Larid Match Day 1
Caspian Gull* 2-1 Yellow-legged Gull (HT: 1-1)
P:OSR * unringed
P:A2N
Venue: River Don, Effingham Street, Sheffield
Date: 01 September 2025
Att: 2
* VAR check in progress
P:OSR
On the Wards roof then flew onto the rocks in the river joining Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, before relocating after a drenching onto the nearby weir where the rain showers continued.
I believe it is within variation, if such thing is allowed, for Caspian Gull. Slight differences with P:A2N, I’ll let the reader judge those from the accompanying photos. But, to note that it was ringed as a chick in a Herring Gull Group colony in north-west Poland (Szczecin) May 2025, and therefore assumed not assigned to species at that time.
P:A2N
On relocating to the weir to have a look at P:OSR, this gull also present on the weir. It later flew to the rocks mentioned above.
I would describe as a ‘Classic’ Caspian Gull, moulting into 1st Winter plumage. It was ringed as a chick in a Caspian Gull colony in central Poland (Wincentowo) May 2025.
Unringed Yellow-legged Gull
Possibly the same individual as seen earlier at Norfolk Bridge where it took great delight in grabbing the wings of juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls that got too close, or were simply minding their own business! Photos from both sites shown below. Seen alongside P:OSR and P:A2N.
P:OSR
P:A2N
Unringed Yellow-legged Gull
Larid Match Day 2
Caspian Gull 1-1 Yellow-legged Gull (HT: 0-1)
Venue: Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Date: 04 September 2025
Att: 2
Studying the gulls on the eastern side of the Mere with GL and about 50 birds, most Lesser Black-backed Gulls with several Herring Gulls and a lone adult Great Black-backed Gull. Attention turned to picking out an ‘intermedius’ Lesser Black-backed Gull or two. Watching a slender dark-backed candidate ‘intermedius’ that was swimming away from the island and all of a sudden a grey-backed gull appeared alongside with yellow legs, the tops of which could be seen as it swam. A moulting adult Yellow-legged Gull, head already assumed winter dress, but the primaries not yet in full fettle. It moved to the island and allowed good comparison with its Larid friends.
On returning to the Wader Scrape Hide after a visit to the nearby Wath Ings Hide a scan of the gulls roosting on the island produced the usual Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, when all of a sudden an adult Caspian Gull rose from its slumber and popped its head up from behind a Herring Gull. A striking individual whose head profile stood out like a sore thumb, and though in wing moult, the long white underside of P10 could be seen. Sadly it decided to take off shortly afterwards before allowing photos to be taken, and headed off towards and over Broomhill Flash/Wombwell Ings continuing in the direction of Barnsley.
Larid Match Day 3
Caspian Gull 1-3 Yellow-legged Gull (HT: 0-2)
Venue: Thamesmead, London
Date: 13 September 2025
Att: 2
Been a quiet summer for me picking out gulls on the Thames. Whilst 2nd summer and older Yellow-legged Gulls have been fairly frequent, perhaps due to them being easier to pick out then younger gulls of this species, it does seem that not many juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls have been present on this part of the Thames this summer in comparison to previous years.
Two 1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls joined the gull melee late this Saturday afternoon. A smart 2nd winter Caspian Gull was then picked out with a a similar aged Yellow-legged Gull noted soon after.
Caspian Gull (2nd Winter below)
In noting the above I would like to thank Polish Bird Ringing Scheme and Andy D for help with the Sheffield Gulls, GL for putting up with my gull ramblings at Old Moor RSPB and Rich B for picking out the Thamesmead individuals.
Please click here for a video compilation of some of the above on YouTube.
