Counting the Roost

Many times I've seen the West Bay gulls arrive to roost offshore and have never felt any inclination to count them. But this evening I had a reason to: the BTO Winter Gull Survey. It isn't something I've signed up for exactly, but Mike Morse has, and asked if I would cover West Bay for him. Happily, said I. The idea is to find yourself a nice vantage point at least two hours before dark, then count gulls from it. Mike couldn't manage the key date (January 21st) so we agreed on 30th instead.

My sorry carcass has been hosting a virus party this last week and I have been seriously below par, shuffling about and coughing like an old man. But it felt good to expose the blighters to a bit of sea air this afternoon; hopefully not a few died of shock.

Conditions were almost perfect. Very nice light, a gentle NW breeze and soft swell. Sunset was just before 5pm, so I figured it would be pretty dark half an hour after that and arrived at 3:15. The count? 1254 Herring Gulls, 171 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Med Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backs. The small gulls were almost all out there within the first 30 minutes, and the big ones dribbled in right up to sunset, with only 35 HGs after that. Most were counted individually. The only time I had to do some proper estimating was when a massive, twin-prop military chopper hammered past about six inches above the prom, prompting a mass exodus of 500+ HGs that had otherwise planned on a bit of casual loafing around the harbour before bedtime.

A local Peg. Also not keen on cliff-skimming helicopters.

Standing at the end of the West Bay prom with a scope on a tripod is a surefire way to pull in the curious, even on a mid-week January afternoon.

'What are you hoping to see?'

'Gulls. I'm hoping to see gulls.'

'Oh...right.' 

One bloke's initial question was: 'Are you expecting to see anything other than gulls?' Which was different, and hinted at birderishness. Sure enough, a member of the RSPB and pretty vexed that gulls were so hard, with all their tricky plumages and whatnot. My answer to his question had been 'No.'

I wasn't quite as brusque as that, and did explain that I was taking part in a BTO Winter Gull Survey and counting the birds coming in to roost. Yes indeed, counting them all. That didn't stop one couple trying to engage in a bit of chat, and I did feel slightly churlish going '71, 72, 73, 74...75' out loud, while staring at the sky and pointing at each bird.

It's much easier to be 'hail fellow well met' when engaged in the relaxed, unfocused, take-what-comes kind of birding I enjoy most. Unless I've just stumbled across a possible Caspian Gull of course.

Still, it was nice to do a bit of birding with a purpose behind it for a change, though I shan't be taking on any other worthy endeavours this year - too much else going on right now. The Winter Gull Project is set to run next winter as well, so hopefully I'll be able to contribute again in 12 months. Between then and now I can guarantee all my birding will be 100% selfish.

Sunset at West Bay. Gull roost well and truly counted.