Peterborough Bird Club annual report Herring Gull Larus argentatus | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common passage and winter migrant. The highest roost counts were on the Nene Washes, with 1,500+ there on 1 Jan, 2000 on 8 Jan and 4,850 there on 26 Feb (RSPB). All other counts were of less than 150 birds. Birds of the argentatus race were at Prior’s Fen GP on 5 Jan with 34+ out of a flock of 132 Herring Gulls identified as this Scandinavian/Baltic breeding subspecies (SPD). At Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR, 20 out of a flock of 120 were argentatus (BHS).
2002	Common passage and winter migrant. Unusually no reports for January, a month when they are invariably most common in our area. Largest count in the first winter period came from Dogsthorpe Tip, with 150-200 on 28 Feb. The highest count of the year involved 1,000 birds roosting on the Nene Washes at the end of December. A third calendar-year bird colour-ringed at Orfordness, Suffolk, was at Dogsthorpe Tip on 8 Aug (BHS). Individuals of the nominate argentatus race were seen at Dogsthorpe Tip (three birds on 23 Jul (BHS)), Fletton BP on 13 Oct with 22 argentatus birds from a flock of 58 Herring Gulls at Prior’s Fen GP on 8 Dec (SPD).
2001	Common passage and winter migrant. Present throughout the year with the largest counts from the Nene Washes with 1,350 on 15 Jan and 1,250 on 19 Feb (RSPB). Elsewhere, the largest numbers were found in or around Dogsthorpe Tip, with birds using nearby Star Pit NR to bathe. Maximum at this site 500+ on 27 Dec (BHS). On 12 Nov, it was estimated that around 20% of birds present at Dogsthorpe Tip were of the Scandinavian race L. a. argentatus (BHS).
2000	Common migrant and winter visitor. Rather scarce in the early part of the year, with up to 20 in January along the Nene Washes and 34 at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 25 Feb. Apart from one at Deeping High Bank 3 Sep and 300 at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR on 27 Dec, the only other records were of roosting birds on the Nene Washes, 450 on 20 Nov and 220 on 18 Dec.
1999	Common migrant and winter visitor. The few records received were in winter from the Nene Washes, where 650 roosted during March. The latest bird of the spring was an adult at Dogsthorpe Tip 9 May (where several hundred were seen during the winter months).
1998	Common winter visitor, migrant. The few records received included odd birds at Ferry Meadows CP, Deeping High Bank, Willow Hall Lane, Dogsthorpe and Baston & Langtoft GP. There were 140 at Dogsthorpe Tip on 18 Jul (CBR). Nene Washes: A scarce wash bird, with most sightings relating to roosting birds that peaked in February at 265, though there were only 15 in March and 16 in May and December.
	Yellow-legged Gull Larus argentatus michahellis | A | Quite rare PBC will continue to follow the BOU and treat Yellow-legged Gull as a subspecies of Herring Gull. 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Rare winter and passage migrant. This distinctive subspecies of Herring Gull was reported from four locations. Deeping Lakes NR: single on 3 Feb (TW), adult on 2 Mar (WB). Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR: adult on 27 Sep (BHS), second-winter 15 Nov (MAW). Dogsthorpe Tip: adult on 18 Oct (BHS). Woodwalton Fen NNR: second calendar-year on 27 Sep (RPa). The latter was a new site record.
2002	Rare winter and passage migrant. Better understanding of the identification pitfalls surrounding this subspecies is contributing to the number of records received from the PBC area. Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR is currently the best place to see this bird. Up to three birds were seen there on 10 occasions during 2003, with five there on 17 Jul, 10 on 8 Sep and an amazing 19 there on 25 Jul (all KD). Elsewhere, five at Dogsthorpe Tip on 9 Jul and five at Hampton Lakes on 4 Aug (KD). An adult was at Deeping Lakes NR between 2-30 Mar with one there on 4 May (RB, WB et al). Single birds were also reported from a further six locations.
2001	Rare winter and passage migrant. Another increase in records with a third–winter bird and two adults at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 14–19 Jan (BHS, PJP). A second–year bird on the Nene Washes 7 Jun (RGN). Three adults/sub–adults again at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 1 Sep (RMP) with a third-winter and a probable second-winter 15 Oct (BHS). A single bird was at Deeping Lakes NR on 10 Nov (TW) and probably the same bird was at Bainton GP 22 Dec (BT). Image © Brian Stone. Click for a larger version.
2000	Rare migrant. In line with the national trend, there was an increase in records, with singles at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR on 19 Feb, 25 Feb (different birds), 7 Mar and 26 Jul (BHS, DP). Dogsthorpe Tip held one on 14 Mar (BHS), 3 Oct and 27 Dec, Nene Washes 18 Mar, Deeping Lakes NR 13 Jul, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough 5 Sep and Orton BP 10 Oct (DP). These birds are thought to originate from south-west Europe.
1999	Rare migrant. Adults were identified at Dogsthorpe Tip 22 Feb and 30 Mar (DP), and two on the Nene Washes at March Farmers 13 Mar.
1998	Rare migrant. Nene Washes: An adult of the race michahellis roosted on the reserve on 11 Mar.
	Caspian Gull Larus argentatus cachinnans | A* | Vagrant PBC will continue to follow the BOU and treat Caspian Gull as a subspecies of Herring Gull. 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Vagrant. This year saw a large increase in the number of reports of this subspecies, mostly due to one observer (KD) regularly watching local gull flocks. Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR is the best place to catch up with Caspian Gull; no attempt has been made to try and estimate the number of birds involved in the 2003 sightings. Singles were recorded on 12 occasions during 2003, with three there on 9-10 Sep (WB, MC, KD). Elsewhere, one was at Fletton BP on 15 Sep with two there on 12 Oct (both KD). Singles also at Eye Pit on 14 Dec (RPa), Hampton Lakes on 14 Aug (KD); reports of singles also at Tanholt GP on 9 Sep (GW) with another single there on 14 Dec (RPa).
2002	Vagrant. A second-winter bird at Dogsthorpe Tip showed characteristics of this form on 28 Feb (BHS).
2001	Vagrant. In line with the increase in records nationally, the PBC area continues to receive reports of this subspecies. An adult and a fourth–winter were seen at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 19 Jan (MAW) and two birds were present along the Nene Washes (March Farmers) 27–28 Jan (MF).
2000	Vagrant. A first-winter bird was reported from Dog-in-a-Doublet and Eldernell 28 Mar-5 Apr (DP, CK et al), then an adult was at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR on 15th and 21 Oct (DP). Originating from south-east Europe, this putative species has become a regular (and probably somewhat overlooked) visitor to southern England in recent years.
1999	Vagrant. Two records were received. One adult at Dogsthorpe Tip 4 Jan (DP) and a first-winter in a field adjacent to the Deeping High Bank 26 Dec (TW, JW).
1998	No records.
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