16/02/2022 Darwen Services, Lancashire

Yellow-legged Gull: Today I finally made the time to see the long staying YLG who has taken up residence in Blackburn, presumably the same bird that has been seen on the lake at Queens Park also spends some time at the M65 Darwen services.

Upon arriving I noticed Leigh's legend Colin Davies sitting in his car so I parked up alongside and we staked out the services, watching all the gulls coming and going, scanning the lampposts and waiting.  

Just before Colin decided to leaved we picked the bird up sitting on top of a lamppost opposite the shell garage, it never stayed long and was lost to view. 

These large gulls are common around the Mediterranean and northern Europe, but fairly uncommon in the UK. They are often found within flocks of much more numerous herring gull and lesser black-backed gull typically in winter roost on the large Lancashire reservoirs and lakes. 

Eventually the bird came back, again sitting on top of the lapposts around eth service station. I did get some funny looks from the people sitting in their cars munching on their Gregg's and McDonalds. 

It was worth it though.   

04/09/2017 Smithfield Market, Manchester

Yellow-legged Gull:  After reading and seeing several images of Smithfield's Fishmarkets YLG I presume by Rob Creek, I was keen to go and have a look myself.

 I've seen several YLG in my time birding, but often at some distance at places like Moore NR and Richmond Bank, so to see one a lot closer was great.

Big shout out to the contributor's and admin who run MBF, this is a great asset and full of useful sightings and information. I didn't even know there was a huge fish market in Manchester.

Almost as soon as i arrived in the car park I spotted the bird loafing up top the main building, It remained here for about 20miniutes before flying off on to a lamppost the disappearing  in to the yonder.

I was informed that I may have been the last person to see the bird before it disappeared however it looks like its come back.

So well worth a visit for anyone who would like to see it.

Just make yourself known to the guys in reception once you have parked up, they were pretty approachable and friendly.

09/03/2017 Pennington Flash

Yellow-legged Gull: Following in the footsteps of Colin 'the Gull Meister General' Davies and John Tymon to name but a few, who regularly keep a close eye on Penny's gull roost I went myself to see what I could pick out.




With large flocks gathering I came across the 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull which was perched upon a boy. This bird came flying over to check out a feeding frenzy of Black-headed Gulls that were coming to bread. The yellow leg didn't take any bread and flew back on to it's perch.

As the flocks grew larger I picked up one Med Gull but nothing else to note. Colin who was also there picked up three Adult Med Gulls.