29/06/2020 Belvide Reservoir, Staffordshire

Laughing Gull: Another nice bird this time in Staffordshire, a place I've only been once before when twitching the spotted sandpiper back on my birthday in May 2017.

Belvide Reservoir really is a cracking place with well maintained pathways and hides, if I was a local I would most certainly acquire a permit. On both occasions the kind folk who run the reserve have opened it up to non-members for a very reasonable £3.

A bargain!

When I arrived the bird was feeding in the middle of the lake, hawking for insects along with hundreds of aptly named swifts, I was hoping it would have come a little closer and by the time the rain came I had my fill and left.

These medium sized gulls are one of the largest hooded gull species and really stood out against the much smaller local black-headed gulls. Summer plumage laughing gull adults have a black head, broken white eye ring, red bill and legs.

Winter adults have a white head with pale gray streaking on the back, black bill and legs. Immature birds are browner overall and more subtly patterned than adults; they take three years to gain adult plumage.

Seeing this hadsome gull reminded me of my encounter with the New Brighton bird way back in 2015, take a look here:

https://austinmorley.blogspot.com/search/label/Laughing%20Gull

05/02/2015 New Brighton Marina Lake

Laughing Gull: Isn't it brilliant when the planets aline and a little bit of luck comes your way!

When the news broke a few days ago that this bird was at New Brighton I was gutted I missed it due to work commitments, but today I had a pre-booked day off and got some superb views of this cracking bird.




I arrived just after 8.30am thinking I would put that little bit more effort in to this bird and try and pick it up along Perch Rock, but knowing that the best time would be high tide.

My plan paid off as within an hour of standing in the cold Phill Wollen picked the bird up loafing around the groyne next to the lighthouse. We watched as the tide came closer, pushing the bird further towards Perch Rock.

As the crowds swelled and the regular faces appeared the bird took off and shot straight over the pontoon.

This is what I was waiting for!

The bird didn't look all that well, it looked a little wobbly on its feet and was standing on one leg while dipping a wing and finding it hard to balance.

In stark contrast to when it was flying around, as it looked fine.

The bird was obviously hungry and took off to the far side of the marina lake to join a Black-headed Gull feeding frenzy as some one was feeding the gulls.

After picking up some bread the bird hit the deck and posed for the gathering crowds with their camera.

Eventually the bird went back over to the pontoon and rested until Alan and I had some lunch.

Once we finished the bird decided to go for some more bread and spent the next half an hour or so flying around the lake.

The bird was giving the passers by a real treat as it flew right over our heads, right past our faces so much so you could almost touch it!