Fort Cumberland - lizards on parade

A late morning / early afternoon visit on local patches produced highlights of eight Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus) on the beach at Eastney in front of the Royal Marines Museum; six common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) basking in the sunshine at Fort Cumberland Open Space - three of which are pictured above; and a black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) in the grounds of Fort Cumberland itself.

Patch birding .. Southsea seafront pt. 2

After my visit to Southsea Castle I went looking for Mediterranean gulls (Larus melanocephalus) along the sea front, finding seven individual birds: one on Southsea Common near the Cenotaph; two roosting on the beach opposite Canoe Lake; three on the beach adjacent to St George's Road, and a single bird opposite Esplanade Gardens.

ringed Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus L.), Eastney, Hampshire 7th Feb 2014

Before the month is out, I should not forget to post about the BTO ringed adult Meditteranean gull, which I photographed at Eastney on the 07/02/14 - as the history of the bird has now been obtained from the BTO ringing scheme.

On the day, I could only take a hasty shot to capture the leg ring details, before the gull was flushed by a dog walker. Although no detailed observation could be made of the metal ring (RBM), I was able to secure the details of the second ring i.e. LBY (2E28).

          Having sent the record off to BTO on the night of the 7th, I received the following information the next day:

The bird (metal ring No. EG61729) was ringed as PULLUS 09/07/10 in Old Moor, Barnsley, South Yorkshire GB by Dave Waddington - it was later recorded as a JUV at another site in South Yorkshire on 11/08/10.

Interestingly, all subsequent reported sightings of this gull have been from Hampshire.

The first of which, was when it was observed as a 2w bird on 21/01/12 at Hayling Island. As an adult bird, it has then been recorded eight times. Seven of which were by the same observer at Titchfield Haven between the dates 03/03/13 - 29/04/13. The last by myself as per the information provided 08/02/14.

Amongst the gulls - Eastney, Portsmouth

two Mediterranean gulls (Larus melanocephalus)
in a mixed roost with black-headed gull
(Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and common gull (Larus canus)

black-headed gull & common gull



Mediterranean gull in flight