On site this afternoon and nice to see a decent number of Gulls with around 50-60 birds.
- Vast majority were adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls - at least 8 adult Herring Gulls - 1 Great Black-backed Gull ...looked like the same one as last time 2nd CY coming out of its 1st W
I've hardly seen anything here recently when I've been on site apart from the odd large Gull, and even those have been flyover silhouettes. Of note this afternoon though...
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (mainly adults) - 2 adult Herring Gulls - 1 1st W Great Black-backed Gull
Had another contact from ringing coordinator Pete Rock today, and he seems quite certain the ring number is 2G3B and that it is definitely an East Anglian ringed bird. It is obviously a Herring Gull and the error with regards data is on the ringing side. So this is the history report below but the species is incorrect.
2G3B Recapture History Ring Age/ Capture number Type Date Init Details Lesser Black-backed Gull GF57111 N 10 19/03/11 DHD Blackborough End, Norfolk S 8 Sighted 18/07/11 PJE King's Lynn, Norfolk (8 km, NW, 121 days) S 10 Sighted 29/07/11 CSM King's Lynn, Norfolk (8 km, NW, 132 days) S 10 Sighted (R) 21/12/14 JMA Pinto, Madrid, Spain (1419 km, SSW, 3 yrs 277days)
...and also an Argenteus Herring Gull with a yellow ring on its left leg and a small silver ring on the right. The number looked like "2G38" on the yellow ring. Any info as to whose ringing group likely matches this number sequence? Cheers
Could have been 2G3B and if so likely ringed near Kings Lynn, Cambridge or Doncaster. Try jezblackburn@sky.com to see if its one of theirs.
Just incase anyone thought I'd forgotten about 2G3B from 07/12/17, I haven't, I finally got a reply today from one of Jez Blackburn's ringers after one of the main ringing coordinators Pete Rock stepped in. But, the report I've been sent with this particular Gulls history is for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The Gull is infact a Herring Gull, so they are now checking their data inputs with previous sightings. I'm intrigued to know what their findings are so I will update this as and when.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 19th of March 2018 11:03:07 PM
Again not been much activity or Gulls to scan at Smithfield recently bit this morning it was good to see something of interest whilst making a collection.
Not much doing at Smithfield Market at all last week, with a significant drop in large Gull numbers, but for anyone interested I got some info back yesterday off Mike Jackson of the York ringing group regarding Herring Gull Y:106
Not too sure what it all means but it looks like it was ringed in its 1st autumn 2015 (the same year it hatched - 3?). Cheers.
Recapture History Ring Age/ Capture number Type Date Init Details Herring Gull GV31786 N 3 26/10/15 CB Rufforth Waste Disposal site, York O 5 Sighted 22/01/16 Rufforth Airfield, York (4 km, S, 88 days) S 7 Sighted 07/02/17 Audenshaw Reservoir, Greater Manchester (83 km, SW, 1 yr 104days) S 7 Sighted 01/07/17 Whitburn,Tyne and Wear (110 km, N, 1 yr 248days)
Not many Gulls, only things of note... - 1 Common Gull - 3 Argentatus Herring Gulls - 1 yellow ringed Herring Gull Y:106 - 8 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls including 1 in adult plumage but with pink legs, cheers for the pointer on the bill Ian.
Lunchtime quick visit. - less than 15 large Gulls incl... - 2 Great Black-backed Gulls - 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2 Argenteus Herring Gull - rest were juv / imm's - No sign of any Argentatus!
Only 14 large Gulls present near the fish units including... - 2 ad Great Black-backed Gulls - 3 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 3 Argentatus Herring Gulls - the remaining 6 being juvenile and young birds probably Herring Gull
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull flying low over the green and Ashton Old Rd in between security and Subway. - 5 Argentatus Herring Gulls - 4 Great Black-backed Gulls - 12 Fieldfare
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull on China Star roof 9am and then showed well on lamp post in middle of yard. I thought I could hear 1 calling but I could definitely only see 1
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1 of the main 2) landed on Sykes roof at 3.16pm.
I'd made my collection and it was still there braving the sharp icey wind and hail as I left at 3.20pm. Not many Gulls this afternoon. - 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls of note
Also a Sparrowhawk circling over the end of Bessemer Street where it meets Gorton Lane.
It was being harassed by a Carrion Crow and a Jackdaw.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 16th of January 2018 08:04:01 PM
Didn't manage a visit here today but will be back on site probably Monday. Redgate came up trumps this morning anyway to make up for it. Hopefully the Yellow-legged Gulls will still be in place.
