A change in the weather

Last weekend I read another three new rings off Llanelli beach; two Mediterranean Gulls and a Black-headed Gull.

The Meds were from France (green 8M0) and Belgium (white E236), ringed in 2011 (pullus) and 2010 (as an adult) respectively. Fairly uninteresting histories, however white E236 made an appearance in Cornwall in 2011.

The Black-headed Gull (white E5KL) was ringed in Holland in 2010, and my recovery was the first away from its breeding area and the first out of the breeding season.

This shot has a real Mediterranean feel to it, looking over the estuary with the tip of Gower peninsular in the background.

It felt anything but Mediterranean this weekend with a blustery wind and rain showers. Yesterday, the Marsh Harrier was flying over the saltmarsh at the reserve early morning before flying high over to the other side of the estuary. During the rest of the day I checked the local gull flocks twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, but to no avail. I also had a good look this afternoon, but despite the promising conditions for something American, again, no luck. There were however c.120+ Common Gulls and c.30+ Mediterranean Gulls on the sand bar pictured above. A late afternoon visit to the reserve coincided with a Peregrine attack, with a Knot being the prey item of choice, so the view from the British Steel Hide was almost waderless, however there was a Spotted Redshank with the few remaining Redshank.

On the reserve the past week, we've been busy cutting down trees, mostly willow and alder, which have been obscuring the view of the Deep Lake from the Heron Hide. We have also strimmed and cleared the islands ready for roosting waders in the winter, and for breeding birds in the spring.