Two more LBBGs back from Africa!

On what proved to be another stunning couple of hours' gull watching at Chouet this morning, the highlight was the return of two more Lesser Black-backed Gulls that had wintered in NW Africa - Black 9AA9 was seen in February in Layoune, Western Sahara, while Black 7A3 was seen by the same Norwegian organised gull ring reading expedition at Anza, Morocco. There was a marked increase in breeding season behaviour too with many pairs in courtship.

Carried away with the camera!

Another ideal tide this morning at Chouet resulted in just over 100 ring readings of my Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Perhaps it could have been even more, but it was just such a lovely spring morning, with the birds going about their business on the beach at such close range that I ended up spending far more time than usual with my camera. It is always very nice to have a photographic record of my colour ringed birds.  I would guesstimate that around 75% of the breeding adult LBBGs have now returned to Guernsey (including Sark, Herm and Jethou). I just don’t have the time at the moment to work the exact figures out – it is more important at this time of year to really focus on the fieldwork!