Leucistic Black-headed Gull

This bird stood out on the ice in Wardown Park Luton this morning.

Hook-tip Gull

This first winter Black-headed Gull was noted in Wardown Park, Luton on 18th December amongst 600 or so of its mates. Maybe a useful adaptation for stealing bits of stale bread from the local Mallards...

MVCP Photos - Christmas to New Year

A selection of photos taken at the Country Park between the 23rd December and New Year's Day. Including a couple of dodgy shots of the adult Mediterranean Gull taken at the Stewartby Lake roost on Christams Eve and Boxing Day, and a photo of the"partial albino" (schizochroistic?) Black-headed Gull in the roost on New Year' Day. This bird stands out a mile in the roost due to being almost entirely white. Photos by Martin Green.

Broom evening 25th June

Juv terns, one with, one without - colour rings !


Brief visit to Broom this evening in the hope the Laughing Gull seen at Grafham Water on Sunday may be lurking amongst the gull colony - no luck. Black-tailed Godwit present for a short period of time on Peacock Island. Juv terns and gulls all over. Hobby seen to take a juv tern almost as Martin Stevens and myself were leaving - strange sight of it trying to carry the tern away, but it did !

'In cop'

Two amourous Black-headed Gulls at Broom GP, 30th April 2007 by Steve Blain.

albinistic Black-headed Gull

This albinistic Black-headed Gull has been a regular feature of the Bedfordshire gull roosts in recent years. It's a striking bird. 11th Feb 2007 by Steve Blain.

Melanistic Black-headed Gulls

Please click on the images for a larger view








Ray comments:"I first picked it up looking down to the sailing club from the 'Beach' . it immediaterly stuck out like a sore thumb in the Bins as being so much darker than all the other Black heads in flight but as I got nearer I was struck by the amount of white in the tail, and, having got nearer still by how pale it appeared in the wing and head compared to what I remembered of the bird the other day. However as soon as went back into the air it immediately stood out alongside the other Gulls so I remain somewhat confused,undecided etc and stuck firmly sitting on the fence as to wether it was a different bird or just different lighting conditions!!!!

The 2 from the other morning (see below) are an attempt to show the tail and some colour comparison with the other Black heads and the rest are from this afternoon.

Regards Ray Roche"