black headed gulls

[feathered-friend]

Hi All

Just after some info about the blackheaded gull , (i assume this type as its a fairly small gull with a black head.)

Last year around this time we had quite a few swooping and using the river at the bottom of the garden and I must say they can make quite a noise!
I see them on the grass beside the river feeding too.

They were scarce during autumn and winter but They seem to have returned during the last 2 or 3 weeks. Are they migratory? Is it likely they return to nest here abouts?, do they nest on the ground as opposed to cliffs at the coast?

The river at the bottom of the garden meanders quite alot and there is plenty of small islands of vegetation, mainly grasses perhaps a few reeds. We do have a very large undisturbed reservoir nearby too.

Thanks for any info.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by feathered-friend

They were scarce during autumn and winter but They seem to have returned during the last 2 or 3 weeks. Are they migratory?

No they're not migratory but they lose the black heads in the winter so you might have thought they were a different species...


Summer...............................Winter

Dave P.

[rossy]

hello f friend yes they do nest in marshes or on lake islands, 2 - 3 eggs is normal, they can be found northern europe ,as for winter a lot go to the western coasts, but in bad weather they come inland, hope that helps, rossy

[Gill Catton]

They do tend to breed in large colonies so may become much more common in areas around a colony during the breeding season.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by pressld2

No they're not migratory but they lose the black heads in the winter so you might have thought they were a different species...


Summer...............................Winter

Dave P.

They are migratory- many of the birds wintering here come from as far away as Russia. It's true some birds may remain close to home through the year but many move around to other sites in the UK or to the Baltics, Scandinavia.

In London we have a huge wintering population but just a small number of breeding birds usually on tern rafts at a handful of sites.

[pressld2]

Thanks Aeshna - I didn't know that. Around here we seem to have the same numbers of them in both winter and summer. Of course, it's not necessarily the same birds...

Dave P.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Thanks Aeshna - I didn't know that. Around here we seem to have the same numbers of them in both winter and summer. Of course, it's not necessarily the same birds...

Dave P.

That's very true, as unless they are ringed, it's impossible to know whether they are local residents or different populations.

[feathered-friend]

Thanks all for the replies.

Interesting to know they lose their head colour during the winter, I will have to look out for them during the winter season. Even so they do seem to have appeared in greater numbers so I imagine they have come back to the area to breed.

Thanks again

[Hobjob]

Even our local breeding ones at Minsmere are locally migrant - they are almost none around in the winter - but they can be seen in their hoardes just inland following ploughing tractors or up to their armpits in the mud around pig-styes.