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GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULLS NESTING
ON SLIPPER MILLPOND, EMSWORTH
Summary
of nesting - see below for full records
Year
2012
A pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls nested for the first time
ever in Emsworth, on the centre raft on Slipper
Millpond in 2012 producing two
youngsters.
Year
2013
They nested
again on the same raft in 2013 producing three
youngsters.
Year
2014
In December
2013 the Slipper Millpond Association decided to deter
the gulls from nesting again due to their predation of
other avian inhabitants on the pond, notably Coot. To
achieve this the three rafts were covered with wires,
but this did not put the birds off and they nested
again successfully in 2014 rearing one
youngster.
Year
2015
They were back
again in 2015 and nested successfully hatching three
chicks, but all three were drowned when they fell from
the raft. So, this year's nesting was
unsuccessful.
Year
2016
They were not deterred by this experience and the two
gulls returned again to the pond in the spring of
2016. They nested on the centre raft again and
produced three chicks of which two youngsters
survived. One mature juvenile was seen dead on the
raft in July, from unknown cause.
Year
2017
They were back again in 2017, but, very surprisingly,
were ousted from their usual central nesting raft by a
pair of Canada Geese. They settled down on a smaller
raft and hatched three chicks of which two survived
and fledged by early July.
Year
2018
They are back
again on the south raft on 8th March where they nested
last year and successfully produced two youngsters. A
Canada Goose was back on the centre raft as last year.
Nest building during March. Both birds were on the
raft on Apr-11 with one bird sitting on nest. Three
chicks were hatched on or before May 16th. See Video .
. . https://youtu.be/dCZmAbgXJgE
Two chicks survived and were fledged in July.
They finally left the pond by July 17th.
YEAR
2019
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls was on the centre raft in
eaarly February making an early claim to their
preferred nesting site which for the past 2 years has
been occupied by Canada Geese. They were settling in
early March and on the nest in April. Two
chicks were raised and fledged in July.
YEAR
2020
9th-13th March
- Pair of Great Black-backed Gulls are back on the
pond with some nest building activity. No sign of the
Canada Geese.
02-Apr - Pair of Great Black-backed Gulls are nesting
on the south raft on Slipper Millpond with the Canada
Geese on the centre raft as in previous years.
14-May - The Great Black-backed Gulls nesting on the
south raft have hatched at least two chicks on the
south raft. There could be a third one in the nest
box.
NESTING
RECORDS
Here are the
nesting records of the Great Black-backed Gulls with
photos in reverse chronological order.Please scroll
down to get to earlier years. Note some of the early
records are not complete.
NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2018
.
. . in reverse chronological order . . .
TUESDAY
JULY 17 - 2018
there was no
sign of the Great Black-backed Gull family. All
three rafts were empty and they were not on the pond.
So, I assume they have flown, probably into the
harbour. Here is the north raft where I saw the two
chicks last time on July 12. So, this completes
another successful breeding year for these magnificent
gulls on Slipper Millpond where they have nested for
the past 7 years.
THURSDAY
JULY 12 - 2018
I popped down
to Slipper Millpond this morning to check on the Great
Black-backed Gull family that must be almost ready to
move off after their 7th consecutive nesting year on
the pond. The family with one adult and two well grown
chicks were on the north raft for a change. The chicks
must have flown there from the centre raft where I saw
them last and it can't be too long before the whole
family moves off the pond.
For the history of
these gulls nesting on Slipper Millpond go to . . .
http://familyfellows.com/millpond-great-bb-gull.htm
TUESDAY
JUNE 19 - 2018
I had a walk
around Slipper Millpond this afternoon where I was
interested to see that the pair of Great
Black-backed Gulls were on the centre raft with
their two growing youngsters. It should not be too
long before they take their first flights, if they
have not done so already.
This is not the raft
on which they nested, though I am sure they must
hanker for it as they did nest there for 5 years from
2012-2016 before being ousted by a pair of Canada
Geese. The Great Black-backed Gulls have nested on the
south raft for the past two years.
