Great Black Backed Gull P:87B last sighted 6th November on the Axe Estuary Devon, has moved West to return to Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary.

Seen there by Lee Collins who has sent in an end of year round up of sightings.

Seen 22nd, 27th November, 10th, 23rd, & 24th December at Dawlish.

A Great Black Backed Gull ringed as a Pulli back in June this year has produced its first sighting thanks to Lee Collins.

P:18C seen on the 10th December at Dawlish Warren, Devon by Lee.

Always a good feeling when the first sightings come in, another piece of information has arrived.

Great Black Backed Gull P:82B has returned once more to Little Marlow Gravel Pit in Buckinghamshire, seen on the 8th December by Adam Basset.

Since ringing in June 2015 this is the third winter period that this Gull has been seen at this site.
Adam is of the impression it is feeding on a near by landfill.

On one previous occasion it was sighted subsequently at Stratford Sub Castle on the outskirts of Salisbury, giving the impression of travelling overland to the south coast of England to where the next sighting came from on the Axe Estuary.

Another of our Great Black Backed Gulls has been sighted in France, Bolougne sur Mer being the latest place to receive a visit.

Great Black Backed Gull P:12A ringed June 2012, seen at Bolougne on the 13th December by Eric Petit-Berghem.

                                                              Eric Petit-Berghem ©

Eric Petit-Berghem ©

Previous sightings from Dawlish Warren Devon,Chouet Guernsey, Radipole Lake Weymouth, Axe Estuary Devon, West Bexington Beach Dorset and Portland Dorset.

Another of our Great Black Backed Gulls P:52B  is in France or rather has returned to Finistre at Plage de Trois Moutons near Lampaul. Seen 11^th December by Solange Arzel, forwarded by Yvon Le Corre.

Ringed in June 2015 seen in Finistre Oct 2015, May this year 2019 on a fishing Boat off Swanage 

7 miles (12.25 kms) out in the Channel (La Manche) and now back in Finistre.

Ian McLean saw Great Black Backed Gull P:08A on the 12^th December on the Axe Estuary.  The Axe is very popular with this particular Gull.

Herring Gull 420 was a regular visitor according to sightings we have received in the Hayle Estuary Cornwall, from September 2012 up to November 2018 then nothing until now.

A new sighting on the 21st August 2019 by Lee Gregory, has shown it to be still present there and to be fit and well.

Great Black Backed Gull P:55C was ringed in June 2018 as a Pulli and since fledging it has given us a sighting from North East Spain and four sightings from France, the latest thanks to Didier Domec.

Seen 9th December at Isle de Txingudy, Pyrenees Atlantique France in the Bay of Biscay.

Always nice to get some Herring Gull sightings and two of our Gulls were sighted recently on the Car Park next to Radipole Lake in Weymouth.

Herring Gull 756 ringed during August 2018 in Weymouth, was seen on the 4th December by Edmund Mackrill.

Herring Gull 514 ringed June 2014 on the Break Waters was seen on the 6th December by Edmund Mackrill

Ian McLean has sent in sightings of our Gulls from the Devon Axe Estuary, with help from a fellow ring reader Mike Lock.

Great Black Backed Gull P:08A is a regular visitor to the Axe since ringing in June 2013. Seen by Mike Lock on the 12th November

Great Black Backed Gull P:38B has travelled between Portland and Normandy and Calvados, France with a visit to Shoreham in Sussex and now its first recorded visit to Devon seen 18th November by Ian McLean

Great Black Backed Gull P:99C ringed near to the Axe in January 2019, making another visit to the Axe on the 27th November seen by Ian McLean

Herring Gull 473 ringed in Seaton just to the west of the River Axe in December 2013 and making regular return visits. Seen once more on the 29th November by Mike Lock

Two sightings from Lee Collins at Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary in Devon.

Great Black Backed Gull P:89A was seen there on the 23rd November the second sighting from Dawlish. The majority of previous sightings have come from the Axe Estuary also in Devon.

Great Black Backed Gull P:73C seen on the 29th November. Since ringing as a Pulli all sightings have come from the Channel island of Guernsey. Until now with this the first sighting away from the Island. 

May be it leaves the island in between recorded sightings or it is possibly due to the reported dispersal associated with the final closure of Chouet Landfill which has been very popular place over many years with Gulls from all over Europe.

If we are lucky with sightings we may one day answer that question.

