10 Fascinating Facts About Black-headed Gulls

 

Sometimes, things are so common that you tend to overlook them, and pass them by without a second thought. For me, the Black-headed Gull is one of those. Seeing this trio in Memorial Gardens during the week prompted me to find out a bit more about them. The only thing that I really knew was that they were not black headed, more of a dark chocolate brown, and that only in the summer. These are still in their winter plumage.

1. Although resident, their numbers in the UK are tripled in winter by migrants from the east.

2. Up until the 1940s Black-headed gull eggs were a major UK industry with up to 300,0000 eggs a year being sold in Leadenhall Market, London.

3. Nowadays, only a few licensed individuals are permitted to take 1 egg from each nest, at six designated sites, from April 1^st to May 15^th.

4. Black-headed Gulls nest on the ground, in colonies, in reed beds, marshes and lake islands.

5. Top birds get the best sites in the middle of the colony and have a higher breeding success rate.

6. Although mainly monogamous, females are not above having a bit-on-the-side.

7. If this results in too many eggs, they are quite likely to dump the excess in another gull's nest.

8. Egg shells are removed from the colony so as not to attract predators.

9. Male birds are more likely to be born in the first egg and are bigger than the females.

10. Parents do not feed the chicks individually, but regurgitate on the ground. First come, first served.

Here are a few seabird books you may like to add to your natural history library.

All the best,

Steve

A Fjord By Any Other Name - Solway Firth

 

Wrap up warm. It's bitter out there and we're off to the coast. In particular, to the eastern end of the Solway Firth, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. England lies on one side of the firth (which is cognate to the Scandinavian word fjord) and Scotland lies on the other. There's an RSPB Nature Reserve which we'll pop into, but first, let's just take a little walk along the shore and see who's about. I think we'll leave the splashing about in the rock pools until it's a bit warmer, but in the meantime, we've a flock of Sea Pies probing the mud flats. That's an old name; for the past few hundred years we've known them as Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus). Individual birds have different bill shapes, depending on their preferred diet. Those who like worms have pointed bills, those who incline towards molluscs, including oysters, have flatter bills for prising them open. Evolution in action?

This is Campfield Marsh Nature Reserve. Probably be quite nice when it's finished. For the moment though, it mainly consists of one long track, bordered by thick hedgerow, which effectively blocks all views of the scrapes where the birds are. There are a few view points, but betwixt them and the scrapes, there is a long electric fence which the camera has no problem in focusing upon. All we can see from here are distant blobs on the water, which I'm pretty sure are birds. However, there are some magnificent viewing hides... which are closed due to Covid restrictions. This one at the end of the track appears to be unlocked... so I suggest we don't sit in it for half an hour and warm ourselves up, out of the biting wind. Oh, another couple have turned up with a picnic.

“No, we don't mind if you don't sit in the hide with us, just keep to the far end. There's a grey heron out there, and a Little Egret just flying in to join him.”

Back to the car, I think. I can't feel my fingers on the camera controls. Our intrepid local guide has just gone to photograph the first snowdrops of the season, so I'll just snap these house sparows on the feeders in the car park. Even Jack the Navigator Hound is shivering and seems disinclined to photobomb this week.

News From The Old Cornmill

Earlier this week, I decided to take a stroll over to the nearby cricket ground: The pitch is frozen, but I look forward to the occasional summer Sunday afternoon, relaxing back to the sound of leather on willow. A group of Black-headed Gulls in winter plumage (hence no black heads) are posing at various angles to give 360^o identification. What I'd really like to do, is get into those woods back there and view the river from the opposite direction.

Hmm, not sure that it's actually a public right of way, but we're here. Some beautiful colours in the harsh winter sunlight. The gorse has a golden glow, the Red Osier Dogwood is particularly striking against the deep green Holly and even the Mistletoe (sadly, uncollected this year, for obvious reasons) is a vivid pale green. Look at the way the sap has run down to the base of that icicle. Here we are, at the river. The building opposite is The Old Pump House. The Old Cornmill is just to the right, obscured by those bushes. The river is at mid level at the moment but Storm Christoph is due to arrive. At present we are only under a general Yellow alert but I'm glad that the flood defences have now been fitted. I'll keep you posted.

Steve'sWild Kitchen

The kitchen at The Old Cornmill is now fully functioning to my satisfaction, so It's high time for some more recipes from Steve'sWild Kitchen starting with Crispy Wild Duck and Spicy Jewelled Rice. You cannot go out and shoot ducks in the UK any more as all wild birds and their nests are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 but you can still legally hunt them down in supermarkets which is where I tracked mine down (near the chicken section). The ducks are farm bred Mallards, just like these on the river. Recipe here.

Until next week,

Stay happy and stay safe

Steve 

Steve's Books

The Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies All you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or snail very simply and find out more about it. Yvonne: This was a gift for a family so that the children can understand what they see on days out. The second was for me. Logical and easy to use. If you know anyone who likes nature you can be confident that gifting this book will give years of pleasure.
The Eggs of Saramova A science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction. A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and it starts right here in Crete). Too new for reviews yet!
Not Just For Twisted Women by Steve Daniels  A light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex. Janet: If you are short on time but enjoy reading and are maybe not into long extended novels then Not Just For... Twisted Women provides readers with concise stories that stand alone and most certainly entertain with their ultimate twists. Loved it. Helen: A very good read! Well written and entertaining! Margaret: Each quick tale gives a glimpse into a character's life and has an often humorous twist at the end. I would love to read more. Yvonne: These days many people find it hard to find the time to read a novel, so this book of short stories is ideal to dip into. It is also makes a good gift.