Here is a short video clip of the youngsters that I
took today . . . https://youtu.be/RxY_fWSnS8A
THURSDAY
MAY 31 - 2018
I could see an
adult Great Black-backed Gull with just one chick
on the south raft, though other chicks could have
been hidden in the vegetation. There were three chicks
when I last saw the raft a couple of weeks ago. Hmm
...
THURSDAY
MAY 16 - 2018
I was alerted
by Mark Ringwood that the Great Black-backed Gulls
chicks had hatched on the south raft of Slipper
Millpond today. I went down this afternoon and
discovered three chicks, as in previous
years.
Here
is a YouTube link video of them being
fed . . .
https://youtu.be/dCZmAbgXJgE
There was no sign of
the Canada Goose family with 4 remaining goslings. It
looks as if they made a quick getaway,
THURSDAY
MAY 3 - 2018
The Great
Black-backed Gull was sitting firmly on her
towering nest of twigs on the south raft. Their
hatching should not be too long coming.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 11 - 2018
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were on the south raft with one
bird definitely sitting on a nest for the first time.
THURSDAY
MARCH 8 - 2018
Brian Lawrence
had a walk round Slipper Millpond today and found the
pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were back on
the south raft, which is where they nested last year
for the first time, having been ousted from their
regular nesting platform on the centre raft by a pair
of Canada Geese. They seem to have settled on the
smaller south raft as a reasonable alternative - they
successfully raised two youngsters last year.
* * *
NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2017
* * *
.
. . in reverse chronological order . . .
WEDNESDAY
JULY 12 - 2017 - The gulls have left
The Great
Black-backed Gulls have finally left the pond. The
south raft where they nested is empty. The youngsters
must have fledged since I was last here.
MONDAY
JULY 3 - 2017
for the two
Great Black-backed Gull chicks, they were alone on the
south raft, though one of their parents was perched on
a chimney pot on Slipper Road, keeping an eye on them.
I got the impression that the adult was trying to
encourage the chicks to fly. While I was taking photos
of the chicks from the west path this adult swooped
down low, right over my head. This was the first time
I have been 'buzzed' this year, though it has happened
in previous years. Quite scary!
THURSDAY
JUNE 22 - 2017
The two Great
Black-backed Gull chicks were on the south raft with
one of the parents. Both looking healthy and
stretching their wings. They must be very close to
flight.
TUESDAY
JUNE 13 - 2017
I had a quick
look at the Great Black-backed Gull nesting raft at
about 12.30 where I found both chicks on the water
swimming around the raft, not straying too far. I
watched them clamber back onto the raft which was not
an easy task. Both parents were present on the raft,
apparently unconcerned.
The lady who lives in
the mobile home opposite the raft told me they two
chicks had been swimming for a couple of days, but
never far from the raft. She also told me that two
lads swam out to the raft at the weekend which
disturbed all four birds, but they all returned to the
raft after the lads left and no harm was done.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 7 - 2017
The two Great
Black-backed Gull chicks were on the south raft with
one of the parents. Both chicks look healthy and were
flapping their wings when I was there, so I assume it
will be not much longer before they take their first
flight. The adult in this shot is demonstrating just
how to do it. There is still no sign of any Coot
chicks anywhere on the pond which suggests they have
been taken by the gulls.
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls were on the south raft with
their two chicks. The following photo show one of the
two adults feeding morsels of regurgitated food to the
chicks. Both chicks look healthy and are growing fast.
I spoke to a lady
whose caravan home directly overlooks the nesting raft
and she told me there were definitely three chicks at
first, though one was quickly lost.
THURSDAY
MAY 18 - 2017
I had a quick
look at Slipper Millpond where the Great Black-backed
Gull chicks were asleep on the nesting raft with a
parent keeping a watchful eye on them from the roof of
the old Coot nest box while the other parent was on
the water nearby. The chicks have to be especially
careful not to fall off the raft as they would quickly
become waterlogged and drown. This happened to a two
chicks a couple of years ago. Unlike cygnets and
goslings, the plumage of gull chicks is not
waterproof.
