March 2013

adult Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) moulting into breeding plumage

Highlight of this unseasonally cold month was a trip down to Swansea to have a bit of a get together with a few friends.

adult Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) moulting into breeding plumage

Practically all the gulls present at Bracelet Bay in the winter are now Mediterranean Gulls, with Black-headed Gulls now in the minority. It is the best place I know of to easily see and photograph this species in the winter. By mid-March, the adults have almost attained their full, black hood, but they always seem to move on to their breeding grounds in south-east England and on the Continent before the last of the white around the bill disappears.

1st winter Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)

1st winter Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) clearing its nostrils out

1st winter Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) preparing for take-off

1st winter Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)

The blue skies were short-lived (as they so often are in South Wales), so we moved on to the shore of the Loughor Estuary where we were able to park close enough to the water's edge to allow us to photograph the Little Egrets and their supporting cast in the bright spells between the frequent wintery showers from the comfort of the car.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)

Common Gull (Larus canus)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

The following day was a bit warmer and sunnier, so we headed down to the Gower to see if any of the early emerging bees were showing any signs of activity on the sandy undercliffs at Horton. Unfortunately it appeared that it was still too cold for much in the way of insect activity and it was hard work to find anything moving. The photo below is the only one I got in the whole day.

female Lasioglossum morio

February 2013

2013 Diary Index

April 2013