Herring Gull "Orange 0570"

The winter is a great time to see the Gulls gathering just before dusk at Little Marlow GP.  There is always the chance of picking up a scarcer gull species but this is always a challenge giving the shear numbers of gulls arriving in a relatively short space of time and spread over a fairly wide area.  Apart from checking the species, the possibility of finding a few colour ringed gulls is an added interest.  Yesterday evening was no exception and I managed to see two colour ringed individuals.

Herring Gull Orange (now faded to Yellow) "0570"

The two photos are rather poor due to poor light in the gathering gloom and a brisk wind that shook the scope and camera.  However I managed to read the ring on "Orange 0570" quite easily although I recorded it as Yellow.  There is a warning of colour fading on the project entry on CR Birding website.  Within an hour of reporting the sighting I had a response from the ringer, Paul Cropper.

I was rather hoping the bird had been ringed in some far flung part of Europe but no.  It was ringed at Hedgerley tip (Beconsfield/Gerrards Cross), a few miles away from Little Marlow. It was ringed by Paul Cropper.  However that was in November 2003 and it was ringed as an adult so must be at least 17 years old!  No wonder the ring has faded!  Since ringing the bird has only been reported twice, once a short time after ringing and then in 2010.  All winter sightings, so maybe this bird breeds somewhere outside of the UK.

Full details are:
 Date                    Grid Ref               Location                                        Darvic ring

12-Nov-03           SU9589                Gerrard’s Cross                             0570                                                                                                   
15-Dec-03           SU9589                Gerrard’s Cross                              0570                                                                                                   
27-Nov-10           TQ520800            Rainham Landfill, East London    0570                                                                                                   
01-Dec-17            SU880875            Little Marlow Gravel Pits              0570     

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The Black-headed Gull pictured below is well known to us at Little Marlow.  It was originally ringed at Kiel University, Germany on 12th June 2015 and has been seen many times at Little Marlow over the past three winters, although sometimes returning here as early as July.  I will try and find out if it returned to Germany this summer and update this post.

Black-headed Gull White "AJ66"