11/08/2021 Taylor Park, St Helens

Mediterranean Gull: This is a cracking bird, one that really stands out next to the local black-headed gulls.

Not only is the bird much darker bird and slightly bigger with obvious white ringes to its scapulars compared with the black-headed gulls, but it was much more vocal and aggressive towards the other gulls.  

Either loafing on the lake or perched upon the jetty, the bird was eagerly waiting for scops of bread, seeds and pretty much any food that the families  bring to feed the ducks and geese. 

Taylor park is on the opposite side of Grange Park Golf Course east of Eccleston Mere and is a lovely place for a walk especially after being stuck in for a few days.  

Not much else to note really apart from the Med gull.

Southend Pier, Essex

Mediterranean Gull: Stunning weather forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend saw me taking a trip down to Essex to see my mum. And when the weather is this good you just have to go down to the sea front, have an ice creme and take a stroll down the pier.

Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending 1.34 miles into the Thames Estuary. The pier is famous for two things, firstly it is the longest pleasure pier in the world and secondly it is home to a large population of Med gulls.

This very warm weather seemed to affect the gulls which spent much of their time loafing about on the exposed jetty posts.

Typically back up north black-headed gulls dominate land, sea and sky. Hundreds jostle for space on the islands, bowing and posturing to one another, copulating and laying claim to nest sites.

But down here on the stretched out pier in the middle of the Thames the white wings and red bills of the med gulls seem to be the most abundant bird.

And the most splendid.

07/12/2018 Otterspool, Speke

Mediterranean Gull: A nice lunchtime visit to Otterspool prom after seeing some decent footage from Sean O'Hara on a local WhatsApp group.







Otterspool is well known for harbouring good numbers of med gulls who like to spend their time worming on the neatly kept lawns of the prom.

I counted two adult birds in the short time I had but did haer from Sean that there was a third in the area.

Nice to spend sometime away from the office and get out during my lunch break, I must do this more often.

09/04/2017 Marshide RSPB, Southport

Meadow Pipit: Another nice day out with some stunning blue skies and warm weather - I could get use to this!

I was hoping to see Shropshire's Night Heron and spend the day at Venus Pools, however it seemed like the bird did a bunk and disappeared in the night.

Wheatear: So hoping to see my first Wheatear of the years and wasn't disappointed as I counted four individuals foraging around the sand works area. This seemed a popular spot, as there were birders all over the place.

The sand works area is directly Sandgrounders Hide on the opposite side of the road, this is a nice area for mipits, Skylark, Linnet and the odd Ringed Plover.

Avocet: After wandering around the sand works area I ventured over to Sandgrounders Hide where I was confronted by a frenzy of Black-headed gulls with hundreds of them squawking away.

Mediterranean Gull: But take your time and look through the mass of black heads and you will see med gulls. I counted four two very distant and two petty close in that were displaying to each other.

Overall It was a nice day out and I was very pleased that I left the house early as the traffic through Ormskirk towards Southport in the afternoon was horrendous, I was glad I was travelling in the opposite direction.

16/02/2017 St Helens

Glaucous Gull: Thanks to the on going excellent efforts of some great local birders who have found and tracked some local Viking gulls, I have been able to add a few new birding sites to my local list.

One of which is Lyme Wood Pits Country Park and Landfill site and Penkford Flash near Haydock. Where I have been a few times this week without seeing any white winged gulls until today.

Mediterranean Gull: As soon as I arrived at Penkford Flash there were hundreds of gulls, however there is very little cover and the flash is pretty close to the pathway so inevitably the birds were flushed and didn't reappear. I still had time to fire away a couple of record shots of the juvenile Glauc before it disappeared with the rest of the flock.

Following the gull flocks there is usually a large mixed flock at Haydck Island near the fields past the Shell Petrol Station. Viewing is difficult as suggested it would be best on the West carriageway in a layby, but then your viewing across two busy lanes of traffic and over a hedge.

Still you can get a half decent view of the flock from here and although this time there where no Iceland or Glaucous Gulls amongst the flock I did mange to pick up an adult Mediterranean Gull in the stubble field right next to the layby.

