A touch of the Mediterranean

No, not the weather. Although that was definitely rather better over the weekend. The sun was out, the wind had dropped. It actually felt rather nice. I was wandering around in shirt sleeves for the first time this year.

No, what I am actually referring to was the two mediterranean gulls that arrived at the weekend. You may well be familiar with black headed gull, the ones that loaf around on school playing fields. Well, mediterranean gulls really are black-headed gulls. They have comepletely black hoods over the head (and a white ring around the eye), rather than the chocolate masks of the black headed gulls. Confused yet? Mediterranean gulls are also somewhat larger, with bright red legs and beak and no black tips to their wing feathers. Just to make it really silly, the scientific name of mediterranean gulls is Larus melanocephalus, or, to translate, 'black-headed gull'. Honestly!

(In case you were wondering, the scientific name of a black-headed gull is Chroicocephalus ridibundus. Or 'laughing gull'. Which is the name of a third, totally different, species. Just gets better, doesn't it?)

This gull is not black headed! Mediterranean gull by Mike Langman

 Until the 1950's the mediterranean gull was really quite rare in the UK. However, they have since colonised the south east and are gradualkly extending their breeding range. Still only about 150 pairsa in the country though. It is early days yet, but these two do seem to be defending a particular patch on one of the islands opposite the reedbed hide, so who knows, we may have a new breeding bird this summer! They certainly do breed at RSPB Snettisham, just the other side of the Wash.

Aside from the gulls, plenty of people were enjoying the warmer weather at the weekend. We had a family fun day on Saturday, and it was great to see so many families out enjoying themselves. We did badge making, planted sunflower seeds to take home and put in the garden, coloured easter eggs, made easter bunny masks and there was a face-painter too! Great fun was had by all, do watch out for our next fun day which is on 2 June. Many thanks to all who cvame, and also to my wonderful team of volunteers who help entertain the families.

 In terms of other birds of note over the weekend, we had some good views of both marsh and hen harrier. Another wheatear turned up, maybe the herald to more migrants. And a male bearded tit proved elusive, showing only to a select few. Which didn't include me or John the site manager (who still needs it for his reserve list)