Wryneck and Mediterranean Gulls at Poole Place (07 September)

Monday 07 September. I went to Poole Place to look for the Wryneck found by Owen Michell yesterday. Parking in Climping I walked to Atherington and along the beach. It was low tide with lots of gulls along the shoreline almost as far as the eye could see. There were also many gulls to the east of Atherington but being against the light and in the wrong direction I ignored them and set off towards Poole Place. I was soon distracted by the number of Mediterranean Gulls, more than Black-headed, and counted 861 although without a telescope I probably missed quite a few. Several had colour-rings but without a telescope where too distant to read through 10x binoculars. I did my best to photograph them and using a 2x digital feature obtained images of 7 different individuals. One is probably local with the others from the near continent. I arrived at the Wryneck field just after Owen Michell and Richard Pulley and was reassured I was looking in the right place. After exchanging pleasantries Owen quickly spotted the Wryneck which performed at reasonable range, particularly from the edge of the beach when the others had left. Walking back with the tide half-way in the gulls were divided between flocks sitting on the sea and feeding/roosting in the field. I estimated about 1900 were present and checking a few random samples suggested there were probably more Mediterraneans than Black-headeds suggesting over 1000 Mediterranean Gulls were present. I'd thought my seeing over 1000 flying east off Shoreham during the month of April was good but this was ridiculous, especially as most recent visits to the coast at Shoreham haven't produce any. Also seen were 11 Sandwich Terns, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 6 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats and 4 Wheatears.

Wheatear at Climping

gulls on the shore at Poole Place

Mediterranean Gulls at Poole Place

Mediterranean Gull 2L48 was ringed as chick at South Binness, Langstone Harbour on 25 June 2018 and subsequently seen at Dawlish Warren and then Topsham, Devon on 25 July 2018, Penze/Taule, Finistere  on13 May 2019 and Hayling Oysterbeds between 20 March and 07 April 2020

Mediterranean Gull 8R3, a French bird ringed ringed as a pullus at Jablines, Seine-et-Marne, on 22/06/13, seen Total, Antwerpen 13-20/04/14 then in Finistere, France at Plage de Pentrez, Saint-Nic on 21/11 & 1/12/14, Ria, Le Conquet on 11/01/16, Plage du Ris, Douarnenez on 18/12/17, Plage de Trezmalaouen, Plonevez-Porzay on 24/11/19 and again at Plage de Pentrez, Saint-Nic on 30/11/19

Mediterranean Gull 31HE. A Belgian bird ringed as an adult at Total Antwerpen on 12/05/20 and seen at Bembridge Harbour, Isle of Wight on 14/07/20

Mediterranean Gull 39EV. Ringed as adult at Total Antwerpen on 15/05/20

Mediterranean Gull 3307. Ringed as an adult at Total Antwerpen on 12/05/18 and seen there 25/05/18, at Hayling Oysterbeds 05/03/19, back at Total Antwerpen on 09/03/19, Hayling Oysterbeds on 11/04/19 and between 17-23/03/20, Elms Farm on 19/04/20 and Chichester Harbour on 12/08/20

Mediterranean Gull 3322. Ringed as an adult at Total, Antwerpen on 12/05/18, it has since taken a liking to West Sussex being seen at Arundel WWT on 27/07/18, Goring Gap on 19/11/18 and Pagham Harbour on 12/02/20

Mediterranean Gull R1NT. A French bird ringed as a pullus at Polder de Sebastopol, Barbatre, Vendee on 23/06/18, seen at Climping on 06/01/19, Elms Farm, Icklesham during 04/03-16/04/19 and on 19/03/20. Another that has taken a liking to Sussex. 

Wryneck at Poole Place

Wheatear at Poole Place

juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls

Sunday 96 September. Megan and I took Cookie up to Mill Hill. We saw 20 Swallows, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcaps, 17 Whitethroats, 2 Redstarts and a flock of about 60 Linnets.

Red Admiral on Mill Hill