Glaucous Gull at Chouet landfill - 19 February - Mark Lawlor
Gulls at Chouet landfill Beach - 19 February - Mark Lawlor
Friday, February 19, 2010
Glaucous Gull Still at Chouet Landfill
Guernsey's Bird Recorder - Mark Lawlor - reports that the 1st Winter Glaucous Gull is still at Chouet landfill today. Mark also sent me a very nice photo of gulls resting on Chouet landfill Beach against a stormy sky.
Significant Arrival of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Guernsey - Including White 7S6 Home One Day Earlier Than in 2009!
Within the past 24 hours there has been a significant arrival of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Guernsey, with numbers at Chouet landfill doubling to 110+ birds. Nine of my colour ringed LBBGs were present, along with a metal only bird from Guernsey. Half of these birds were new arrivals:-
White 4.T3 ringed as an adult male on 04/06/09 at Chouet landfill (no previous sightings history);
White 2.T6 also ringed as an adult male at Chouet landfill on 04/06/09 – but seen twice in Guernsey – 13/07/09 and 16/08/09 before disappearing for (unknown) wintering grounds;
White 3.T0 ringed as an adult on 04/06/09 at Chouet landfill, and recorded six times in Guernsey in July 2009 (1st- 28th) before disappearing for (unknown) wintering grounds;
White 7S6 ringed as an adult female in our garden at Ty Coed, Vale Marais on 08/06/08 – then seen at Chouet Landfill Beach, Guernsey on 11/08/08 (Mark Lawlor) before turning up on 21/08/08 at Pantin Beach, A Coruna, Spain (Antonio Gutierrez). It was then seen at Matosinhos, Portugal on 28/11/08 (Peter Rock). Last year I recorded it back in Guernsey on 20 February 2009. I saw this gull 23 times in the north of Guernsey in the spring/summer of 2009 over the period 20/02/09 – 01/08/09. It then repeated its sightings history of the previous autumn – being seen once again by Antonio at Esmelle Beach, A Coruna, Spain on 24/08/09, before moving to Matosinhos, Portugal where it was recorded on 12 and 28 October 2009 (Malcolm Millais).
White 5.Z7 ringed as a chick on one of the Sark colonies on 08/07/2008 – then seen on 12/11/08 at Boca do Rio, Porto do Son, Spain (Juan Cabeza) and Matosinhos, Portugal on 27/11/08 (Peter Rock). This is the first LBBG I’ve colour-ringed as a chick to be seen back in the islands. It looked to be in great shape…in handsome plumage and “bossing” a few Herring Gulls around as it helped itself to tasty morsels from the landfill!
With so many Lesser Black-backed Gulls to watch today, the Herring Gulls received less attention than usual. A total of 50 colour ringed birds (all local) was recorded, along with a single local Great Black-backed Gull. It is still of interest that several of these Herring Gull records each day are of birds which have not been seen all winter. It seems reasonable (given the frequency of my visits to the landfill throughout the autumn/winter of 2009/10) that most of these birds are returning from wintering outside Guernsey.
White 4.T3 ringed as an adult male on 04/06/09 at Chouet landfill (no previous sightings history);
White 2.T6 also ringed as an adult male at Chouet landfill on 04/06/09 – but seen twice in Guernsey – 13/07/09 and 16/08/09 before disappearing for (unknown) wintering grounds;
LBBG White 3.T0 at Chouet landfill Beach, Guernsey 28 July 2009 - PKV
White 7S6 ringed as an adult female in our garden at Ty Coed, Vale Marais on 08/06/08 – then seen at Chouet Landfill Beach, Guernsey on 11/08/08 (Mark Lawlor) before turning up on 21/08/08 at Pantin Beach, A Coruna, Spain (Antonio Gutierrez). It was then seen at Matosinhos, Portugal on 28/11/08 (Peter Rock). Last year I recorded it back in Guernsey on 20 February 2009. I saw this gull 23 times in the north of Guernsey in the spring/summer of 2009 over the period 20/02/09 – 01/08/09. It then repeated its sightings history of the previous autumn – being seen once again by Antonio at Esmelle Beach, A Coruna, Spain on 24/08/09, before moving to Matosinhos, Portugal where it was recorded on 12 and 28 October 2009 (Malcolm Millais).
