Tuesday 10 November 2020

Wintersett + Gull Roost Mega + Ringing 10.11.20

 A mild 9 - 12 degrees with 7/8 cloud and a light south westerly. 

It was fairly quiet around the area this morning, but at least there wasn't any fog.  

Late morning, a tweet was seen from  simon cooper, @Hemsworthbirder, regarding an interesting looking Scaup type, seen on Anglers CP. https://twitter.com/Hemsworthbirder/status/1326124665081901057/photo/1 

After lunch Pete Smith and Steve Denny set  off around ACP trying to relocate the bird.   They scanned as they went, but there was no sign of it.  I joined them towards the northern end of the lake where Black-headed Gulls were coming in to roost.  As we continued walking round Steve and Pete simultaneously spotted a gull with a dark head and bill and called.  "Franklin's Gull!"  Views through the 'scope confirmed it was indeed an adult Franklin's Gull.

News was put out to the Wintersett Wildlife Group and on Twitter, and we enjoyed excellent views of the bird.  Steve photographed and videoed the bird, and it behaved extremely well, showing continuously up to dark.  It was enjoyed by birders from Barnsley and the surrounding area. As the light diminished, the roost moved in front of the hide, where the bird was picked up again by Gray Speight. It was still there at dark.

This bird is likely to be the Redcar Tarn bird, which was last seen on 15/09/20 and is a new bird for the Wintersett Area!

Needless to say, the Scaup type bird wasn't relocated!

Wintersett Res: 

A Water Rail was in the west bank marsh + 2 on north bank. Goosander 4 [(1 male + 3 redheads) + 8 roosting at ACP at dusk.   A calling Crossbill flew over at 10.58hrs.  Chiffchaff 1.   Pink-footed Goose 170 east.  

43 Birds were ringed:  

Highlights were: 2 Reed Bunting,  16 Lesser Redpoll,  2 Long-tailed Tit,  10 Goldcrest,  2 Redwing and 5 Blackbird.  

                                        Franklin's Gull adult      Anglers CP   SDenny
 
Franklin's Gull adult      Anglers CP  PMeredith

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