TUESDAY
MAY 16 - 2017
The Great
Black-backed Gull chicks were being tended by one of
the parents while the other had left to get food from
the harbour. The box on the raft, originally intended
for nesting Coot, has come in useful for the gull
chicks as a shelter from the elements.
SUNDAY
MAY 14 - 2017 -
Two chicks hatched
When I arrived
at Slipper Millpond the chicks had already hatched,
presumably this morning, and were being closely
cosseted by their parents. There are definitely two
chicks and maybe a third.
The presence of two
chicks is a bit clearer on this video clip at . . .
https://youtu.be/rSEf2IdZEkY
I was interested to
watch the newly hatched chicks interacting with their
parents, with one chick pecking the red spot on the
bill of the adult to promote regurgitation of food
which it did, though I can't see the chick coping with
an item that size.
SATURDAY
MAY 13 - 2017
I had a phone
call late this afternoon from Sharon Corbett, whose
house overlooks Slipper Millpond, to say that five
Canada Geese goslings had hatched today on the centre
raft which is where the Great Black-backed Gulls have
nested for the past 4 years until they were ousted by
the Canadas.
Meanwhile, the
Great Black-backed Gull is still sitting on the
south raft, but she should be very close to hatching.
TUESDAY
APRIL 25 - 2017
The Canada
Goose is still sitting on a nest on the centre raft.
The Great Black-backed Gull is on her nest on the
south raft, right beside a luxurious plant of Sea
Beet.
TUESDAY
APRIL 19 - 2017 -
Take-over complete!
Over on
Slipper Millpond there was a Canada Goose
apparently sitting on a nest on the centre raft,
where the Great Black-backed Gulls have nested for the
previous 4 years. The take-over looks complete.
The ousted Great Black-backed Gulls are now
nesting on the much smaller south raft for the first
time, though this is their 5th year running nesting on
the pond.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 12 - 2017 - Great
Black-backed Gulls
ousted!
The Canada Geese are now settled on the centre raft
and the Great Black-backed Gulls have been relegated
to the south raft. There is no sign of nesting from
either.
MONDAY
APRIL 10 - 2017 - Nest
site take-over?
Brian Lawrence
went to Slipper Millpond where he found two Canada
Geese on the centre raft and the two Great
Black-backed Gulls on the south raft.
Does this indicate a
take-over of the centre raft, where the Great
Black-backed Gulls have nested for the past 4 years,
by these Canada Geese? Surely, the big gulls could see
off these larger, but more docile, birds. Clearly,
something is happening. Watch this space!
THURSDAY
MARCH 30 - 2017
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were both present on the centre
raft, though it is still a little early for nesting
which on the basis of previous years I would expect in
the second week of April. But you never know! One bird
was snuggled down when I arrived while its mate was in
the water nearby. When the second bird came onto the
raft it was greeted with a loud cawing, which is
promising.
For more photos and
the history of their nesting in Emsworth go to . . .
TUESDAY
MARCH 14 - 2017
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls were both ensconced on the
centre raft on Slipper Millpond. As far as I could
see, there has been no nesting activity as yet, but
with both birds present this cannot be too long away.
SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 12 - 2017
The pair Great
Black-backed Gulls was on the centre raft of Slipper
Millpond, no doubt sounding out their nesting site for
the coming year. This is the first time this year I
have seen both birds on the pond. There are no wires
to contend with, so all looks plain sailing for them.
SUNDAY
JANUARY 22 - 2017
One of the
breeding Great Black-backed Gulls was back on
the partially frozen Slipper Millpond along with a
variety of other gulls. The gulls often recce their
nesting area in the winter months. The centre raft is
ready and waiting for them!
* * *
NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2016
* * *
.
. . in reverse chronological order . . .
THURSDAY
JULY 21 - 2016
The first
thing I noticed about the pond was how peaceful it
was. There was no sign of the Great Black-backed
Gulls or their youngsters from this year's nest.
However, when I looked more closely at the centre
raft, I could see the corpse of one of the juvenile
gulls slumped over the edge of the raft, seemingly
having got its head jammed between two
boards.