LBBG White 7S6 at Pantin, A Coruna, Spain - 21/08/08 - Antonio Gutierrez
White 5.Z7 ringed as a chick on one of the Sark colonies on 08/07/2008 – then seen on 12/11/08 at Boca do Rio, Porto do Son, Spain (Juan Cabeza) and Matosinhos, Portugal on 27/11/08 (Peter Rock). This is the first LBBG I’ve colour-ringed as a chick to be seen back in the islands. It looked to be in great shape…in handsome plumage and “bossing” a few Herring Gulls around as it helped itself to tasty morsels from the landfill!
LBBGs and Herring Gulls at Chouet landfill - 19 February 2010 - PKV
With so many Lesser Black-backed Gulls to watch today, the Herring Gulls received less attention than usual. A total of 50 colour ringed birds (all local) was recorded, along with a single local Great Black-backed Gull. It is still of interest that several of these Herring Gull records each day are of birds which have not been seen all winter. It seems reasonable (given the frequency of my visits to the landfill throughout the autumn/winter of 2009/10) that most of these birds are returning from wintering outside Guernsey.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Herring Gull Returns From Charente-Maritime, France
I have just discovered that Herring Gull White 4.FF8, which was seen at Chouet landfill on 16 February 2010 had returned to Guernsey from Charente-Maritime, France. In fact this is the gull that was known to have travelled the furthest distance south in the autumn of 2009. It was recorded on 16 August 2009 at Dehus D’Oleron by Arnoud Spong – some 410 km distant. It had originally been ringed as an adult male at Chouet landfill, Guernsey on 5th June 2009.
Another Lesser Black-backed Gull Home and a new Great Black-backed Gull from France
A very enjoyable hour at Chouet landfill before work resulted in 73 ring reads on Herring Gulls (all local), three Great Black-backed Gulls (two local and Green E.87 - a known 1st winter from Chausey Islands, France (Seb Provost)), and top of the bill - three locally ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls. White 0.Z6 and White 0.U2 had already been seen back in Guernsey this year, but metal ring Jersey E4405 was recorded for the first time. This Lesser Black-backed Gull had been ringed as a chick on one of the Sark colonies on 07 July 2001 (Jamie Hooper). I saw it in 2009 at Chouet landfill Beach on 9th April and 19th May.
LBBG Jersey E 4405 - Chouet landfill - 18/02/10 - PKV
Herring Gull White 1.UU7 Chouet landfill 18/02/10 - PKV
Herring Gull White 3.NN1 Chouet landfill 18/02/10 - PKV
Adult LBBG Chouet landfill 18/02/10 - PKV
A very quick look at Vazon Beach on Guernsey's west coast at lunch time resulted in the sighting of Great Black-backed Gull Blue 60C - a 3rd Winter bird from Gilles Le Guillou's project based at Seine-Maritime, France.
GBBG Blue 60C Vazon Bay 18 February 2010 - PKV
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lesser Black-backed Gull White 3.V2 Comes Home
The highlight of a 50 minute trip to Chouet Landfill before work this morning was the return of Lesser Black-backed Gull White 3.V2. This was the last LBBG that Catherine and I ringed in our garden (Ty Coed, Vale Marais) in July 09 (on 5th). It is an adult female. I recorded it four times between 25 July and 05 August on the north coast of Guernsey. It then disappeared for (unknown) wintering grounds.
While numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still around 55 birds today, they were much more active than in the past few days, making observation easier. White 0.Z6 (another adult female ringed in our garden on 5th July 2008 – (and which returned on 8th February)) was also present today.
High tide once again pushed many Herring Gulls off the beaches, resulting in a reasonable number of colour ring reads at the landfill (39).
LBBG White 3.V2 Ty Coed, Guernsey 05 July 2009 - P K Veron
LBBG White 3.V2 at Chouet landfill Beach - 25 July 2009 - P K Veron
While numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still around 55 birds today, they were much more active than in the past few days, making observation easier. White 0.Z6 (another adult female ringed in our garden on 5th July 2008 – (and which returned on 8th February)) was also present today.
LBBGs at Chouet landfill 17 February 2009 - White 3.V2 in foreground - P K Veron
High tide once again pushed many Herring Gulls off the beaches, resulting in a reasonable number of colour ring reads at the landfill (39).
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Glaucous Gull Still at Chouet Landfill & First Returning Lesser Black-backed Gull in Alderney on 12th February
The 1st Winter Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus was still at Chouet landfill this morning. There was another very fine showing of Herring Gulls at the landfill with several thousand gulls - including 105 locally colour ringed Herring Gulls (80 from my project and 25 from Jamie Hooper's earlier study). There were more Great Black-backed Gulls today with circa 75 birds - including two known gulls from the Chausey Islands, Manche, France - (Seb Provost) Green B.09 and Green E.87.
There was again little evidence of passage amongst the 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The Guernsey colour-ringed bird (White 9.Z5) and metal ringed gull (E 4421) had both been back in Guernsey since 1st and 5th February 2010 respectively. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from David Sowter's projects in the north of England was briefly glimpsed, but the code could not be read before the bird flew...and despite much effort I could not relocate it (sorry David!).
There was again little evidence of passage amongst the 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The Guernsey colour-ringed bird (White 9.Z5) and metal ringed gull (E 4421) had both been back in Guernsey since 1st and 5th February 2010 respectively. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from David Sowter's projects in the north of England was briefly glimpsed, but the code could not be read before the bird flew...and despite much effort I could not relocate it (sorry David!).
Herring Gull White 2.TT3 at Chouet landfill Feb 10 - PKV
Exciting and valuable news in from Alderney today - courtesy of Alastair Riley - with the first sighting of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on the beach at Crabby on Friday 12th February. As expected this is a little later than the first returning gulls in Guernsey. I suspect (and hope to be able to prove this year) that the truly "wild" colonies of Lesser Black-backed Gulls around Alderney actually breed later than those around Guernsey, Herm and Sark. I believe this to be the case and it is likely to result from these gulls feeding at the landfill site at Chouet, rather than relying entirely upon "natural" food (like the Alderney birds).
Monday, February 15, 2010
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.
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
News of Three Guernsey Gulls in Spain
Over the weekend further news came in on three “Guernsey” Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Spain. Firstly Salva Garcia informed me that White 2.U7 was still at Malaga Port. This gull was ringed as an adult female on 06/06/09 at Chouet landfill, Guernsey. It was then seen beside its nest on Lihou Island, Guernsey on 08/07/09 (Jamie Hooper). It has been seen at Malaga (and Torremelinos) five times between 22/11/09 and 13/02/10 (Salva Garcia, Dave Murray, Gabriel Martín and Hannu Koskinen).
Also on 13 February Gabriel Martín saw two of my Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Alcazar de San Juan Landfill, Cuidad Real, Spain. Interestingly both of these gulls had been seen earlier in the winter by members of the Madrid Gull Team. White 0.V8 was originally ringed as a chick on Burhou, Alderney on 19/07/03 (Jamie Hooper et al), but was then caught as a breeding adult on the islet on 13/06/09 by Catherine and me (when we added the colour ring). It was then seen on 27/12/09 and 12/01/10 at Pinto landfill south of Madrid.
Black 1.K8 was ringed as a chick on Burhou, Alderney on 10/07/09. It was recorded at Colmenar Viejo landfill (north of Madrid) and Pinto Landfill (south of Madrid) over the period 15/11/09 – 06/01/10.
LBBG White 2.U7 Chouet landfill Beach 28/07/09 - PKV
Also on 13 February Gabriel Martín saw two of my Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Alcazar de San Juan Landfill, Cuidad Real, Spain. Interestingly both of these gulls had been seen earlier in the winter by members of the Madrid Gull Team. White 0.V8 was originally ringed as a chick on Burhou, Alderney on 19/07/03 (Jamie Hooper et al), but was then caught as a breeding adult on the islet on 13/06/09 by Catherine and me (when we added the colour ring). It was then seen on 27/12/09 and 12/01/10 at Pinto landfill south of Madrid.
LBBG White 0.V8 Burhou, Alderney 13 June 2009 - P K Veron
LBBG White 0.V8 Pinto Landfill, Spain Dec 09 - Javier Marchamalo
LBBG White 0.V8 Alcazar de San Juan landfill, Spain - Gabriel Martín
LBBG Black 1.K8 Burhou, Alderney - 10 July 2009 - Catherine Veron
LBBG Black 1.K8 Colmenar Viejo landfill, Spain - 15/11/09 - Delfín González
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Glaucous Gull at Chouet landfill
Soon after dawn I was at Chouet Landfill and one of the first gulls in the telescope was a 1st Winter Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) - my first in what has been a poor winter (so far) for "white-winged" gulls in Guernsey.
1st winter Glaucous Gull - Chouet landfill - 13 February - P K Veron
With continued cold weather (4 degrees C) and strong north-north-east winds giving a significant wind chill factor, I am not surprised that there appears to be a halt to Channel Islands nesting Lesser Black-backed Gulls returning to the islands. There were still circa 50 LBBGs at Chouet landfill this morning, but all three colour-ringed birds had returned some days or weeks ago (White 6.Z8, White 0.Z6 and White 9.Z5).
LBBG White 6.Z8 Chouet landfill - 13 February 2010 - P K Veron
LBBG White 9.Z5 13 February 2010 - Chouet landfill - PKV
LBBG White 0.Z6 Chouet landfill - 13 February 2010 - PKV
It was also possible to read a British metal-ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull - an adult - London FA54701. This gull is already known to me for I had seen it on 9th April 2009 on Chouet landfill Beach, Guernsey when it had been seen copulating with an unringed gull. This LBBG had been ringed as a 2nd Winter at a landfill near Hempsted, Gloucester, England on 31 January 1994. I strongly suspect that this gull nests in the Channel Islands, but was caught and ringed when wintering in the UK.
LBBG London FA54701 Chouet Landfill 13 February 2010 PKV
44 colour-ringed Herring Gulls were recorded - including Green ACY (adult) from Les Ecrehous, Jersey (Ian Buxton) and Pale Blue B263 (1st winter) (from Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France - Christine Blaize). This gull had first been seen in Guernsey at Pembroke bay on 06/02/10.
Herring Gull Green ACY Chouet landfill 13 February 2009 - PKV
Four French-ringed Great Black-backed Gulls were recorded - all birds which had been seen earlier in the month - Green B.09, Green B.36 and Green E.95 (Chausey Islands - Seb Provost) and Blue 47D (Le Havre, Seine-Maritime - Gilles Le Guillou).
Thursday, February 11, 2010
News From France
It is interesting how different the migration strategies of Guernsey's Lesser Black-backed Gulls appear to be. While many 1st winter birds have been reported from Iberia, and a few in Morocco - others have travelled less far in their first winters. For example White 9.V4, which was ringed as a chick on Burhou in July 2009, has spent the winter around the landfills in north-west France. It was reported three times at Champteusse-sur-Baconne Landfill, Maine-et-Loire from 5th November to 23rd December...and today it was reported by Fabrice Rayer at Noyant, Soulaire-et-Bourg, Maine-et-Loire, France.
LBBG White 9.V4 on Burhou, Alderney - 10 July 2009 - Catherine Veron
LBBG White 9.V4 at Champteusse-sur-Bacon, France - 5th November 2009 - Alain Fossé
Fabrice also saw Lesser Black-backed Gull White 0.T5 at the same site in Maine-et-Loire today. This gull was ringed as an adult female in our garden in Guernsey on 24/05/09. I recorded it four times in Guernsey in August, before it was seen on 04 December 2009 at La Séguinière, Maine-et-Loire, France (Alain Fossé)
Fun Feeding Gulls in Guernsey and News from Spain
On a very windy and cold day here in Guernsey the gulls were extremely flighty at Chouet landfill, making it very difficult to record colour rings. One French Great Black-backed Gull was observed - Green B.09 - the 30th sighting in Guernsey since 29 January 2009 of this bird ringed in the Chausey Islands as a chick in June 2008 (Seb Provost).
A 1st winter Common Gull at Bellegreve bay (on the island's east coast) was my first of the year in Guernsey.
A 1st winter Common Gull at Bellegreve bay (on the island's east coast) was my first of the year in Guernsey.
1st Winter Common Gull - Bellegreve Bay - PKV
At lunchtime Catherine and I shared our sandwiches with a few Herring Gulls at La Vallette, on the southern edge of St Peter Port.
Feeding Herring Gulls - Catherine Veron
Herring Gull - the island of Sark in the background - Catherine Veron
Two reports in today of Lesser Black-backed Gulls ringed as chicks on Burhou, Alderney on 10 July 2009. Black 0.R0 was seen by Gabriel Martín at Alcazar de San Juan Landfill, Cuidad Real, Spain on 06/02/10. This gull had been seen on autumn migration at Esmelle Beach,, A Coruna, Spain on 31/08/09 and 01/09/09 by Paco Veiga and Antonio Gutierrez.
LBBG Black 0.R0 Esmelle Beach, Spain on 01/09/09- Antonio Gutierrez
Black 0.R3 was seen at Agrelo Beach, Bueu, Pontevedra, Spain on 10/02/10 (Antonio Fernández Cordeiro).
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lesser Black-backed Gull in France
A nice report in today from Alain Fossé of Lesser Black-backed Gull Black 0.C7, which was ringed as a chick on Burhou, Alderney on 10 July 2009, and seen at Saint Cyr-sur-Loire, France on 08/01/10 (Benjamin Griard) before being seen on 28/01/10 at les Marottières, Soulaire-et-Bourg, Maine-et-Loire, France (Fabrice Rayer).
