Today I had an 'away day' with Tony and his mate Tricky to Stubber's Green near Walsall. Stubber's is a well known West Midlands gull hotspot and the good thing about it is that the gulls rest up here at that waters edge during the daytime after visiting the local landfill. This enables you to get good close views of gulls in good light, letting you get to grips more easily with i.d. features than say at dusk at a reservoir gull roost. Last time I visited here was in 2010 to see Iceland Gull and 3c/y Caspian Gull.
Today we were visiting in the hope of seeing one of the 2 adult Caspian Gulls that have been present for a while now. We arrived just after 11:30am and it wasn't long before an adult Caspian Gull was picked up along the shore line with the numerous Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls. The bird showed many of the classic features: white pear-shaped head, small dark beady eye, straight bill and long-legged in appearance. I've added some photos at the end of this post.
Also of note at Stubber's were 7 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4 drake Teal.
From Stubber's we popped up the road into Staffordshire and spent an hour or so at WMBC's Belvide Reserve. Here we were treated to c.200 Golden Plover, looking rather resplendunt when they all went up after a Common Buzzard went through. Also of note were 4 Dunlin and a handful of Tree Sparrows.
On the way home we stopped off at Whittington along the A449 to try and see the roosting ♂ Merlin that is present there this Autumn. Whittington is still in Staffordshire but is right on the border with Worcestershire and only about 5 miles from Kidderminster where I live. We parked up at around 3:20 pm and walked the bridleway to the area where it is viewed. On arrival we bumped into fellow local birders Eric Phillips and Kinver Jim who informed us it had just, minutes before, flown in. I quickly set up my scope and enjoyed views of this cracking adult ♂ Merlin as the light diminished.
Not a bad way to end a day but I must get back to Shenstone tomorrow...who knows what I may have missed!
Caspian Gull - Stubber's Green
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Not sure I'd pick one of those out Jase, particularly if it was alone!
ReplyDeleteWell done Jason.I wouldn't recognise one if it perched on my arm. If I ever get better at the common species I might have a go at Gulls, could be quite a while yet though!
ReplyDeleteHey Jason, I'd just love you to come along to Brandon Marsh and look at our Gull roost! I was there yesterday and there were 100's on the main pool. Sadly, I'm not a great Gull person and no one in the Brandon Team is, so I'm sure we might hold a surprise or two!!
ReplyDeleteRegards
Keith
Gull ID is certainly a black art, where I think I have improved a little is learning ( ongoing) the common gulls. Then the different ones start to stand out more . So rather than learn what a Caspo looks like, learn what all the other common ones look like..to me the caspo then looks odd..just my advice
ReplyDeleteWarren/Phil - I'm no Gull expert but it is a learning experience. I do enjoy seeing certain Gull species (although I wouldnt have said that a few years ago...funny how things change)
ReplyDeleteKeith - I will have to arrange a meet up at Brandon at some point. It would be good to catch up and I'm interested to see what is about....doesnt have to be the roost even.
Mark - You are right and that is how I felt as little as a couple of years back but as time goes on I'm sure you will enjoy them more and I'd them more easily./ As I've said I'm no expert...i'm still learning but thats part the fun. Your are absolutely right about focusing on the common ones first
Is the Merlin down near the sewage treatment works Jason? I have to go and move my narrowboat next week, if so i will have a look for it.
ReplyDeleteLaurie -
No Laurie it's near 'Handkerchief Barn' along the bridleway looking towards 'Fairy Glen' (you cant make names like that up!)
ReplyDelete