Gulls Rule The Roost and Reserve Looks To Winter

Gulls at Tophill Low An East Yorkshire nature reserve is inviting people to come and see one of the most spectacular gull roosts in the country for themselves as part of a one-off 'gull guide event'.

Every autumn, our nature reserve, near Driffield, boasts one of the largest gathering of gulls in the UK, with the site's two large reservoirs attracting close to 25,000 common gulls last October.

Reserve warden Richard Hampshire will lead the event on Sunday November 1, taking visitors to see the birds which have already gathered, highlighting the different species present as well as offering tips on how to tell them apart. Great black-backed gulls - the largest of the species found in the UK - black-headed gulls and even the odd Mediterranean gull are likely to be present.

There aren't many other locations where people can see such a huge number of gulls close up and it's fair to say most people leave here completely blown away after seeing such a spectacle - not to mention slightly deafened by the sheer volume of so many noisy birds in one area. The reservoirs act as a huge beacon for gulls which use them as a giant bird bath, cleaning their flight feathers and plumage after a day's scavenging. The water also offers protection against common predators, making the reservoirs an ideal place for the gulls to rest up for the night.

Richard Hampshire, Reserve Warden

The gull roost at Tophill Low marks the latest chapter in an event-filled year for the reserve, which has continued to attract its fair share of feathered visitors this year following significant investment in habitat creation and management.

Highlights have included a migratory collared pratincole which landed at the reserve to make one of its first UK appearances in 2009, whilst the site has also played host to other migratory species such as little ringed plover, spotted flycatcher and shelduck, and flourishing native species such as the woodcock, barn and tawny owl and tree sparrow.

And it doesn't end there with the next few months expected to bring in a host of migratory species to the reserve, including arctic smew, whilst huge numbers of starlings are also anticipated to descend on the reserve in the next few months, dazzling onlookers with their mesmerising aerial performances.

The event will begin at 4pm outside Tophill Low visitor centre, with the usual admission charges of £2.50 for adults and £1 for concessions applying to enter the reserve. No booking required.

Tophill Low Nature Reserve is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. Dogs are not allowed. For further information contact warden Richard Hampshire on 01377 270690.

If you'd like to know what else is going on at Tophill Low, click here.

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