I spoke to Pam
Phillips later who said the gulls had left the pond a
few days ago, but returned from time to time. She did
not know anything about the dead juvenile.
With the departure of
the Great Black-backed Gulls the other pond wildfowl
are having a field day! First Brendan Gibb-Gray told
me he had seen a Coot family with two chicks near his
house in Chequers Quay. He thought they nested in the
reeds rather than on the rafts. I found them feeding
behind the Chequers Quay building, hopefully out of
harm's way, though one never knows what is round the
corner.
There was also a
female Mallard with a little troop of 5 ducklings on
the east side of the pond.
Finally, the Mute Swan family with three
cygnets appeared from the culvert under the road. Good
to know they are still doing well. Pam Phillips says
she often sees them sleeping on the island on Peter
Pond.
WEDNESDAY
JULY 13 - 2016
When I arrived
on my bike, members of the Slipper Millpond
Association were working on the east side of the pond
to reinforce the bank against erosion. Two juvenile
Great Black-backed Gulls were on the nesting
raft with one adult. The other juvenile gull was on
the water nearby.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 8 - 2016
The three
Great Black-backed Gull chicks were on the
centre raft with one of their parents, the other
parent being on the water nearby. The chicks were
taking a drink while I was present, were growing and
looked healthy.
FRIDAY
JUNE 3 - 2016
I had a quick
look at the Great Black-backed Gulls on Slipper
Millpond at about 1pm. All was quiet when I arrived
with the three chicks snuggled down in the vegetation.
As I watched, one of the adults arrived with a large
Eel. How on earth did it catch that? It proceeded to
regurgitate the Eel though it was clearly far too
large for the chicks to swallow. So the adult consumed
it him/herself and slipped into the water to help it
down. Here is the story in pictures.
Meanwhile the three
chicks went to the edge of the raft for a drink - be
careful little fellers otherwise you could meet the
same fate as your siblings last year.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 1 - 2016
I could
definitely see three chicks; previously I had only
seen two and thought they had lost one, but no, there
were definitely three. While I was there the male
parent came in with food for the chicks.
I was pleased to watch
the feeding process which involved the adult
regurgitating whatever it was he had caught for the
chicks to consume. The female meanwhile, sat patiently
on the other end of the raft, taking no part in the
feeding.
At the end, the male
slipped off the raft into the water for a wash.
TUESDAY
MAY 24 - 2016
I could only
see two Great Black-backed Gull chicks on the
centre raft with their parents. Both were moving
around, but there was no sign of the third that Mike
Wells got on camera on May 20. I fear one could have
been lost.
MONDAY
MAY 23 - 2016
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were present on the centre raft
when I visited this afternoon and I could just see two
chicks. Three chicks were seen last week by Mike
Wells, but the vegetation on the raft is so dense that
the other one could easily have been hidden.
FRIDAY
MAY 20 - 2016
The big news
while I was away on the Isle of Wight was the hatching
of three Great Black-backed Gull chicks on the centre
raft on Slipper Millpond. I am grateful to Mike Wells
for sending me a nice photo of the chicks. I hope they
are still there!
MONDAY
MAY 16 - 2016
I carried on
to Slipper Millpond to check on the Great
Black-backed Gull nest, as this was my predicted
hatching date. However, there was no change; the
female was still sitting tight on the nest with no
sign of any activity beneath her while her mate waited
patiently beside her.
TUESDAY
APRIL 12, 2016
At first there
were no Great Black-backed Gulls on the centre
raft, but they both turned up while I was there and
proceeded to display and to mate. When I left one gull
was sitting on the nest, presumably laying eggs as
mating is still happening.
THURSDAY
APRIL 7 - 2016
The Great
Black-backed Gulls are nesting again on Slipper
Millpond for the 5th year running. What I assume was
the female bird was sitting on a nest of twigs on the
end of the centre raft with its mate on the water
nearby. I last checked on Apr 3 when neither of the
gulls was on the pond, so the nesting and laying must
have occurred in the intervening period. Incubation
takes 27-28 days, so hatching is predicted for May
2-5. This is about the same date as the expected
hatching of the Mute Swan eggs, so that could be
interesting! This morning, the Mute Swan was snug on
her nest in the reeds on the east side of the pond.
