Mediterranean
Gull |
Little
Gull |
Kittiwake |
MEDITERRANEAN
GULL Larus
melanocephalus
Scarce, but annual winter and passage visitor.
Redcar Tarn had the year’s earliest sighting when a first winter was found on 6th January (PC). Another January sighting was at Otley Gravel Pits on 24th (AJ). In February two single birds were sighted. The first at Flappit Springs 20th (KM) and an adult was observed at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 27th (KM).
A very confiding first winter bird was located at Redcar Tarn on 2nd March until 12th April (MD, SJ et al) and was often feeding on bread provided for the ducks.
The only summer record
was of an adult at the Flappit Springs, Cullingworth on 8th June (KM).
Second winter birds were found at Thornton Moor on 27th November (KM),
and Knotford Nook on 6th December (SJ, MD). An Adult lingered in the area
between Thornton Moor Reservoir and the Flappit Springs from 11th–30th
December (KM).
LITTLE
GULL Larus minutus
Scarce passage visitor.
A lone second summer frequented Elland Gravel Pits on 21st April (HBC).
KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Just two records both of single adults, the first of which was at Elland Gravel Pits on 2nd March (HBC) and the second was flying north at Kex Gill on 22nd March (AJ).
BLACK-HEADED
GULL Larus ridibundus
Common resident breeder and abundant passage/winter visitor.
Commonly reported from many sites. There were plenty of three figure counts from a variety of fields and bodies of water. A notable record was of 566 at Stockbridge on 1st January.
The Thornton Moor Reservoir roost contained 2500 on 12th January, 3000 on 31st January and 4000 by 27th February. Lower numbers were reported during the summer months with 800 there on 20th July. Only 360 were roosting on the 1st November but numbers had built to 2000 by early December.
Peaks in the Swinsty roost were 2500 on 27th January and 1000 on 1st January with the Chelker roost containing 1000 birds in both January and November.
There was no forthcoming breeding data for the Barden Moor colony. At Kex Gill all nine nests had gone by the 20th May.
COMMON
GULL Larus
canus
Common passage/winter visitor, and erratic breeder.
Can be found in reasonable numbers almost anywhere, for example, fields and areas of open water. The roost at Thornton Moor Reservoir held 1500 birds in January, 2000 in February and 1000 in November. The Swinsty roost contained 2000 on 1st January and 3500 on 22nd January.
Elsewhere 600 birds
were at Otley Gravel Pits in January and December whilst 400 were at Cullingworth
fields in January.
A single bird was located in the Barden Moor colony but no evidence of
breeding was reported.
LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus
fuscus
Common passage migrant and occasional winter visitor.
Apart from 150 at Lower Laithe Reservoir on 26th March the only place to record double figures was the Thornton Moor Reservoir/Flappit Spring/Cullingworth Fields triangle. Small numbers in the first winter period here had peaks of 40 in February and 94 in March.
The late summer congregation peaked at 750 on 14th June with numbers dwindling to 249 on 19th July, 52 on 18th September and only nine by 19th October.
Elsewhere records
were poor and infrequent and mostly of flyovers with seven at Esholt being
the best of the bunch.
A bird showing characteristics of the Scandinavian race Larus fuscus intermedius
was reported from Cullingworth Fields on the 16th January (KM).
HERRING
GULL Larus argentatus
Increasingly uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor.
Due to the cessation of our rubbish tips large congregations of feeding and roosting birds seem to be a thing of the past. Recorded in most months albeit in very low numbers.
The Peak roost counts were twelve at Chelker Reservoir on 27th January, 20 at Swinsty Reservoir on 1st January and 38 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the 19th November.
The only other site to record double figures was Knotford Nook with 14 birds on the 19th December.
YELLOW-LEGGED
GULL Larus cachinnans
Uncommon but regular passage migrant, and occasional winter visitor.
The usual handful of birds reported. Singles were noted at Thornton Moor reservoir on six dates between 14th June and 4th August. Lone birds were also noted at nearby Cullingworth fields and Flappit Springs on 14th and 17th June respectively (MD, SJ, KM, BS). At least one adult and one-third-winter bird were involved in these sightings.
GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus
Increasingly uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor.
Apart from two birds
over Barden Fell in June this species was only recorded in the winter
months. Counts were poor and included 24 at Kex Gill on 11th January,
12 at Chelker Reservoir on 27th January and 11 over Barden 1st February.
The Swinsty roost only managed a paltry seven on the 27th December.