In the footsteps of Mary Anning

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) *, The Cobb

Mediterranean Gull *
(Larus melanocephalus)

* Additional photos by R:

Birding Bob's Blog

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Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini L.)

This is a bird, that I have missed out on several times over the years, primarily because I have never managed to get up early enough to see one. Some years back, on a whale watching trip with Orca Trust (Portsmouth - Santander return), I was advised that you needed to be up for dawn, as the Sabine's Gulls would be around the ship early doors but then disappear. Both mornings I was late for dawn and missed the Sabs.

Sea-watching from Lizard Point, I have arrived on a couple of occasions - late to the party - only to be informed that "you've just missed a Sab's go through!".

This individual bird has been around for a few weeks now, but I haven't had the opportunity to visit - so this morning I was more than keen to get down to Southwater Lane and head for the breach in the sea-wall.

As I neared the breach - I could see a couple of birders with scope's pointing inland over the managed retreat, they looked very animated, I was relieved as this obviously meant that I had finally got up early enough!

The gull was initially quite distant on the mudflats, but over the course of half an hour, moved close enough for me to get good views and that all important "record shot".

Sabine's Gull, Hampshire, February 2023

Off-shore Long-tailed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, and Goldeneye; along with a fly-past Marsh Harrier gave added value.

Reykjavik birdwatching

A mid-week city break provided ample opportunity to get up close and personal with a handful of Iceland's wintering birds. Lake Tjornin, is heavily iced, but at its northern edge hot water is pumped into the system to keep an area open for the local wildfowl and gulls.

Large numbers of Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus); three Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) and a solitary Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) were taking advantage of the thaw.

Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Whooper Swan, Lake Tjornin,
Reyjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

Iceland Gull, and Black-headed Gulls
Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

A, and Whooper Swan

From the sea wall, a large flock of Iceland Gull (Ca. 40 individuals), Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) and Eider (Somateria mollissima) were close in to the sea-defences, whilst further out in the bay three Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) were observed, along with a fly through Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus).

".. blimey! There's a large flock of Iceland Gulls 
just off the sea-wall! .." 

".. see .." Iceland Gulls

Iceland Gull, and Eider

Iceland Gulls, and Fulmars

Eider

Iceland Gull

Solar sun Voyager, Reykjavik

A childhood book returned ..

I have very clear memories of birdwatching as a youngster. Heading off to "the dell" with my dad's pair of field glasses, and "The Ladybird Book of Garden Birds". The pair of Bullfinch pictured on the book cover are iconic. Whether or not I actually managed to see this species at the time, is beyond my aged recall?

Ladybird Books were always an important part of our childhood libraries. There is no doubt that some of the titles were hand-me-downs from my older brothers; with a few being purchased later, from my own pocket money or book allowance.

The slender tomes informed my understanding of the natural world. Along with the thoughtful family gifts of a field microscope, an encyclopedia of natural history, and a chemistry set, they fired an appetite for scientific enquiry, which I held onto, into my senior years of school.

However, as my teenage years progressed, my interest in natural history, was put on hiatus. I began to pursue a plethora of other intellectual and sensory distractions. When I started my "A" Levels, and left home, I did not pack up the library and scientific tools, they were left behind. I simply forgot.

Fast forward - in the course of a recent telephone conversation, with my older brother - he told me that during a rummage through a second-hand book-stall - he had found a copy of "The Ladybird Book of Sea and Estuary Birds". To both his and my delight - written on the inside of the book cover was the legend "Peter Hogans" sic. in my neat but juvenile handwriting.

A second legend written in pencil, in FULL CAPITALS reads LFC WILL ALWAYS RULE - a homage to the football team, comprising of my schoolboy heroes: Ray Clemence, Emlyn Hughes and Kenny Dalglish.

When I visited, I discovered that my brother was also the keeper of our late father's field glasses. The visit became an emotional reunion with both my childhood self, and the tactile and tangible memory of our dad.

Later we sat on the beach, under a Simpsons sky. Ate fish and chips, battered sausage and chips from the Fairground chippy. Inevitably, Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull gathered, each in their turn eyeing up our lunch,

I waxed lyrical about the Mediterranean Gull. What a smart looking bird it is, and as a more recent colonist, a gull that was not included in the Ladybird Book with which I had just been so happily re-acquainted.

Almost immediately, we heard a cat's call overhead - and a smart summer plumaged Med Gull landed within meters of us. Perfect timing, perfect gull, perfect day.

Local gull fest as the spring ploughing commences ..

With the build up of Mediterranean gulls in Langstone Harbour in preparation for the breeding season, the A3M / A3 corridor becomes a daily commute for these gulls as they head inland to feed on the farmland - as each field goes under the plough.

Although always part of a bigger presence of mixed gull species over flying - the Med gull's piercing and distinctive cry seems to travel further than the other gulls calls, cutting through both the natural and man made soundscape around them.

Despite their daily presence, I never take them for granted and can be found straining my eyes against the glare of the sky looking out for them as they eventually appear over the horizon. When the plough returns to the adjacent fields of White Dirt Farm - it's time to get the camera out. I'm sure the tractor drivers recognise me now, as much as I do them.

On this occasion, as I photographed from the road verge a car stopped beside me. The driver wound his window down, and we discussed the simple pleasures of watching and hearing these charismatic birds, two of which he told me, regularly visit his garden just to the north of here, in search of the scraps he puts out for them. Now that's what I call quality garden listing.

.. "For we're all jolly fellows that follow the plough .." (A Slight Return)

Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus L.) Southsea

little gull - Southsea

iPhone record shots of the single little gull seen off Southsea beach (East of South Parade Pier).

Other notable birds seen from Southsea incl. Southsea Castle: 2 x great northern diver (Gavia immer); 3 x shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis); 11 x purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima) & 7 x sanderling (Calidris alba).

The previous day (December 15th) 4 x kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) were noted mid Solent via the 09:00 Portsmouth / Fishbourne Car Ferry.

.. "For we're all jolly fellows that follow the plough .."

I arrived home from work today in the mid-afternoon. A simple reward for having endured a 4AM alarm call on behalf of the annual water rail survey at Burton Mill Pond. Walking between the car and the front door my attention was drawn to the high-calling over of Mediterranean gulls (Larus melanocephalus). This in itself is not unusual as I am used to regularly hearing these birds overhead - they appear to favour the A3 corridor for commuting between inland foraging areas and the coast. However, it was obvious something more was happening today - by the sheer volume and intensity of the calls.

Grabbing binoculars I took a quick look out of the patio doors towards the fields of White Dirt Farm and noted with delight a large .. LARGE! .. mixed flock of gulls spread across the acres of farmland. Along with the gulls there were four tractors in the fields .. between them ploughing, sowing and rolling.

At an upstair's window, I set up the 'scope and started to count the med gulls amongst the blackheaded, common and occasional herring gull - heading for an easy 200+ Meds - with more in the far background - the gulls flushed in unison, and the count was prematurely over.

Standing on White Dirt Lane I tried to capture the spectacle of the gulls following the plough to more or less success? Whilst I am still not convinced that my 400mm lens is working properly since it was returned from recent repairs? I am convinced that I need to learn how better to utilise the settings on my camera!

In addition to taking photographs I also recorded a couple of voice memos on the iPhone capturing the dominance of the med gulls within the soundscape.



After that shrill cacophony I will end the Blog with a youtube link to the sweeter melancholy of Kate Rusby's version of the trad. folk song The Jolly Plough Boys:

Kate Rusby "Jolly Plough Boys"