I've attached an image from Wednesday, a comparison shot of one of the Yellow-legged Gulls with a Lesser Black-backed Gull on J&B Wilde's. I'll put some more images on my Twitter so as not to clog the thread up with too many shots.
- both the Smithfield 2 Yellow-legged Gulls present this morning.
1 showing well on Fishnet and J&B Wilde's roof. The other was sat on Sykes roof when it was displaced (unusually) by a landing Great Black-backed Gull. It didn't fly off though like other Gulls would, it simply stood up and walked slowly over the apex onto the adjacent slope.
- 2 Yellow-legged Gulls still (Smithfield 2) (1 on Sykes roof, the other mobile around the yard) - 4 Great Black-backed Gulls - 1 Argentatus Herring Gull
- A cracking start to 2018 as the Smithfield 2 Yellow-legged Gulls are back this morning. 1 showing well on a lamppost in the middle of the yard calling and the other briefly on JB Wildes roof then flew off over Bessemer St. - 5 adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 4 Argentatus Herring Gull
Happy new year to everybody on the forum
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 11:36:41 PM
Yes Rob, but I left it too late I think. Many large Gulls were leaving as I arrived and I could see them circling to the SE....Possibly over the Redgate plant. Thanks anyway for all the info.
No problem cheers Keith. Looks like all 3 Yellow-legged Gulls have gone AWOL again since Wednesday lunchtime. I will strive to make sure I post any noteworthy sightings (whenever I can) from either site, so that anyone reading these particular threads have plenty of info and left in no doubt as to what's there and when. Cheers
Yes Rob, but I left it too late I think. Many large Gulls were leaving as I arrived and I could see them circling to the SE....Possibly over the Redgate plant. Thanks anyway for all the info.
__________________
Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Called here on the 29/11/17 mid afternoon. Eventually found the main entrance, which was near the junction of Bessemer St. and Whitworth St. east.( initially going to an old entrance near Openshaw police station and viewing through railings). At the main entrance I enquired about site access, speaking with a uniformed man in the ''gatehouse''. he said there was no problem with me accessing the site but was advised against photographing buildings as ''the council did not allow this'' (They had no problem with binoculars). I accessed the site on foot after parking up. I found no Yellow-legged Gulls present at the time and soon dusk arrived. The same gateman, who knew the Gulls, advise me to come back early morning.
-- Edited by keith mills on Thursday 28th of December 2017 08:05:03 PM
__________________
Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
I called in on the way to work this morning, must have just missed you all. No Yellow-legged Gull for me either, there were a lot of large gulls at Redgate though but not settling.
Can you access the compound or is viewing only from outside the gates?
Hi Rob, Just to clarify viewing points for you (or indeed anyone going to here or Redgate)
Smithfield. I only ever view from my wagon either parked up in a proper parking space near the unit I'm visiting as the Gulls are mainly in that immediate area, or Bessemer Street (if I've no need to be on site) which runs down the side of the market from Gorton Lane, and in the latter case I view through the railings and most of the Gulls are viewable.
Redgate. I've never been on site to the actual rubbish tip, never, it's a smallish site and an industrial waste yard rather than a public drive in. Ive no need to go in the yard anyway as the Gulls are nearly always on the 384 building opposite the yard so just park up and view, they are really close. Only once have I viewed in the main yard before they replaced one of the missing concrete blockers and the stunning Yellow-legged Gull I had that day was my avatar for ages. Hope this helps
I called in on the way to work this morning, must have just missed you all. No Yellow-legged Gull for me either, there were a lot of large gulls at Redgate though but not settling.
Can you access the compound or is viewing only from outside the gates?
No sign of any Yellow-legged Gulls this morning. Nice to meet the 2 North-east birders who follow our forum now and then, and had travelled over specifically for the Gulls. I hope they show for you lads.
Much the same in the way of other Gulls with the usual species on site.
The main 2 showing really well, calling etc. and the single bird not hanging around for long, it landed on a light post briefly near security lodge then flew off.
- The 3 regular Yellow-legged Gulls present this morning, 1 on post near security again and the main 2 on Sykes roof. - 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls - 3 Argentatus Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull this morning on lamp post infront of security.
I couldn't see passed security due to the fog so I didn't bother driving on site to take a break as I wouldn't be able to see much, so what a stroke of luck that one happened to be right near the front gates.
Happy days are here again...!!! - 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls this morning. (The Smithfield 2 are back and the Loner)
I should've realised yesterday that at least 1 of the Smithfield 2 was back when I photographed it calling...it didn't twig, images below of the Loner and 1 of the main 2)