With a dark , foggy and very wet day I thought Id show you some Ogden gulls from July 2011.
Anytime now gulls will be a common sighting with Commons back here in Foxhill Park later in the month and birds showing at our local reservoirs, thats if they,ve anywhere to land other than on the water.
June 30th last year found a Herring gull and a Yellow Legged Herring gull at the northern end of Fly Flatts, the latter being a 3rd summer- winter bird with very bright yellow legs.
July 31st last year found a different Yellow Legged Herring gull at Ogden, this also being a 3rd summer- winter bird but with very pale yellow legs.
So this weekend when the fog lifts and the rain clears, ( says he hopefully ) , watch out for the gulls appearing and if you come across a flock of LBBs check those mantles for one coloured midway between a Herring and a Lesser with a large butch looking head with a bright red gonys on its bill and yellow legs.
Get all this and you could have a Larus Michahellis, Yellow Legged Herring Gull but beware, LBBs have yellow legs and the grey shade of their mantle can differ quite a lot, especially in the sun. Herring gulls which have a paler mantle have pink legs.
Y.L.Herring gulls are usually solitary so stand out from a flock of Lessers.
Please note :- This rough guide to YL gulls is intended for the novice, newcomer birders that watch the blog and not the dedicated birders that certainly dont need any help from me.
Have a good weekend.
BS