Coots are also nesting on the north raft.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 30, 2016
Great
Black-backed Gulls are back!
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls was on the centre raft where
they have nested for the past 4 years and there seems
little doubt that they intend to do the same this
year, particularly as the deterrent wire structure has
been removed. However, they have not settled down to
nesting as yet, though it can't be long before they
do.
I was pleased to meet
Sharon again who lives on Slipper Road overlooking
Slipper Millpond. Sharon was the person who informed
me about the drowning of the Great Black-backed Gulls
chicks last year when they fell off the nesting raft.
I asked her to keep an eye on the gulls again and to
let me know when they start nesting and any other
activity of interest. I am sure they will be getting
up to some mischief as they have done in the past.
*
* * NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2015
* * *
. . . to be completed . . .
* * *
NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2014
* * *
. . . to be completed . . .
THURSDAY
APRIL 24, 2014
Great
Black-backed Gulls are nesting again!
I had an
e-mail from Nick Medina from the Slipper Millpond
Preservation Society this morning to say the Great
Black-backed Gulls were back nesting on the centre
raft of the pond despite the best efforts of the group
to deter them by installing wires and canes across the
rafts. Nick says they cannot take any further action
against the nesting as this would be in violation of
the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
When I passed this morning the female was settled
snugly on a nest of twigs underneath a network of
wires with her mate on the water nearby. So, we are
back to square one. The other nesting birds on the
pond will need to be extra vigilant to protect their
young from predation from the gulls. Info sent to SOS
Sightings.
SUNDAY
MARCH 2 2014
Great
Black-backed Gulls are back!
The pair of
adult Great Black-backed Gulls were on the pond at
about 10.30 this morning. While I was there, one of
the gulls flew around a few times then headed towards
the harbour.
The other gull
remained on the water bathing. I can now see clearly
that both the small rafts have also been wired as a
deterrent to the gulls.
SATURDAY
MARCH 1 2014
Great
Black-backed Gulls are
back
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were back on Slipper Millpond
despite the new wiring structures to deter them. But
will they nest?
The photo shows the
two gulls on one of the small rafts and not the large
central one which has been extensively wired to deter
them from nesting there this year. This small raft has
also been wired, though I doubt of they would try to
nest on this one, but you never know. So, watch this
space!
*
* * NESTING
RECORDS FOR 2013
* * *
.
. . in reverse chronological order . . .
MONDAY
DECEMBER 15 - 2013
Wiring
of the gull nesting
raft
The wooden
framework on the centre raft on Slipper Millpond had
been completed and what looked like wires wewre
stretched across the whole length of the raft. Two
Cormorants were on the raft, one perched on a cross
trestle, so clearly they have not been detered by the
structure.
But what about the
Great Black-backed Gulls? There was no sign of them
this morning. However, I had an e-mail from Nick
Medina this to say at 1,30pm he had seen two Great
Black-backed Gulls circling the raft and making a lot
of noise but not landing. So, it looks as if it might
be working. Here is the design of the structure for
the raft from Nick Medina.
THURSDAY
DECEMBER 12 - 2013
Deterring
the Great Black-backed Gulls
I was
interested to see a couple of chaps from the Slipper
Millpond Preservation Association constructing a low
wooden framework on the centre raft which presumably
will hold a cover as a barrier to the future nesting
of the Great Black-backed Gulls.
FRIDAY
AUGUST 2 - 2013 - All
gulls have left the pond
All is quiet and
peaceful on Slipper Millpond now the Great
Black-backed Gulls have left with their three
youngsters. The Mute Swan family that nested on Peter
Pond swim quietly around the pond with their one
remaining cygnet (the other 7 were lost to various
causes) while the Coots scuttle about in their busy
fashion with the occasional skirmishes when they get
too close. Cormorants are also back on the centre raft
which will be their home for the winter period.
