1st summer Ring

1st summer Ring-Billed Gull.

Brockholes Quarry, Lancashire, UK.

01.06.03.

by Colin Bushell.

The first day of June 2003 was fine and sunny and I intended to search out Redstarts locally. What I intend doing, and what I end up doing are invariably very different and of late I have had trouble passing Brockholes Quarry without “popping in for a quick look”.

The main pool at the quarry appeared quiet so I set about doing a circuit of the pits.

After an enjoyable but rather quiet walk I returned to the east end of the quarry when I noticed a gull landing on one of the islands with what can only be described as a “contrasty” wing pattern. I thought this was worthy of further inspection but fully expected it to be nothing more than a first summer Med Gull at best.

On arrival at the passing place opposite the islands two other birders asked me if I had seen “any strange gulls” on my walkabout and when pressed on their thoughts, “Ring-billed type” was mentioned. Alarm bells began to sound and I immediately relocated the gull in the gathering of LBB Gulls present.

Even in the poor viewing conditions (looking into strong sunlight), the rather chunky bill with obvious dark terminal area could be noted.

Unfortunately, after only brief ‘scope views of the bird the whole flock of gulls took to the air and began circling.

Another birder arrived and I was able to relocate the bird in the air by virtue of its striking wing pattern (pale grey coverts and mantle [dark saddle lacking], dark brownish-black outer primaries, pale inner primaries almost greyish-white with a dark brown secondary bar).

The bird had a tail band but to be honest the striking wing pattern drew my attention away from this although it was certainly incomplete.

I lost the gull as it circled higher, and after ten minutes wait to see if it would relocate on the main pool, I set about searching for it. This did not take long as the first bird I looked at on the new workings adjacent to the public footpath was the Ring-billed Gull.

By now, although this individual seemed a little on the small size at first, I was certain it was a first summer Ring-billed Gull. It was now perched next to a first summer Common Gull and the following features could be noted:

	Slightly larger than the accompanying Common Gull with a more attenuated appearance and longer legs.
	Mantle the same tone of grey as the nearby Black-headed Gulls and paler than that of Common Gull. This is verified by the images taken.
	Rather “steep” forehead and deep furrowed “brow” producing the fierce expression attributed to Ring-billed Gulls by observers.
	Rather chunky bill with a dark terminal area (actually had a tiny pale pinkish-yellow tip). Tip of bill characteristically “bulbous” with deeply angled drop to upper mandible.
	Bill colour initially appeared pink (when looking into strong sunlight) but now had a more yellow tone in the better viewing conditions as confirmed by the photos.
	Leg colour pink unlike the dirty greyish-olive of first summer Common Gull.
	Tertials brown with very fine whitish edgings.

The

The bird settled on a gravel islet and appeared to be settling down, allowing me to take the record shots featured.

Suddenly, all the birds on the pit took to the air and the Ring-billed Gull flew to New working no1.

I dashed there, but the birds were very flighty and I watched it head back to the main pool and the Ribble, before disappearing behind a bank of trees.

In flight, the rather stocky, chesty appearance of the RBG was noted along with the lack of a dark 'saddle', producing a rather washed-out inner-wing, bordered by dark outer primaries and a thin dark line on the inner secondaries.

I returned to the approach road by the main pool but was unable to relocate the gull again.

I have had experience with many Ring-billed Gulls since the first big national influx in the 1980’s. However these were all first or second winters and one or two adults. Despite being widely travelled in the New World my birding takes place well south of the wintering grounds of Ring-billed Gulls and this is my only experience of first summer birds.

Thanks to Bill Aspin for helpful discussion concerning this record and his encouragement in covering Brockholes as a local patch.

Colin Bushell

Preston, July 2003.

This is the second record of a North American Gull to be recorded at the site since observations began in August 1998, the first being an adult Laughing Gull on 02/05/99.