21 Oct 22

Swannery Car Park

It was a day of rain, rain and more rain, plus strong southerlies gusting to around 45 mph. It was certainly not a day for walking, so after a quick shopping trip to Weymouth I drove to the Swannery Car park for a Gull watch. After paying a £1 for 30 minutes parking I positioned the car in the lee of the wind, wound the window down and waited for the gulls to arrive.

Unfortunately the wind and rain, wasn't enough to coax many gulls into the car park, which was a real shame as there is often a good mix of Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Common Gull.

Today there was just a lone 1st winter Herring Gull, 33 Black-headed Gulls (one "ringed") and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

A 1st winter Herring Gull

An adult winter Black-headed Gull

And another in flight before coming..........

...................into land.

Two Black-headed Gulls. On the left an adult winter and on the right a 1st winter. Another 1st winter bird was close-by.

Of the 33 Black-headed Gulls in the car park, was this "ringed" individual. Sadly I could only get a partial number, which wouldn't be enough to get any info on it.

Not a Black-headed Gull but a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

That is quite a stare.

Wow, it looks like its on a runway ready to take off. In fact it did just that, as a boy racer sped across the car park, putting all the gulls up. Hmm. Anyway more info on this 1st winter Mediterranean Gull can be found Here.