100+ Colour Ringed Gulls seen before Work!

OK – all were locally-ringed Herring Gulls (83 from my own project, 23 from Jamie Hooper’s earlier Guernsey-based scheme and two birds from Jersey – the late Bob Burrows’ project). The landfill was dominated by Herring Gulls this morning – with several thousand birds feeding and resting (as high tide had pushed them off the adjacent beaches).

It was noticeable how late the 40+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls were arriving this morning – and I was also surprised that there were no (local) colour ringed birds amongst them. Great Black-backed Gulls were also rather scarce with c 30 birds present – the lowest number for many months.

Perhaps the highlight for me was seeing Herring Gull White 2.ZZ2 at close range. This gull was ringed as an adult female at Chouet landfill on 05/06/09. Amazingly, I then saw it at Gatteville Lighthouse, Manche, France on 11/10/09 (the same day that local birder Laurent Legrand separately saw it there). It was then back at Chouet landfill, Guernsey on 14 and 27/11/09.

Herring Gull White 2.ZZ2 Chouet landfill - PKV

Herring Gull White 5.JJ1 Chouet landfill - PKV