Hull urban birds. 7. Wintering Common Gulls

 

Today at Pearson Park, during my walk before work, I noticed that there was a flock of gulls on the frozen floods. Ice and ringed gulls mix really well, so I scanned the gulls legs in search of rings with my binoculars. I was pleased to find a new ringed Black-headed gull, but I also recognised an old friend, JV47. This gulls is a male Common Gull originally ringed in Bergen in October 2014, in its first year, that has been returning to the park regularly ever since (the top photo is a close up of this individual, I took in November 2017). Thanks to ringing schemes in many countries, we have a lot of information about migration. The easily read ring also allows to recognise individuals. Common Gulls are small, agile gulls, with a silver back and black-wing tips with prominent white spots on each feather, that forms a white panel quite distinctive in flight. Its rounded head, dark eyes and 'eye shadow' give it a gentle expression. On winter plumage its head is finely speckled with grey. Bill and legs are grey-green or yellow. Immature birds are browner with pink legs and base of the bill. Despite its name, is not very common inland (Black-headed gulls are more common), but it is quite common in the Hull area, where it can be seen on playing fields and parks, often mixed with Black-headed Gulls.

JV47 this morning at Pearson Park (10/2/2021)

A winter visitor from Scandinavia

The Common Gull is a winter visitor and passage migrant, although individuals can be seen occasionally year round. Ringing has shown that most individuals wintering in the Hull area come from Scandinavia and Northern Europe. I have found nine different ringed gulls wintering in Pearson Park and East park from this the Norwegian ringing scheme, one from a Polish scheme. JV47, who I mentioned before, has a long recovery history. Its breeding colony is well north of the Arctic Circle, at a nature reserve in Prestvannet (Tromsø, Norway). They are faithful to their wintering and breeding localities and ringed birds can be found year after year in the same sites.

The results of the Wetland Bird Survey shows that Pearson Park holds a substantial wintering flock of Common Gulls at East Yorkshire, with an average of 200 individuals across the last 5 years; East Park in comparison has an average of 63 individuals. They are widely dispersed across the city, and the Humber also holds important numbers.

Graph showing the number of Common Gull records per month in Hull (from my Birdtrack records).

Part of the wintering flock at Pearson Park. The gulls appeared oblivious to this young dog, which run back and forth amongst them intent on fetching its ball. 14/Feb/2020.

Common Gull on the grass at Pearson Park, looking for worms, they walk with legs and neck outstretched, and head looking down. 3/Dec/2020.

Common Gulls are very sociable, and they often gather in large flocks. They have a preference for feeding on the ground, on open spaces and flocks can often be seen on grassy fields feeding on worms and other invertebrates. Common Gulls use a behaviour known as 'foot paddling' to encourage worms to rise to the surface. They are also widely fed by members of the public on parks and states on bread and other kitchen scraps and litter, and can be very approachable.

Common Gull foot paddling.

When they are not feeding, Common Gulls gather, often with Herring and Black-headed gulls, for 'loafing'. In birding lingo this means, resting, grooming and sleeping, often in the middle of playing fields. If there is ice, they seem to prefer to loaf on the ice.

Common Gulls quickly settle on ice as soon as the park pond freezes, as they are less likely to be disturbed there.

Conservation

The Common Gull has been an Amber listed species since 2001 due to recent wintering and breeding population and range declines in the UK, and the fact that the UK holds an important non breeding population.

A gallery of photos of the species follows, all, unless otherwise mentioned taken at Pearson Park.

Two individuals displaying and long-calling. Common Gull calls are squeaky, higher pitched versions of Herring Gulls'. 5/Dec/2020

Adults have some variability in bill and leg colour. 5/Dec/2020.

A Common Gull at East Park, from a Polish ringing scheme. 4/Jan/2021. 

A particularly brown immature common gull.2/Mar/2018.

This is JV47 in January 2015 as an immature individual, on its first wintering at Pearson Park.

Common Gull long calling to take possession of a sausage roll. 11/Mar/2017.

At the end of February, they are moulting into their breeding plumage, and Common Gulls are looking much more white, with no head speckling and a bright red ring around the eye. 20/Feb/2020.

By the end of march the Common Gulls leave us for their breeding grounds. The grass in the park feels empty. They will start returning at the end of July. Some times their return coincides with flying ant day, and the Common Gulls join other gull species in the bonanza, hawking in the air for the flying ants.

Adult with full breeding plumage. 30/July/2015.

Common Gull hawking for ants. 10/Aug/2017.