U.NAW

Got this recovery today for a belgium rung Lesser Black Backed Gull seen several times in one of my local parks over the Christmas holidays and was still present at the weekend, and was quite amazed how old this bird was, ringed as an adult back in 2002 making it at least 16 years old!!

Thanks to Marc Van de walle for the history.

Life history of : U.NAW white on dark blue on right leg up

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sex:

Location Date Observer Action Coordinates

Larus fuscus

Metal ring : L916592 Age apply colour ring : adult

Former code : UNAW

Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Kliniekstraat 25, 1070 Brussels-Belgium
Colour banding scheme gulls Belgian coast

06/07/2002 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Vandenbulcke, Paul me 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

11/05/2007 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Vercruijsse, Harry J.P. mt 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

05/06/2012 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium INBO co 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

12/06/2012 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Vercruijsse, Harry J.P. ob 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

15/08/2012 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Vercruijsse, Harry J.P. ob 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

22/08/2012 Zeebrugge (Voorhaven), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Vercruijsse, Harry J.P. ob 3°11'0''E 51°21'0''N

05/11/2012 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Leighton, Richard ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

25/08/2013 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Leighton, Richard ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

30/08/2013 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Leighton, Richard ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

22/12/2013 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Hawkins, Paul ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

30/12/2013 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Hawkins, Paul ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

19/01/2014 Ilford (South Park), Greater London, United Kingdom Hawkins, Paul ob 0°4'0''E 51°34'0''N

Action codes
© Copyright Institute of Nature Conservation
cf : only colour ring found
co : apply colour ring
me : apply metal ring
mf : only metal ring found
ne : nesting
vn : caught
cm : colour ring missing
de : dead
il : ill/wounded
mm : metal ring missing
mt : metal ring read
ob : field observation

Hoot Hoot

Not much happening this weekend, busy working yesterday and took the family to Hyde park this morning, where the bins and camera snuck along (be rude not to) with all the usual suspects seen including this rather smart Tawny Owl in the usual place just south of the peter pan statue.

A lesser redpoll also seen.

East Tilbury

A high tide visit to East Tilbury today proved to be my best so far of the winter, amongst the now regular Kittiwake flock's following the ships up and down the estuary which totalled about 35 birds today, I picked up the 1st winter ICELAND GULL that seems to be doing the rounds locally, not once but three times i had this bird today, so if your wanting to add this bird to your year list i would suggest you watch from the water tower where this is a narrower part of the river and just keep your eye out for those passing ships.

its in there somewhere.....honest...

Other birds of note were a flock of at least 26 CORN BUNTING which were fairly mobile around the saltings either side of the fort.

Six Stonechat were east along the seawall as well as a single rock pipit.

Waders were represented with the regular Avocet flock, and both Grey Plover and Dunlin in good numbers, the latter being harassed by a female MERLIN.

one or two dunlin

Merlin about to cause havoc!

its a shame merlins dont show like this here!

Green Sandpiper and a male Marsh Harrier were the other highlights.

Dunge Seawatch

With another strong southerly forecast today myself and Mo went for a repeat performance of Tuesday, starting at the arc pits, and from the Hanson hide we picked up both redhead Smew, a Goosander, a brief Bittern in flight and a 1st winter Kittiwake gave us the impression the sea could be looking good!

From the causeway another Smew and just a single Great White Egret!!  We headed towards the fishing boats and was again greeted by some close Kittiwake action.  A few hours seawatching produced a single BALEARIC SHEARWATER west along with BONXIE, LITTLE GULL, and both BLACK-THROATED and red-throated divers.

Good numbers of Guillemots and a single Razorbill just offshore, and a probable pom just too far out to clinch were best of the rest.

Gave the Hume's a miss thinking it would be a needle in a haystack job.

On the way home the arc pits/new diggings produced two Great White Egrets, BLACK-THROATED DIVER, and smew ended anther great mornings birding.

And also was great to catch up with Shaunboy, Monkey, Redsy, and Mick.

Kitts

A few more pics of the Kittiwake action from Dungeness on New years eve.

1w

adult

Hopefully down that way again today for another gulling session.

Great White Expectations

What seemed like a bad move to visit Dungeness on yesterdays weather forecast turned into a great morning for myself and Mo.

The rain and wind was horrendous as we sat in the Hanson hide over looking the arc pits, and a slight break in the weather we ventured out onto the causeway where we saw an amazing FIVE Great White Egrets with three on the new diggings and two on the arc.

This had probably doubled my UK tally in less than five minutes and was an awesome site to see these monster birds just roaming around in full view.

Three red head Smew and a fine drake Goosander were also battling against the monsoon conditions.

Mo is always up for a seawatch even on the Thames in a force nine westerly, so a monster southerly smashing the dunge peninsular was right up his street.  This seemed to pay off as there must of been thousands of gulls of all shapes and sizes feeding on what looked like crustaceans being smashed up by the high tide and strong winds.

Awesome !!

We managed to find two 1w Caspians in the melee, but none ventured close to the camera, unlike the fifty or so Kittiwakes that were absolutely awesome coming within feet of us feeding in the wake.  A really enjoyable encounter and was great fun with the camera though the strong wind was not helping.

A quick stop off at walland marsh for herd of 37 Bewick's ended a great mornings birding.