I have suggested to
the Slipper Millpond Association that they try to
discourage the Great Black-backed Gulls, possibly by
moving the centre raft, where they have nested for the
past two years, to the edge of the pond. Although
these are truly magnificent birds, their presence has
unbalanced the ecology of this small pond.
JULY
23 - 2013
I could only
see two of the three Great Black-backed Gull chicks on
Slipper Millpond, which suggests that they are now
becoming more mobile and that one has left the pond.
However, on the basis of last year's experience I
expect it to return. One of the chicks was on the
north raft near the bridge and while I was watching
one of its parents arrived and literally grabbed the
youngster by the scruff of the neck and flung it into
the water. Clearly, the intention was to get the young
bird to get moving. The effect on the chick was to
send it scuttling over to the wall next to the
Chequers Quay buildings where it was still cowering
when I left.
Cormorants are
back on the centre raft now that the Great
Black-backed Gulls have vacated it; there were 6 there
this morning.
SUNDAY
JULY 21 - 2013 - Cygnet
attacked
I had a phone
call last night from a resident of Slipper Road to say
that one of the two Mute Swan cygnets was badly
injured near Chequers Quay on Slipper Millpond. I also
had an e-mail from Brendan Gibb-Gray who lives in
Chequers Quay with the same news. He said local
residents had done what they could, but to no avail.
Both thought the cygnet had been attacked by one of
the Great Black-backed Gull chicks which had been in
this area during the day. This is no surprise as the
chicks are now large and fairly mobile birds and will
be developing their predatory instincts.
The
three Great Black-backed Gull chicks were near the
north raft on this photo with an adult
I shall be
recommending to the Slipper Millpond Association that
the centre raft where the gulls have nested for the
past two years is moved to the side of the pond so as
to deter them from nesting there next year. Although
they are magnificent birds their presence has
unbalanced the ecology of the pond to the extent that
no other birds have been able to nest successfully on
the pond, in particular Coots, Mallard and Mute Swans.
They are just too big for our small pond!
JULY
19 - 2013 - Great Black-backed Gull chicks
Two of the
Great Black-backed Gull chicks were on the centre raft
in company with 6 Cormorants. The other chick was on
the north raft begging for food from a visiting adult
as shown in this photo.
JULY
12 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull chicks being
fed
The three
Great Black-backed Gull chicks were still on the north
raft which is where I saw them yesterday evening.
While I was there one of the adults came in with some
food for the chicks. The chicks are now growing fast
and I saw one make a short flight of a metre or so
from the raft. It will not be long before they are
fully fledged, though I suspect they will remain on
the pond for a while. They certainly are very big
birds!
JULY
11 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull chicks
The 3 Great
Black-backed Gull chicks had migrated onto the north
raft which the two chicks also did last year. One of
the two adult Great Black-backed Gulls was on the
centre raft along with two Cormorants and the other
one was on the water. Here are the chicks basking in
the evening sunshine on the north raft.
JULY 5
- 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull family with the 3 chicks
The Mute Swan family
with 3 cygnets was at the far end of the pond near the
sluice gate. Don't go too close! The Great
Black-backed Gull family with the 3 chicks now growing
fast showed well on the centre raft along with one of
the parents.
JUNE
25 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull attacks Cormorant
Tom Bickerton
told me about a violent confrontation he witnessed
over the weekend between the Great Black-backed Gulls
on the centre raft and a visiting Cormorant. The
match, of course, was quite unequal and the Cormorant
was driven off with 'its tail between its
legs'.
Tom also saw one of
the gull chicks taking a Coot chick 'in one gulp'.
That must have been one of the Coot's second broods. I
wonder if they could get a cygnet down in one gulp?
Interestingly, Tom says with the arrival of large
shoals of cuttle fish in the harbour, there is
actually plenty of natural food for the gulls, though
the presence of a live Coot chick nearby is clearly
beyond their temptation. Tom thinks stopping feeding
of the Coots and swans would help, but there is no way
to control this.
JUNE 7
- 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls with their 3 chicks
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were both on the centre raft on
Slipper Millpond with their 3 chicks, one of which was
on the water.
