Upton Warren (2 Viewers)

[midlands birder]

Given these larus are such a minefield, probably best to sway out of the way Craig! I did consider a 4cy but would have thought that the mantle would look so complete and neat? I hate gulls! 8-P

One to ping over to the ID forum?

I like the challenge of it!
A 4cy bird would have almost adult like plumage..
I love Gulls
MB

 

[steve_zodiac]

Theres the possibility of it being a hybrid. Ask Steve Nuttall from Belvide for his opinion, hes familiar with with YLG's in all plumages.

 

[waterrailus]

Several posts on the Norfolk thread have mentioned seeing lots of Jays especially on the coast. The posts are inferring or at least hinting that these are migrants|:S|
There has been an influx at upton recently as well, but I personally think they are just moving out of the woods for the winter rather than a miss influx from Europe. Any thoughts:smoke:

Thats interesting as i counted 17 on a walk round bunker hill wood in stourbridge at the weekend when normally i would only see 2 or 3. I made a note of it in my notebook but never thought about a wider picture. regards Dennis

 

[Ste-gull]

Redpoll

I noticed recently theres been a couple of sightings of lesser redpoll at uw. is this a fairly regular bird here in the winter months?
cheers for any help!

 

[rollingthunder]

The mantle and mirrors look good - Winter-plume YLGulls in Maroc have endless variation in head-streaking and lots showing legs with pale-Greeny tones and there wo'nt be many 'hybrids' there i'm sure.

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

Interesting, with regard to Jays - The BTO has had an upsurge in reports and a party was seen coming in off of the sea in Kent. Inland it must be local movement possibly linked to acorn/berry supply as it has been such a mixed year with regard to pollination particularly insect vector. I have had more birds calling and parties of 3/4 birds foraging/moving locally.

Laurie:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

I noticed recently theres been a couple of sightings of lesser redpoll at uw. is this a fairly regular bird here in the winter months?
cheers for any help!

Lesser Redpoll are a regular but erratic and mobile visitor to Upton from late September to early April; numbers normally peak in January and February. They often mix in with Siskins - the favoured locations are the trees down the Salwarpe path, the Education Reserve and the trees opposite the large chestnut tree at the eastern end of the causeway / the "plantation" opposite Lifestyles.

A few years ago a wintering flock put on a fantastic display at close range in the hedge along the east track but this occurrence seems to have been curtailed, possibly due to the removal / change of feeders in the Moors residencies' gardens.

Also keep your eye out for Mealy Redpoll but there is an awful lot of variation.

 

[upstarts1979]

4th year YLGull in Oct
http://gull-research.org/ylgadsubad/4cyoct/micha5358.htm
Ad YLG in Oct
http://gull-research.org/ylgadsubad/adoct/micha5286.htm

Here is a good Gull site, where these pics came from

 

[Phil Andrews]

4th year YLGull in Oct
http://gull-research.org/ylgadsubad/4cyoct/micha5358.htm
Ad YLG in Oct
http://gull-research.org/ylgadsubad/adoct/micha5286.htm

Here is a good Gull site, from these pics came from

Looks the best match so far (esp the second photo)

 

[upstarts1979]

Would agree the mantle shade looks good for the species from the pics with both LBBG and H Gull in (Closer to H gull in shade than LBBG). Is this an acurate representation of the bird in the field john?
The grey/yellow legs, and the streaked head/nape would all show signs of imaturity, but ive never seen a YLG with such dense head streaking at this age (4cy?).
Also, the bill doesnt look heavy enough for me..
Just my opinions
Nots sure which way to sway:smoke:
MB

Hi Craig, although the photos are distant the colour is as it is in the pic and at all angles was darker than the herring gulls. The gonys angle was more pronounced than the other large gulls and although not too clear the bill was heavy with a slight down curve.
John

 

[Steve Nuttall]

Hi Craig, although the photos are distant the colour is as it is in the pic and at all angles was darker than the herring gulls. The gonys angle was more pronounced than the other large gulls and although not too clear the bill was heavy with a slight down curve.
John

Hi John and all,
From looking at the photo's it looks OK for a YL Gull. I have for several years, been of the opinion that we get 2 types of YL Gull in our region. The early to late autumn (Aug-Oct) we get, are what I consider to be Atlantic YL Gulls (not atlantis) but gulls that have bred along the Spanish/Portugese atlantic coast. These birds show streaking around the eyes and light streaking on the head and appear a slightly lighter shade of grey to the classic bright white headed/ darker grey mantled birds that I see in the Belvide roosts from November onwards, which I consider to be proper Mediterranean birds. These birds also tend to be in active wing moult at this time of year, so it is harder to see the pattern on the underside of p10, which can be still growing. I guess these streaky headed birds are part of the intergration between the Med michahellis population and the proper streaky (atlantis) azorian birds.
Them's me onions:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Like your reasoning Steve.

Perhaps visitors can keep an eye out for this gull and see if any further shots can be taken.

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi John and all,
From looking at the photo's it looks OK for a YL Gull. I have for several years, been of the opinion that we get 2 types of YL Gull in our region. The early to late autumn (Aug-Oct) we get, are what I consider to be Atlantic YL Gulls (not atlantis) but gulls that have bred along the Spanish/Portugese atlantic coast. These birds show streaking around the eyes and light streaking on the head and appear a slightly lighter shade of grey to the classic bright white headed/ darker grey mantled birds that I see in the Belvide roosts from November onwards, which I consider to be proper Mediterranean birds. These birds also tend to be in active wing moult at this time of year, so it is harder to see the pattern on the underside of p10, which can be still growing. I guess these streaky headed birds are part of the intergration between the Med michahellis population and the proper streaky (atlantis) azorian birds.
Them's me onions:t:

Sounds good to me Steve :t:, I was with Steve Roper at the time and told him I thought it was a yellow legged, I think he agreed. His Upton list is growing, one of your old Belvide boys come over to the other side. 8-P
B John

 

[Phil Andrews]

Sounds good to me Steve :t:, I was with Steve Roper at the time and told him I thought it was a yellow legged, I think he agreed. His Upton list is growing, one of your old Belvide boys come over to the other side. 8-P
B John

Good to see that Steve has come over from the Dark Side - does that make you Obi Wan Kenobi up against Darth Nuttall? We already have our very own Wookie in The Hairy Birder 8-P

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Some of the mowing work being done at the Flashes today & a Kestrel & a couple of Canada Geese!

Rob

 

[J_Caswell]

Thats a cracking image of a Kestrel Rob,you are getting good at these BIFS

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Thats a cracking image of a Kestrel Rob,you are getting good at these BIFS

Cheers John, I still need some more practice though! 8-P

Rob

 

[Stone Snapper]

little grebe taken from the concrete hide today

 

[forgetfulelephant]

little grebe taken from the concrete hide today

Lovely shot Vern

 

[Stone Snapper]

Lovely shot Vern

thanks rob :t::t::t: