Sunday, 25 August 2019

Update from Shawell

During the last 10 days I've being having a colour-ring reading extravaganza at Shawell. I've made about 80 readings and for once I'm seeing the birds close. Norwegian Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) made up a significant percentage of the colour-ringed gulls recorded; including the first juvenile. Caspian (Larus cachinnans) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis) are giving themselves up a little easier at present, as they are already carrying out there post-juvenile moult, whereas most Herring (Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls still in juvenile plumage. Some of the latter two, however, are moulting a few scapulars, so care has to be taken.

Large, Presumed Male, Post Juvenile Caspian Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019
Small, Presumed Female, Post Juvenile Caspian Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019
Juvenile Caspian Gull (German Ringed X18J) Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd - Slow Moulting Bird
Second-Summer Caspian Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 24th 2019

Post Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 17th 2019
Presumed Herring Gull Already Moulting Some Scapulars, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 17th 2019 

The gull below gets me going every time, as I think I have a Yellow-legged Gull with a colour-ring. However, A+G is a hybrid (parents LBBG and LBBG x HG). Ringed in Gloucester as a chick in 2014.

Hybrid, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019
Juvenile Herring Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019
Pale Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 20th 2019
Dutch Ringed (KBDK) Lessser Black-backed Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019
Norwegian Ringed (J760L) Lesser Black-backed Gull, Shawell A5 Lagoons, August 22nd 2019

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