THURSDAY
MAY 30 - 2013
Three
Great Black-backed Gull chicks
The three
Great Black-backed Gull chicks were clearly visible on
the centre raft this morning from Slipper Road. One of
the chicks looks less active and well developed than
the other two and tended to remain hidden in the
vegetation. This is the one on the left in the photo.
Last year the gulls lost one of their three chicks, so
this scenario could happen again.
While I was taking
photos from Slipper Road, one of the adult gulls
repeatedly 'buzzed' me, by flying over my head with
aggressive calling, 'ga, ga, ga, ga' . I recall, this
also happened last year. It was interesting that a
pair of Mallards that were on the raft throughout my
visit were tolerated by the adult gull.
SATURDAY
MAY 25 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull chicks
I went down to
Slipper Millpond with the scope at about 9am this
morning. From the western path I could clearly see
three Great Black-backed Gull chicks in the nest on
the centre raft. The photo clearly shows two of the
chicks beneath the gull on the left which I think is
the male from the relative size of its bill. The third
chick is tucked away deeper in the nest and is not
visible. I went down to have another look this
afternoon at about 4pm and again clearly saw the three
chicks. They also had three chicks last year, but they
lost one.
FRIDAY
MAY 24 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gull chicks
Sharon, whose
house in Slipper Road overlooks Slipper Millpond,
phoned to say that two Great Black-backed Gull chicks
were on the raft, hatching one day earlier than I
predicted. I popped down in the car with the scope,
but could only find one; the other must have been
snuggled under its parent's body; not surprising since
the weather was foul, cold wet and windy. But despite
the conditions I managed to get a digiscoped pic.
FRIDAY
APRIL 26 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls
nesting
The pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were both on the
centre raft on Slipper Millpond this morning, one bird
(female) was sitting on a nest while the other (male)
did some repairs to the nest.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 24 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls nesting
The gulls are
now sitting on a nest on the centre raft on Slipper
Millpond. This is the first time I have seen one
actually sitting on a nest of twigs. Interestingly, it
is almost precisely the same date that I first saw one
on the nest last year (Apr 27).
SUNDAY
APRIL 14 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls mating
Passing
Slipper Millpond Jean and I noted the presence of the
pair of Great Black-backed Gulls on the centre raft on
Slipper Millpond, one standing and the other sitting,
but not obviously on a nest. On our way back from
Thorney we happened to catch the gulls in the act of
mating. This is the first time I have seen this
dramatic event with these large birds.
Roger and Linda Mills
also saw the two gulls mating last Thursday (April 11)
on the north raft. So, they are clearly enjoying
themselves!
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 10 - 2013 -
Great
Black-backed Gulls nesting
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were both on the centre raft with
one apparently sitting on a nest of twigs. This is the
first confirmed date of nesting. This is earlier than
last year when my first sighting of one sitting was
27-Apr.
Here
is what I assume is the female sitting on a nest of
twigs
SUNDAY
MARCH 31 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls
return
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls were on the centre raft on
Slipper Millpond, both sitting, but not, so far as I
could see, on a nest. But, clearly they are back for a
second nesting season!
Pair
of Great Black-backed Gulls on the centre raft of
Slipper Millpond
SATURDAY
MARCH 2 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls
return
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls was back on the centre raft
on Slipper Millpond, looking as if they intended to
stay! There was no sign of the Lesser Black-backed
Gull that was on the pond yesterday. Two's company
three's a crowd!
MONDAY
FEBRUARY 25 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls are
back
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls was on the centre raft of
Slipper Millpond today, one was standing, the other
sitting on what could have been a nest but I could not
see it clearly.
FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 22 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls are back
The Great
Black-backed Gulls were back on the centre raft of
Slipper Millpond this morning. These two adults have
been regular visitors to Slipper Millpond over the
winter. I could not see any signs of a nest, but their
intention is clearly to nest on the raft again for the
second year running.
