Local birding: Med Gulls, Fishmoor Res, Lancs - 5th Feb 2010.

Above & below: 2ndw Med Gull.

One of my very favourite species in all plumages, it was nice to get three Med Gulls at Fishmoor tonight: adult, 2ndw and 1stw. Both the adult and 2ndw were unringed, whilst the 1stw was the red darvic ringed individual.

Although 3 Med Gulls have been recorded in an evening roost at the site on a few occasions in the past 15yrs (Med Gulls were considerably rarer in the region prior to 1995), I can't recall a single date roost count exceeding 3 from memory. The post breeding roost from mid- Jul into August/Sept would probably offer the best chance of exceeding three birds on a single date nowadays.

My kingdom for an Iceland Gull though!

Lancs: Med Gulls - 4th Feb 2010.

A couple of Med Gulls seen today inc this distant unringed adult at Myerscough Quarry, 'phonescoped' through the Leica APO 62 in dull conditions, but at least its a record. The other Med was a 1stw at Fishmoor Reservoir, red darvic ringed on the right leg, thought to probably be the recent Hungarian bird still coming into roost, but no chance of confirmation other than the same ring colour on the same leg!