Ian McLean has sent in his list for the last week of our Gull sightings on the Axe Estuary Devon.

Great Black Back Gull's.

P:08A 17th June
P:64B  19th & 24th June
P:08B  19th June

All regular visitors to the Axe Estuary.

Herring Gull.

473 ringed in Seaton Devon Dec 2013, seen 24th June
613 ringed on the Portland Harbour Break Waters June 2016 first sighting since ringing seen on the 17th June

Herring Gull 659 was last seen on the 10th June by Richard Bonser at Rotherhithe on the Thames, Nick Adams saw the same gull on the 23rd June on the other side of the country at Lower Compton Land fill near Bristol.

Which makes us wonder what route did it take, over land or around the coast????

Two sightings from the Exe estuary at Dawlish Warren Devon from Lee Collins who has been busy writing his 2016 sightings report which will be available on line soon.

P:87B seen by Lee 27th May, 10th  & 16th June also sighted by one of Lee's colleagues Ivan Lakin 4th June all at Dawlish Warren.

Lee also sent in a metal ring sighting, as we all know not easy to read well done Lee, seen on 7 occasions the latest being 10th June.

Herring Gull 566 ringed in Weymouth July 2016 was seen back locally on the Beach in Weymouth, by Luke one of our team on the evening of 14th June.

In addition to the Gulls we ring on the Break Water we ring Herring Gulls in the locality all are part of the same project.

Richard Bonser has sent in a sighting of Herring Gull 659  ringed July 2016 on the shores of Portland Harbour. His sighting was at Rotherhithe on the River Thames 4th June & 10th June 2017.

Richards sightings of our Gulls are the first we have received from this area away from the normal sites in the Channel. Our thanks go to Richard for his efforts.

Great Black Back Gull P:79A ringed June 2014 has so far given 54 sightings up to and including the latest on the 2 June 2017 on the Axe Estuary Devon.

First sighting was on the Exe Estuary also in Devon by Lee Collins, the subsequent 53 sightings have all been from the Axe. Majority of which have come from Ian McLean including the latest with supporting sightings from Mike Hill.

We mention the number of sightings to high light the amount of time, patience and dedication to ring reading put in by many. We are very appreciative of every single sighting we receive, thank you.

GBBGull P:22B ringed June 2014 had an eventful start to life.

First sighted May 2015 in Saint Guenole Brittany by Pascal Bounie in an oiled state with a leg injury, it evaded capture at that time. Any injured animal or bird is very hard to catch, due to heightened survival instincts.

                                                 Pascal Bounie©  14th May 2015

                                                      Dirk Raes ©  11th Sept 2015

Luckily for this particular Gull someone was successful in catching it and bringing it back to full health.

We have 11 sightings during 2015, 2 during 2016 and 2 so far for 2017 thanks to all the observers who have sent in sightings and photos particularly Pascal Bounie.

Sighting of Great Black Back Gull P:07C on 1st June 2017 at Mevagissey Cornwall, the first sighting since ringing in June 2016.

                                            Photo Rob Wells ©

Rob reports it was feeding on a dead Basking Shark, natural recycling.