Ducks n' Gulls

Last weekend (Saturday 9th) I did my WeBS count at Girton; nothing much of note, and only modest numbers of wildfowl, but there were two odd looking Aythyas in the Sailing Lake . Both promptly swam out of sight - one a male, the other a female or young bird. Sunday past, I made another visit to Girton, where I was aided by ice concentrating the wildfowl. There was no sign of the female bird, but the male showed well - a Tuftie x Pochard, with a charcoal grey mantle showing no sign of any vermiculations.

Tuftie x Pochard

Tuftie x Pochard

Tuftie x Pochard

Tuftie x Pochard

Tuftie x Pochard

Today, I had a quick look at Cotham Landfill - I'm managing one brief visit a week at the moment. Last week's produced the 1st W Yellow-legged Gull, and the same bird was still present today. Overall gull numbers remain fairly low... 

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

Gulling before it's gone

Despite the new arrival, I have managed one to two brief birding trips out, although these haven't yielded much of note. However, I'm painfully aware that Cotham Landfill is rapidly filling up, and that after this winter, local gulling opportunities are going to be seriously curtailed. So, I'm going to somehow need to make the time to visit the site during the week, when the tip is operational... I managed an hour there yesterday morning on the way into work. There were maybe 500+ large gulls present. No Casps and no white-wingers, but a big 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull was an eye-catching bird, and there was the usual smatter of yellow-ringed Herring Gulls originating from York, plus a white-ringed Black-headed Gull that I need to track down.

1st W Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-ringed Herring Gull