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!

 

Gulls galore at Chouet

A couple of hours at Chouet landfill this morning was harder work than expected. The gulls were far more restless than usual, probably as a result of the stronger wind than for several weeks. It took a lot of effort to read c 60 of my colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls, although several gave excellent close range views.

Iceland Gull and lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls

A couple of hours at Chouet this morning was rewarded with another sighting of the 1st Winter Iceland Gull that has been seen on and off for several months now. This is probably the bird I almost colour ringed in the garden in February! With the weather warming Lesser Black-backed Gulls continue to arrive daily, and many of the local males are becoming the "beach masters" displaying and strutting their stuff at Chouet, while Herring Gulls are as usual slightly ahead with their breeding season. Copulating pairs have already been observed on the beaches. The only disappointment this morning  was not quite reading three more foreign metal-ringed LBBGs. Two were close...but "no cigars"!

 1st Winter Iceland Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gulls pouring back into Guernsey and a Norwegian Great Black-backed Gull

With c 100 LBBG colour ring readings on each of the past two mornings at Chouet, the return migration is probably now peaking. Another nice surprise this morning was another immature Norwegian Great Black-backed Gull - the third seen this month.

GBBG Black JH083

2011 Guernsey Gulls Annual Report Now Available

The 2011 Guernsey Gulls Annual Report
is now available - 


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