Another LBBG Back from Africa!

What a stunning start to the day at Chouet - with another of my colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls back from Western Sahara - Black 2.V5! The tide was just about perfect too for close encounters on the little beach. Interestingly Black 2.V5 return was noted only two days later than in 2011.

Close Encounters at Chouet

Another truly wonderful few hours at Chouet Landfill and Beach this morning resulted in another 100 colour ring reads of my Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Most of these gulls had already been seen in Guernsey this spring, but as is happening daily there was also a very nice number of new birds back for the breeding season. It was rather special to see Blue 956 and White 1.U1 paired again (as in 2011). I think Blue 956 winters mainly in southern England, whereas White 1.U1 is known to have wintered in Spain...but they were together again on the beach this morning! 

Lesser Black-backed Gulls back from Canary Islands and Western Sahara

It was a very special morning today as back on Chouet Landfill Beach were Lesser Black-backed Gulls which were known to have wintered in Gran Canaria (Black 9K5) and Western Sahara (Black 7T0). Although the former spent its time resting on the beach, after its long flight home...the latter was strutting his stuff bossing the other gulls around on the beach. Seeing these gulls back in Guernsey, when we know they were wintering so far away is truly awe-inspiring...and one of the most thrilling rewards of my gull colour ringing projects - all in all it was a really marvellous morning!