Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 9th 2010. Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 9th 2010. (1/1250th sec at f11. Click image for a larger version. . © David Hastings) Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Winter plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on October 7th 2018. Winter plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on October 7th 2018. (1/1000th sec at f16. Click image to see a larger version. . © David Hastings) Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Winter plumage. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on January 3rd 2018. Winter plumage. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on January 3rd 2018. (1/2500th sec at f13. Click image to see a larger version. . © David Hastings) Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon on August 19th 2016. Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon on August 19th 2016. (1/1600th sec at f10. Click image for a larger version. . © David Hastings) Description L: 35 - 39 cm; WS: 86 - 99 cm The Black-headed Gull has a chocolate-brown (not black) head, but only in the summer. For the rest of the year its head is almost white, with just a black smudge behind the eye. This species has two age groups (three in late summer). It can be found almost anywhere inland and on the coast. Many Black-headed Gulls never see the sea, as the combination of inland reservoirs and rubbish dumps exactly suits their needs. Black-headed Gulls are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting. It has amber status on the British list. Around 138000 pairs breed in Britain, but over two million birds spend the winter here. Sightings 17-Feb-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Feb-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | 28-Jan-2019 | : | Thatcham Marsh, Berks | | 20-Jan-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | 17-Jan-2019 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 09-Jan-2019 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 08-Jan-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 02-Jan-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| 31-Dec-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 20-Dec-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 16-Dec-2018 | : | Thrupp Lane, Radley, Oxon | (1) | 16-Dec-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 09-Dec-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 30-Nov-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1+) | 15-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | 14-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | 12-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | 31-Oct-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 20-Oct-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 16-Oct-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 10-Oct-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | 07-Oct-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 30-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 24-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 13-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 02-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 30-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (37+) | 28-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 25-Aug-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 19-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 16-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 28-Jun-2018 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (500+) | 27-Jun-2018 | : | Arnside, Cumbria | (50+) | 26-Jun-2018 | : | Arnside, Cumbria | (50+) | 26-Jun-2018 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (3) | 24-Jun-2018 | : | Wasdale, Cumbria | | 23-Jun-2018 | : | Ravenglass, Cumbria | | 09-Jun-2018 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | | 06-Jun-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 02-Jun-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 24-May-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 18-May-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 14-May-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1+) | 13-May-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 11-May-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-May-2018 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | | 01-May-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 28-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 25-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 19-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 15-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 10-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 05-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 01-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 29-Mar-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 26-Mar-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 25-Mar-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | 21-Mar-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | (2) | 06-Mar-2018 | : | Baulking, Oxon | | 04-Mar-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 24-Feb-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 15-Feb-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Feb-2018 | : | Thrupp Lane, Radley, Oxon | | 12-Feb-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 11-Feb-2018 | : | Bury Down, Berks | | 05-Feb-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 04-Feb-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 28-Jan-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 25-Jan-2018 | : | University Parks, Oxford, Oxon | | 18-Jan-2018 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 17-Jan-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 15-Jan-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 07-Jan-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 06-Jan-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 03-Jan-2018 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | |
| 26-Dec-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 18-Dec-2017 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 19-Nov-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 16-Nov-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 01-Nov-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 31-Oct-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | | 12-Sep-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 05-Sep-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 31-Aug-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 27-Aug-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 20-Aug-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 03-Aug-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | 01-Aug-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 29-Jul-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 17-Jun-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | 13-Apr-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 19-Mar-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 15-Mar-2017 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 12-Mar-2017 | : | Rushy Common, Oxon | | 02-Mar-2017 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 28-Jan-2017 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 22-Jan-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 21-Jan-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 14-Jan-2017 | : | Caulcott, Oxon | | 01-Jan-2017 | : | Abingdon (NE), Oxon | (2) |
| 03-Dec-2016 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 13-Nov-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 06-Nov-2016 | : | La Janda, Spain | | 05-Nov-2016 | : | Playa de Los Lances, Spain | | 22-Oct-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Oct-2016 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 02-Oct-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 04-Sep-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 28-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 19-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 13-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 02-Jun-2016 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | | 01-Jun-2016 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | | 30-Mar-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 13-Mar-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 06-Mar-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 27-Feb-2016 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | | 25-Feb-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 21-Feb-2016 | : | Rushy Common, Oxon | | 07-Feb-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 04-Feb-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 16-Jan-2016 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 08-Jan-2016 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 07-Jan-2016 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 04-Jan-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 02-Jan-2016 | : | Abingdon (NE), Oxon | (6) |
| 06-Dec-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 28-Nov-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Nov-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 01-Nov-2015 | : | Baulking, Oxon | | 18-Oct-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Oct-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 04-Oct-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 13-Sep-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Sep-2015 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 06-Sep-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 30-Aug-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 29-Jun-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 01-Jun-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | 10-May-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 09-May-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 03-May-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 01-May-2015 | : | Arne, Dorset | | 30-Apr-2015 | : | Arne, Dorset | | 28-Apr-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 27-Apr-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | 22-Apr-2015 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 19-Apr-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 12-Apr-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 09-Apr-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | 06-Apr-2015 | : | Stratfield Brake, Oxon | (1) | 05-Apr-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 25-Mar-2015 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | | 22-Mar-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (4+) | 08-Mar-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 04-Mar-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 21-Feb-2015 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 18-Feb-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 08-Feb-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 02-Feb-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 29-Jan-2015 | : | Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon | | 17-Jan-2015 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | 02-Jan-2015 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | |
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