Alderney Colour Ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull seen again in The Netherlands

I received very exciting news today from Herman Bouman of Lesser Black-backed Gull Black 0.S7 being seen in Barneveld, Gelderland, The Netherlands on 28 June 2011. This bird was ringed as a chick on Burhou, Alderney on 10 July 2009, and was seen on 23 September 2010 at Westkepelle, Zeeland, The Netherlands by Theo Muusse. Over the intervening winter (14/11/10) it was seen at Pinto Landfill, Madrid, Spain by Miguel Juan. This is my only Lesser Black-backed Gull chick to date to be reported from The Netherlands, and it is very interesting that this bird appears to be faithful to The Netherlands in summer - raising the possibility that it will recruit into one of the Dutch colonies when it reaches breeding age in 2013 or 2014. I only hope the bird continues to survive, be seen and be reported so that we may be able to confirm this suspicion!

LBBG Black 0.S7 Westkapelle, The Netherlands - 23/09/10 (c) Theo Muusse

LBBG Black 0.S7 Barneveld, Gelderland, The Netherlands 28/06/11 - (c) Herman Bouman