29/12/2016 Walton Hall Park, Liverpool

Red-crested Pochard: This was another post-winter bird survey trip as I wanted to make the most of the blue skies and nice weather and after seeing Damian Young's and Dave Craven's pictures from Wally Park recently I thought I would make the most of the day's limited light and head over there.

Almost straight away I picked out 'Pablo' Wally Parks long recorded RCP loafing about with the manky looking inbred mallard and geese.

By all accounts no one knows where Pablo has come from but it's not ringed. I've been informed it's been there for about 5 years.

Don't ask who came up with the birds nickname, but I'm sure it has something to do with the birds Spanish connections.


Despite it's original origins RCP are always a smart bird, especially the males.  

Mediterranean Gull: While I made my way back to the car I was keen to check out the large flocks of gulls foraging in the muddy playing fields surrounding the park.

I'm glad I did as I picked out this stonking adult winter med gull loafing around the more common Black-headed Gulls.

The bird was pretty flighty and was often disturbed by the words of dog walkers that were constantly crossing the field.

Not a bad end to the day after a very cold three hour vantage point survey and transect where I was frozen to the bone despite several layers and thermals!

Here is a nice comparison shot between the two species, on the right the med gull showing off its clean white wing tips and dark mask behind the eye. On the left the Black-headed Gull with it's black wing tips folded along it's tail and black spot behind the eye.

04/08/2015 Pennington Flash

Sabine's Gull: When I woke up this morning and tucked in to my Weetabix I didn't think I would for one moment be rushing out of the house and going to my local to see a stunning adult Sabs gull.

When I arrived the gull was loafing just off the side of Horrock's Hide. I was one of the first on the scene which really paid off as the gull drifted the closest it came the whole time I was there, this was before the crowds arrived.





This little cracker is the 2nd only record for Greater Manchester, I think the first one was on Audenshaw Reservoirs ages ago! And a 2nd for me after the Burton Mere bird a few years ago.

I was there for a good couple of hours as the crowds swelled and all the familiar faces came out so I got chatting away. And in all the time I was there I only saw the bird take flight once, and only for a very short distance.

I was hoping that the bird would give me some super flight views, showing off its contrasting upper wing pattern and fork tail.

But alas, these were the best of the small opportunities I had.

The bird seemed very relaxed and settled as it dip fed and slowly paddled past Horrock's where it was joined by several Black-headed Gulls and even a juv Med Gull.







Mediterranean Gull: The Med Gull was a bonus and a brief distraction from the Sabs which was still showing really well when I left.

16/03/2015 North Wales

Mediterranean Gull: First stop was Cemlyn Bay for the Lapland Bunting which has been knocking about there for a few days.

But after a long search, accompanied by some other local birders and no sign of the bird I turned my attention to the resident Med Gulls.

There was one pair in their summer plumage giving me a good show over the main pool.

Other birds of note included a single Whimbrel and a large flock of Golden Plover on the shore line and a Peregrine perched on the fence over the fields.

Iceland Gull: From Anglesey I headed home but I couldn't resist another visit to Abergele for the simply superb Iceland Gull.

And once again I wasn't disappointed as the bird was happy loafing around the small pools on the car park.

It was great to bump in to Alan and Ruth who were kind enough to show me a large flock of Scoter though their scope.

In return I gave Ruth a laugh as she snapped a few images of me laying on the ground getting some low angled shots of the gull.

16/09/2013 North Wirral Shore

1st Winter Mediterranean Gull: Despite the wind the sand and the rain showers I had an excellent day out on the wonderful North Wirral shore.

First I headed across to New Brighton where I huddled against the life guard station with a gang of birders, trying to shelter from the gale force winds.

Here I spotted my first of five LEACH'S STORM PETREL and ended up spotting five birds.

As the cold started to penetrate my thermals I decided to go for a wander to warm up and was told I just missed some Storm Petrels.....gutted!

Adult Winter Mediterranean Gull: I did however spot a 1st inter Med Gull on the grassy field behind where we were standing.

And I spotted this adult Med Gull on West Kirby Marina Lake, this bird has been hanging around here for a while now. Well worth keeping an eye out if you're passing.

Unfortunately I didn't get any shots of the Leach's but Zac did check this out http://zacswildlifeblog.blogspot.co.uk/