Mystified by gulls (again).

[Deb London]

Today I could see a field full of gulls so I went to investigate. I have been practising gulls at the hide, so I could identify most of them. There were around 150 Common Gulls (CGs) and a few larger immature gulls, mainly Herring. My experience of CGs to date has been one or two, standing around on refuse in the local lake. Since the CGs were the most numerous, they were the most vocal, and I decided it was a rather weird call, a bit like a giant swift with a bad cold.

Then a Common Buzzard flew over; maybe it was looking for lunch. The flock flew up and the call changed. It sounded like I was at the sea-side, and decided that this was the call of the Herring Gulls. Luckily for the gulls the Buzzard flew right over them. I was, as it happens, dressed quite like a gull, in a white top with a dark rucksack, so maybe I look like some almighty mother of all Great Black-backed Gulls, and the Buzzard thought better of it, who knows.

I have more questions about gulls.

1. Until now flocks of gulls on the fields have been Black-headed Gulls. Is a flock of 150 CGs unusual? Or is this to be expected, and I just haven't looked at gulls enough?

2. Has anyone else noticed that CGs fall absolutely silent when there is a bird of prey about? Before the Buzzard came they were really quite noisy. When it arrived, all I could hear were Herring Gull calls. All gulls were all up in the air at the time.

3. This is the third time now that I have seen a single Lesser Black-backed (LBB) Gull loosely associated with Herring Gulls. The other occurrences have been about 5 miles away. So I assume this wasn't the same LBB Gull. Has anyone else noticed that some LBB Gull individuals prefer the company of other gull species?

Possibly these questions are too specific. So any other gull observations/information gratefully received.

Thanks.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Deb London

1. Until now flocks of gulls on the fields have been Black-headed Gulls. Is a flock of 150 CGs unusual? Or is this to be expected, and I just haven't looked at gulls enough?

No. Although called Common Gulls, they're not all that common, they just spend time on commons. Larger numbers have been seen, especially when roosting, so it's not that rare.

2. Has anyone else noticed that CGs fall absolutely silent when there is a bird of prey about? Before the Buzzard came they were really quite noisy. When it arrived, all I could hear were Herring Gull calls. All gulls were all up in the air at the time.

Not sure of this.

3. This is the third time now that I have seen a single Lesser Black-backed (LBB) Gull loosely associated with Herring Gulls. The other occurrences have been about 5 miles away. So I assume this wasn't the same LBB Gull. Has anyone else noticed that some LBB Gull individuals prefer the company of other gull species?

Gulls, like other species (eg Tits, Thrushes etc) will always intermix, with the odd one or two that standard out amongst hundreds of another species

Nige

[aeshna5]

A flock of c150 Common Gulls isn't that exceptional around London in the winter + playing fields or comparable short grass swards are a favourite habitat. I find more in this habitat than when I do when I conduct a WeBs count along the Thames for over 3 miles. The exception would be in extremely cold, icy periods. They do arrive here later than the post-breeding Black-headed Gulls which start to return late summer. It's only been the last month or so I've seen good numbers locally.

I haven't noticed them go quiet when there is a raptor around. The commonest raptor I see is Sparrowhawk + the gulls generally take to the air.

Gulls are sociable birds so will congregate with both their own species or indeed others. Lesser Black-backs do occasionally pair up with Herring Gulls.

[Deb London]

Hey, thanks people! I will keep looking and learning. Great to compare notes. If anyone else notices the silence of the gulls (Common ones) would love to hear from you.

[Shrike]

The Gulls on my local estuary today were a couple of hundred BH Gulls with about 15 common Gulls in 2's,3'sand4,s scattered here and there,and about the same number of LBB Gulls here and there but not really associating with each other,and 2 GBB Gulls.Some days there are Herring Gulls some days none,today none.Dont know how this helps answer any questions but thought i'd just mention it

[Deb London]

I find it very interesting Shrike.

[Shrike]

i'm paying particular attention to the common Gulls round here atm because i know theres a Ring-Billed Gull about somewhere and they are very similar to commons but they have much thinner tertial stripe and are slightly paler.

[Deb London]

And I started learning about gulls to try and spot the local Med Gull.

[Shrike]

Hope we both nail our Gulls before winters gone Deb

[tigertom]

Hi Deb I find med gulls one of the easier ones to pick out they look so pale in with other gulls in fact to me like a sore thumb but gulls in gen are a nightmare
MIKE