SUNDAY
JANUARY 27 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls visiting
The pair of
Great Black-backed Gulls were on their nesting raft in
the centre of the pond with three Cormorants. They
have been regular visitors this winter and are clearly
intending nesting there again this year.
SUNDAY
JANUARY 13 - 2013
Great
Black-backed Gulls on the pond
The two adults
have been regular on the pond this winter, no doubt
staking out their territory,
*
* GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS NESTING - 2012 *
*
. . . in chronological sequence . . .
A pair of Great
Black-backed Gulls nested, probably for the first time
ever in Emsworth, on the centre raft on Slipper
Millpond in 2012. It was a fascinating experience to
watch the progress of these magnificent birds, through
nest building, laying, sitting, hatching, tending to
the young and finally fledging. It did not all go
smoothly and they had some hard times as the weather
was awful. However, they came through it all and good
luck to them.
I checked the nest
site on a daily basis. Viewing the nest was very easy
from either side of the pond, though most of my photos
were taken from the east side. I kept everyone fully
informed of progress through the wildlife 'blog' and
via the fortnightly Brook Meadow Conservation Group
e-mail newsletter. I had to convince some local
sceptics that they were a benefit to the ecology of
the pond, but most people soon appreciated the fact
that a unique wildlife event was taking place in our
town.
Nest building started
on about April 22 and was finished by April 24 when
this first photo was taken. The female at the back of
the raft is sitting on the nest of twigs and dry
grasses while the male stands guard.
Three eggs were laid
around April 31st and for the next four weeks the two
birds took it in turns to sit on the nest , sometimes
in very wet and windy weather and other times in
blazing hot sunshine. There is no shelter on the pond!
But they stuck at it.
As shown in the
following photo the gulls were not averse to sharing
the raft with the occasional Mute Swan. The female is
on the nest behind the swan. The Coot persevered in
the nest box on the left of the raft and actually
produced at least one chick, though, not surprisingly,
it did not survive. I also noticed a Common Sandpiper
on the raft on one occasion. I hope it survived!
Gulls were usually
driven off as shown in the next photo. A great shot by
Tony.
Three chicks were
hatched about May 30th and here they are having a look
around their new home the following day.
The weather in June
was absolutely awful with rain and srong winds. That
was when Bridge Road was flooded for the second time.
The Great Black-backed Gull parents stuck to their
task, but one of the chicks succumbed to the cold and
wet conditions. However, the other two came through
the ordeal and looked healthy as shown in the
following photo.
The chicks were
developing quickly and by the time they were 4 weeks
old were already developing their juvenile plumage and
flexing their wings. But fledging would not be for
some while yet.
Meanwhile, Cormorants
started to gather on the raft and with these numbers
there was not much the gulls could do about it. In
fact I saw no aggression and the two species seemed to
tolerate each other.
By the middle of July
the juvenile gulls were making short flights from the
raft. They gradually became more and more adventurous.
Here is one of the juveniles showing off its new
skill.
The family finally
left the pond in early August some four months after
the nest was established. What a privilege it was to
watch them at such close quarters. Earlier in the
nesting I was frequently 'buzzed' by one of the adults
while watching from Slipper Road, with the gull mewing
and swooping farily low over my head. I felt it was
more a gesture than a serious threat and I was never
in any danger of being hit.
Two adults and the
youngsters frequently returned to the pond in
following months. However, they were more often seen
in the main harbour. Sometimes the juveniles migrated
onto the town millpond where they shared the food
being thrown to the gulls, ducks and swans.
Here is one of the
adults back on the centre raft with the Cormorants. I
often see one of the adults on the pond, sometimes
with a juvenile, but they do not stay. They seem to be
based in the main harbour.
Winter
visiting by Great Black-backed Gulls
The Great Black-backed
Gulls have remained regular visitors to Slipper
Millpond throughout the autumn and into winter. Today
(Nov 26) an adult Great Black-backed Gull was on the
centre raft along with 4 Cormorants. This is most
likely one of the paiur that nested here this summer.
They appear to have taken up residency, though without
threatening any of the other birds on the pond. I
wonder if they will nest again next year?