

Adult herring gull - Graham Parry

Juvenile herring gull - Graham Parry

Another example is the Common Gull which is smaller than the herring gull and is far less common than the name suggests. 

Adult common gull - Mike Lane

Juvenile (or 1st winter) common gull - Graham Parry

A different example is the Black-headed gull, whose name confuses many in the winter months. Black-headed gulls are another seabird species in decline and one we are particularly trying to encourage to breed here at the reserve. In the winter, the black-headed gull changes its plumage and only leaves a speck of black on its head to identify it. They do however, have gorgeous deep red beaks and legs all year round. 

Black-headed gull, summer plumage - Andy Hay

Black-headed gull, winter plumage - Graham Parry

The aforementioned gulls are all native species to the UK and will stay here all year round. Next we have some of the winter visiting gulls such as the Caspian gull. Now, you might have thought Herring gulls were bullies, but the Caspian gull is a larger and more aggressive bird and will easily see a herring gull off if one gets too close. 

Caspian gull v Herring gull - Graham Parry

The Glaucous gull is a scarce winter visitor and although rare to see in southern England, it has been seen here very frequently at the reserve on the islands on Burrowes Pit. This one is a juvenile (first winter) with pale biscuit brown coloured plumage and pale pink beak and legs. The glaucous gull is the second largest gull in the world. It can live for about 20 years and it breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, wintering further south.

Juvenile glaucous gull - Graham Parry

A juvenile that has seen its first winter will also look very different from a juvenile that has seen its second winter as their plumage will change as they grow into adults. As I said before, identifying gulls can be a confusing business!

Gulls aside, other bird highlights of this week include male and female smew, 8 goldeneye on Burrowes Pit, 2 peregrines, a merlin and sparrowhawk, a black-throated diver, ringed plover, bittern, firecrest and dartford warbler.