West Midland Bird Club

The gradual penetration of Gulls of various species into the Midlands is one of the most interesting ornithological developments of recent years. For some years now hundreds, even thousands, of Gulls, of which the great majority are Black-headed, have roosted each winter at Bellfields reservoir in mid-Staffordshire. but as far as I am aware there is no certainty as to the year when this roost was founded.

Bartley reservoir, in Warwickshire, which has now become a Gull roost, was only filled with water in 1931. When Mr. W. E. Kenrick wrote a report of its bird visitors tip to 1934, he recorded that "Gulls pass over on migration and sometimes stop for a short time." In 1935 he wrote "Gulls usually appear over the reservoir without warning and pass on without stopping... the most common are Black-headed Gulls." These remarks, as far as is known, applied till the winter of 1941-2, although the reservoir has been under only infrequent observation since the beginning of the War.

In early January 1942, Gulls, chiefly Black-headed, were abnormally abundant in South Birmingham. On January 17th nearly fifty gulls were on the water or the ice, including two or three Herring gulls; at midday on February 26th there were about a hundred and perhaps fifteen Common gulls, I was able to visit the reservoir at sunset on March 10th and 1lth. On the former day I estimated the total number of Black-headed gulls at about five hundred. On the 12th the numbers were about the same but included fifty Common and two adult Herring gulls.

This winter (1943-4) I visited the reservoir on October 30th, when I saw Black-headed and Lesser Black-headed gulls passing over, but it was clear that none were coming in to roost. By the end of the year however, the roost was again being used, the number being about the same as two years ago. Herring Gulls, chiefly adult, numbered forty or more on January 17th 1944. This is of particular interest for this gull has been a very scarce species in the Birmingham district hitherto. In 1938 I could record only four certain occurrences at Bittell reservoir, which is two miles south of Bartley, after twenty years frequent observation. Those I saw coming to roost at Bartley this winter all arrived from north or north east, as did the majority of Black-headed gulls.

Bartley is twenty miles S.S.E. from Bellfields, and it seems reasonable to assume that the new roost is a break-away from there. My impression is that the gulls feed during the day almost entirely on refuse tips, canals and pools in the Black country, but their diurnal wanderings need to be further investigated. Mr. W. E. Groves has seen numbers flying S.W. past St. Augustines Church, Edgbaston, at dusk, evidently going to the Bartley roost, but he has no record of a flight in the opposite direction in the morning.

In 1941-2, small numbers were to be seen daily about Selly Oak, and rows of gulls were noted perched on warehouse roofs in East Birmingham just as they do in London. This year I have seen none in either place.

(Dr. J. H. Sheldon reports that the number of Gulls roosting at Bellfields during the winter of 1943-4 was much reduced. We shall be glad to receive information about any gulls seen feeding upon refuse tips, canals, farmland etc., in the Birmingham area, with details of number of each species, time of day and place where seen. Ed.