LBBG Black 0.C7 Burhou, Alderney 10 July 2009 - Catherine Veron
A Very Enjoyable Morning's Gulling on Guernsey's Coasts
Catherine and I took a day off work today, and enjoyed a full morning's gull watching on the north and west coasts of Guernsey. It is still very chilly today with a biting cold easterly wind. However...a few more Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Chouet landfill and its adjacent Beach (55+). This included another returning bird - White 0.U2 (ringed as an adult female on 06/06/09 at Chouet landfill - and observed five times in Guernsey from 18 July to 15 August before disappearing for (unknown) wintering grounds).
There were a further 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls down the west coast - including White 3.T8 (an adult ringed on 04/06/09 at Chouet landfill - seen four times in Guernsey from 18 July to 13 August - then back in Guernsey from (unknown) wintering grounds on 15 January 2010).
Five French-ringed Great Black-backed Gulls were seen at Chouet landfill - Blue 47D - a very regular bird from Gilles Le Guillou's project based in Seine-Maritime, France, and four from Chausey islands, Manche, France (Seb Provost). Three of these four birds are well known - all having been seen previously at Chouet, but Green E.95 was the first record of this gull in Guernsey.
There were a further 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls down the west coast - including White 3.T8 (an adult ringed on 04/06/09 at Chouet landfill - seen four times in Guernsey from 18 July to 13 August - then back in Guernsey from (unknown) wintering grounds on 15 January 2010).
Five French-ringed Great Black-backed Gulls were seen at Chouet landfill - Blue 47D - a very regular bird from Gilles Le Guillou's project based in Seine-Maritime, France, and four from Chausey islands, Manche, France (Seb Provost). Three of these four birds are well known - all having been seen previously at Chouet, but Green E.95 was the first record of this gull in Guernsey.
GBBG Green E.95 at Chouet Landfill - PKV
Monday, February 8, 2010
Lesser Black-backed Gull – White 8.Z0 – Home for the 2nd Time!
On yet another very grey and cold morning in Guernsey it was a pleasant surprise to once again welcome home Lesser Black-backed Gull White 8.Z0. On the blog posting on 25 January I joyously announced the arrival back in Guernsey of this Sark nesting adult female…and to make it even more thrilling this gull had been recorded in southern Portugal only 11 days earlier (Stef Waasdorp). However, 8.Z0 then surprised me by flying south west again and turning up at Guidel-plages, Morbihan, France on 4th February (Benjamin Griard and Steph Guerin).
Also back today, amongst the 35+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen at Chouet landfill and its adjacent beach was White 0.Z6. This adult female had been ringed in our garden at Ty Coed, Vale Marais, Guernsey on 05/07/08, and I saw it eight times in 2009 from 22 March to 09 August, but its wintering grounds both in 2008/09 and 2009/10 remain unknown.
A total of 69 cr Herring Gulls was recorded – all Guernsey birds – except Yellow 3B1 and Green ACY from Jersey. The former had been ringed as a chick on mainland Jersey in June 1999 (by the late Bob Burrows) and been recorded in several subsequent winters at Noirmoitier island, Vendee, France. Green ACY was ringed as a chick by Ian Buxton on Les Ecrehous Reef off the east coast of Jersey in the summer 2000/01 and been seen in Guernsey 10 times during 2009. This was its first sighting in 2010.
Two well-known French ringed Great Black-backed Gulls were recorded – Green E.30 and Green E87 – both birds ringed by Seb Provost on the Chausey Islands in the summer of 2009.
LBBG White 8.Z0 at Chouet landfill Beach 25 January 2009 - PKV
LBBG White 8.Z0 at Guidel Plage, Morbihan, France - 04 February 2010 - Seph Guerin
LBBG White 8.Z0 back at Chouet landfill - 08 February 2010 - PKV
LBBG White 0.Z6 at Chouet landfill Beach 09/08/09 - PKV
A total of 69 cr Herring Gulls was recorded – all Guernsey birds – except Yellow 3B1 and Green ACY from Jersey. The former had been ringed as a chick on mainland Jersey in June 1999 (by the late Bob Burrows) and been recorded in several subsequent winters at Noirmoitier island, Vendee, France. Green ACY was ringed as a chick by Ian Buxton on Les Ecrehous Reef off the east coast of Jersey in the summer 2000/01 and been seen in Guernsey 10 times during 2009. This was its first sighting in 2010.
Two well-known French ringed Great Black-backed Gulls were recorded – Green E.30 and Green E87 – both birds ringed by Seb Provost on the Chausey Islands in the summer of 2009.
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