The previous sighting for Great Black Backed Gull P:35B was on the Atlantic coast of Brittany in September. We did wondered if it was on its way to Dawlish Warren in Devon where it has been seen on two occasions. But no it has returned to North West Spain, O'burgo in the La Coruna area where it has been seen regularly. Latest sighting there was on the 2nd November seen by Isai & Felipe Ogando.

Sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls from Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary Devon sent in by Lee Collins.

P:87B seen on the 27th July, 11th , 29th & 30th August 14th & 30th September
P:68C 29th August
P:63B 12th October

Two first sightings of this years youngsters
P:01D 27th September
P:45D 13th October.

Great Black Backed Gull P:43A has along with other Gulls foresaken the Chouet Landfill on Guernsey which is now closed.

The latest sighting from Wayne Turner was from Perelle Beach Guernsey, seen 8th November.

The stormy weather along the south coast has sent some of our Gulls into the Axe Estuary for shelter, and thanks to Ian MacLean and Mike Lock we have a list of sightings.

Great Black Backed Gull's 

P:99C seen 6th October, ringed in a garden along the Devon Dorset Border has been sighted in Devon and Somerset.

P:62A seen 12th October, has visited Cornwall, Somerset and Devon

P:48B seen 15th October, regular in Devon and Dorset

P:88B seen 15th October, has voyaged between Dawlish Warren Devon, Swanage Bay Dorset, and Guernsey Channel Islands

P:97A seen 15th October, a Devon regular

P:63B seen 21st October, has ranged from Cornwall to Dungeness in Kent

Herring Gull

Mike Lock sighted Herring Gull 568 ringed in Weymouth a regular visitor to the delights of the Bristol landfill sites, decided a change of view was needed and travelled down to the Axe seen on the 21st October.

Ian MacLean is a keen ring reader on the Devon Axe Estuary, sending us regular sightings of our Gulls.

Herring Gull 473 (ringed in Seaton Devon) seen on the 16th September 2019, last sighting was on the Axe in November 2018.

Great Black Backed Gull P:84C was seen on the 18th September 2019, last sighting was on the Axe in October 2018.

Great Black Backed Gull P:99C was seen on the 22nd September 2019, ringed locally to the Axe in a colleagues garden.

Great Black Backed Gull P:97A was seen on the 29th September 2019, last sighting was in October 2018

Annie Irving on a visit to Portland Dorset sighted one of our Great Black backed Gulls P:49B seen 28th September 2019 at the Bill.

                                           Photo Annie Irving ©

Annie has a daily nature blog  https://earthstar.blog/  

A regular visitor to Portland Bill is Great Black Backed Gull P:49B with the occasional visit to Dungeness RSPB Reserve in Kent. Ringed in June 2015 on the Break Waters.

Seen at Portland Bill on the 22nd September 2019 by Bill Garn.

Just a Great Black Backed Gull like all the others, but P:43A has one big exception in its favour, this one Gull has produced 91 sightings since ringing in June 2012.

The latest from L'Eree Beach on Guernsey Channel Islands, seen on the 26th Sept 2019.

                                                 Photo and sighting by Wane Turner ©

Another of the Herring Gull Pulli ringed on the Break Waters in June this year has produced its first sighting.

Herring Gull 768 was seen on the 25th September at Park Grounds Landfill near to Bristol by Peter Rock and Nick Adams.

One of our team Luke sighted one of this years Herring Gull's 712 on the Beach at Weymouth, seen on the 23rd September. Ringed as a Pulli on the North East Break Water in June 2019.

Great Black Backed Gull P:35B has left La Coruna in North West Spain and was sighted at Trunvel-Treogat Nature Reserve in  Bretagne France on  the Atlantic Coast  web site  fauneocean.fr  Sighting from Sylvain Reyt seen on the 23rd September.

Another Great Black Backed Gull P:73C is continuing its stay on Guernsey CI. Seen on the beach at Perelle also 23rd September sighting by Wayne Turner.

                                                      A superb photo by Wayne Turner©

Ian Maclean had four sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls on the Devon Axe Estuary during August this year.

P:88B seen on the 8th & 14th August last sighting was off Swanage Dorset in May
P:62A seen 14th August
P:79C seen 23rd August (first sighting since ringing in June 2019)






A first sighting of a Herring Gull hatched and ringed this June on the Break Waters.
Herring Gull 805 seen at Chard Reservoir Somerset on the 16th September by Dave Helliar.

