Glasgow - Broomhill, Jordanhill Claythorn and Bingham's Pond
Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) loafing on the ice and drinking, taken by David Palmar at Bingham's Pond, Glasgow. One is colour-ringed, which when resighted and reported, allows the identification of the individual bird and the tracing of its life history. This gull was ringed in December 2020 by the Clyde Ringing Group at Victoria Park, Glasgow. Apart from a trip to Peterhead where it was spotted in April 2021, it has been seen several times since both at Victoria Park and at Bingham's Pond.
Glasgow - Broomhill, Jordanhill Claythorn and Bingham's Pond
Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), loafing on the ice and drinking, taken by David Palmar at Bingham's Pond, Glasgow
30 November 2023
Colour-ringed Black-headed Gull, Linlithgow Loch
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West Lothian - Linlithgow and Beecraigs
A colour-ringed Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) Red 2JN3, Linlithgow Loch, taken by David Palmar
12 March 2023
Flock of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls loafing on mudflats, Kinneil
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Falkirk - Bo'ness and Kinneil
Flock of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) loafing on the mudflats at the mouth of the River Avon, Kinneil, where it flows into the Firth of Forth, taken by David Palmar. Many of the gulls are immature or sub-adult, as can be seen from the brown flecks on their plumage.
28 January 2023
Cormorants, Loch Spynie
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RSPB Loch Spynie
Group of Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) on an artificial island in Loch Spynie, taken by David Palmar. Two adult Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) can also be seen in flight in the background.
20 March 2022
Black-headed gulls and Oystercatchers, Boden Boo
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Renfrewshire
Mixed group of adult Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) on the shoreline at Boden Boo, taken by David Palmar. A mixture of plumages can be observed amongst the Black-headed Gulls. As this image was taken in February, some of the adult birds had started to moult their winter plumage. This would gradually have been replaced by their breeding plumage which turns their head a characteristic chocolate brown colour.
21 February 2022
Mixed gull flock, Boden Boo
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Renfrewshire
Mixed flock of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) and Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) at Boden Boo, taken by David Palmar. When looking at a large flock of birds, size can be very helpful to differentiate between species. Another useful tool for identification is leg colour. Boden Boo lies along the Clyde coastal path beneath the Erskine Bridge in Renfrewshire. The habitat comprises woodland and the riverside beach present along the Clyde.
21 February 2022
Preening Black-headed Gull, Drumpellier Country Park
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Glasgow - Seven Lochs and Moodiesburn
Preening Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), taken by Rebecca Dickson. In all plumages the white leading edge on the outer wing is characteristic of Black-headed Gulls. Each wing tip is visible in this image, the black contrasts with the white edge.
19 February 2022
Second cycle Black-headed gull, Drumpellier Country Park
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Glasgow - Seven Lochs and Moodiesburn
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), taken by Rebecca Dickson. During the second molting cycle it is extremely hard to tell adults apart from second year birds. Typically the white mottling around the bill base is a good indicator of a second year bird, however, as this bird was observed in mid-February it could still be molting to full brown adult plumage.
