HEMEL MEGA: MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Corner Hall

1st Winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL, on roof of Travis Perkins, Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, 11/02/2013

So after a long, long wait & years of carefully checking through flocks of Black-headed Gulls, I can finally add MEDITERRANEAN GULL it to my Hemel Life List! Except this one was a whole lot less difficult to find than I could have imagined. Although on this cold, snowy day the last thing I though of seeing at work today was one of our friends from the sunny Med, as I glanced out of the window at 9.40, there it was, a 1st Winter bird stood on the roof of Travis Perkins, straight across from my office in Corner Hall!

It was associating with some Black-headed Gulls & the 2nd Winter HERRING GULL that has decided to Winter in town this Winter & was a very nervous bird, jumping or ducking at the slightest sound of doors closing or machinery moving. At 9.45 it took flight with the other gulls, flew over the canal, then E towards Lawn Lane & out of sight, but then returned half an hour later at about 10.15. Whilst in flight I noticed that it had a silver metal ring on its right leg but it remained unreadable even at close(ish) range, particularly as when the bird was stood still or walking about on the rooftops it was obscured by the snow that had settled overnight. Making it even more difficult to read was the fact visibility was reduced due snow falling at the time, which also made taking photos quite difficult. A few minutes later the Med flew again, this time flying in wide circles heading low over Bennetts End until I could no longer see the bird between the rooftops & trees. Despite keeping one eye out of the window for the rest of the day I did not see it return, but I will make sure to check again at the same time tomorrow.

The areas where the Med Gull stood & flew around are best viewed from the car park at B&Q, where you can also get a greasy breakfast bap & weak cup of tea from the burger van to warm you up whilst waiting for it in the cold. If you do decide to see if the bird returns you can copy & past the following co-ordinates into Google Maps to get an idea of the general area where it stood... 51.742903,-0.471935

1st Winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL, Corner Hall offices, Hemel Hempstead, 11/02/2013 - metal ring visible on right leg.

1st Winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL, on roof of Travis Perkins, Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, 11/02/2013

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