HAPPY CHRISTMAS

 

After one of the most successful and enjoyable years of gull research in 2014, I should like, on behalf of GuernseyGulls, to thank everyone who has contributed to this success over the past 12 months, and to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and an enjoyable New Year.





Great Cormorant in Spain

We've just received our second report of one of our colour-ringed Great Cormorants in Spain. Unlike the first report (where the bird was shot) this is a field sighting! Black FS was ringed in June this year in the tiny colony on Lihou, Guernsey. It was seen and photographed at A Ramallosa Beach, Baiona, Pontevedra by Antonio Martinez Pernas. If this bird survives its immaturity it will be fascinating to see if it returns to its natal colony to breed in a few years' time.

Black FS as a small chick - Lihou June 2014 (c) PKV

Cormorant Black FS at Pontevedra, Spain (c) Antonio Martinez Pernas



Two More LBBGs to Africa and another Herring Gull in Spain

Amongst the steady flow of interesting reports of our colour ringed gulls I recently received new of another two LBBGs in Morocco, and a Herring Gull that regularly winters in Northern Spain. On consecutive days Ruth Gorria reported LBBG Black 2AJ6 from Sidi-Moussa, Oualidia and B9CA8 from El Jadida, Morocco. Both birds had been ringed as adults at Chouet landfill (the first in May 2011 and the second in May 2013). Although B2JA6 has been observed in Guernsey on a number of occasions since, Ruth’s observation in Morocco was the first report of this bird outside the Channel islands. The observation of B9CA8 in Morocco is the first report of this bird since ringing.

These observations are of considerable interest because although the majority of Channel Islands’ nesting LBBGs winter in Iberia, a minority travels further into Africa. I have seen a number of our birds in December at Anza, near Agadir, but the coastal areas of northern Morocco (where I believe CI birds are most likely to be) receive very little attention from gull watchers. It would be really useful to mount an expedition to this area to see if this theory is supported by further evidence.

Herring Gull White 7CJ5 (ringed as an adult female in May 2011 at Chouet Landfill) breeds in the Channel Islands, but has now been reported from the coasts of Asturias, Spain in each of the last three winters. It has been observed in Guernsey every summer since ringing!

LBBG B2AJ6 at Chouet Landfill Aug 2012 (c) PKV

Herring Gull W7CJ5 at Banugues, Asturias, Spain - 14 January 2014 (c) José Antonio Canal



 

100,000 not out...and more Exciting LBBG Reports

I noticed last night that the page counter for the GuernseyGulls blog had flipped past the 100,000 mark, which made me smile. It's wonderful to think there's been that much interest in the gulls of these small, but ornithologically important, Channel Islands! Many thanks to all of you who support the endeavours to bring the fascinating lives of our gulls to others!

It is perhaps fitting that to celebrate this landmark I can report on two more valuable reports of our colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Black 9K5 was ringed at Chouet Landfill in May 2011 as an adult male. Its observation on 1st December 2014 by Paco del Campo at Bocabarranco on Gran Canaria is the fourth recorded round trip between Guernsey and the Canary Islands in as many years! This is a straight line return journey each winter off more than 5,250 km!

On the same day LBBG Black 4AL4 was again spotted by Enrique Luque in Castellon on the NE Spanish Mediterranean coastline. This is the third known consecutive winter that this gull has wintered in this area. While not such a long migration as that of B9AK5, NE Spain is not a common wintering area for Channel Islands' nesting LBBGs, which favour the west and centre of Iberia.

LBBG Black 9K5 at Chouet Landfill (c) PKV

LBBG Black 9K5 at Bocabarranco, Gran Canaria (c) X Ramirez

LBBG Black 4AL4 at Vinaroz Harbour (c) Enrique Luque

LBBG Black 4AL4 at Castellon Harbour (c) Pepe Greno