A very strong beak
I was enjoying a game of bowls with my Dad on Sunday when news of a first summer Laughing Gull broke at Belvide. Thankfully, I'd seen one up on Merseyside a few years ago so no need to rush. The Squire announced he would be going up on Monday if there was positive news released the following day. We both got our shifts done for the day before we headed up the M5/M6 (traffic free) to the brilliant Belvide Reserve managed by West Midland Bird Club.
An open gate & friendly faces greeted us on arrival and told us where to head. The reserve was looking as good as ever, it has everything a birder would need. I wish the pits would fall under this quality of management, it would give WMBC club members some where to visit locally and would no doubt bring the club more members.
The bird was very easy to find and just a short walk from the car park. The bird seemed to be always between the Gazebo Hide & the small bay, occasionly landing on the shore line.
This winter northern American gull was a first record for Staffordshire which seemed to attract the county listers aswell as the birders from further afield. For Squire it was his 5th lifer of June! It was my 200th species of year also.
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