                                                                   Photo Dave Helliar©

Dave Murray spending some time on the Island of Guernsey sent in two sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls.

  Great Black Backed Gull P:73C regular visitor to Guernsey photo Dave Murray, seen 10th September

                                                                  Photo Dave Murray

   Great Black Backed Gull P:78C ringed June 2018 seen in Guernsey soon after fledging then two sightings from Bolougne sur Mer France and now back on Guernsey seen 9th September

Continuing its stay in Northern France. Great Black Backed Gull P:38B has moved along the Normandy coast to the West being seen at Ver-sur-Mer on the 4th September, sighting by Griff Warilow.

Two new sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls both continuing to stay in the same places as their last sightings.

Pajol Maxence sighted GBBG P:55C on two occasions on the Isle de Re Charente Maritime France.

First was on 22nd August at Chenal Villages and the second on the 28th August at Saint -Clement les Baleines.

Wayne Turner sighted GBBG P:43A once more back at Chouet Landfill on Guernsey on the 3rd September.

Following a visit to Dungeness Great Black Backed Gull P:49B has made a return visit to Portland seen on the 1st September by Roy Norris.

                                                          Roy Norris©

Great Black Backed gull P:38B is a well travelled Gull.

Ringed as a Pulli June 2015

Sightings from
Portland August 2015
The River Adur Shoreham Dec 2015
At Courseulles sur Mer Calvados August 2018
Portland November 2018
Back at Courseulles sur Mer Calvados August 2019

Sighting by Fabrice Gallien and forwarded to us by Jacques Coatmeur

The West Cornwall Ringing group have sent in a sighting of Great Black Backed Gull P:16B seen on the 21st August at Falmouth Docks, having moved along the Cornish coast from Coverack Cornwall.

Some colour ringed Gulls generate sightings on a regular basis, where others drop out of sight for several years with no news of their whereabouts.

One such Gull is Great Black Back P:32A ringed in June 2012 one of our first Gulls.

First sighting was from Omaha Beach Calvados France in August 2013, followed by a visit to Chouet Beach in Guernsey Channel Islands during October 2013. Then nothing until February 2016 when it visited the Otter Estuary in Devon, followed by a visit to the Axe Estuary also in Devon Sept 2016.

Then again nothing until 27th August 2019 when it was seen by Paul Davy on the Waltham Brooks Nature reserve in West Sussex.

Great Black Backed Gull P:78C has made a return visit to Bolougne sur mer seen on the beach there.

Sighting by Eric Petit- Bergham on the 21st August 2019, originally ringed in June 2018.

Previous sightings on Guernsey CI in November 2018 and Bolougne in June 2019.

Dave Bishop had another first sighting from this years fledglings, a Great Black Backed Gull ringed in June this year on the Portland Break Waters.
Great Black Backed Gull P:17D was seen just across Portland Harbour at Ferry Bridge on the 12th August.

Wayne Turner had another sighting of P:73C on the 14th August this time at Perelle Beach still on Guernsey.

Dave Bishop sighted P:11D on the 16th August in Lyme Bay at Chesil Cove a popular place for Sea Birds seen on the 16th August 2019.

Great Black Backed Gull P:73C is once more back at Chouet Landfill on Guernsey seen 12th August by Wayne Turner.

                                                              Photo Wayne Turner ©

Dave Bishop has given us our first sighting of one of this years fledgling Gulls from the Portland Harbour Break Waters.

Herring Gull 814 ringed 27th June and sighted at Ferrybridge on the 9th August. Not a vast distance just across Portland Harbour, although possibly its first major flight since taking to the air for the first time.

Deborah Saunders sighted on of last years Great Black Backed Gulls P:11D also at Ferrybridge on the same day 9th August.

                                                    Deborah Saunders ©

Mark Grantham from the West Cornwall Ringing Group sent in sightings of our Gulls.

Great Black Backed Gull P:89 seen 6th August at Southerly Point on the Lizard Cornwall
Great Black Backed Gull P:16B seen 8th August back at Coverack Cornwall


Another of Gulls has returned to one of its regular spots P:48B seen at West Bexington Dorset on the 8th August by Mike John Morse.

                                                         Mike John Morse ©

Ian MacLean has sent in three sightings from the Devon Axe Estuary.

Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has returned to the Axe Estuary after spending some time near to Chard on the Somerset Dorset Border seen on the 10th July.

Two Herring Gulls ringed in Seaton were also seen, HG 476 on the  9th & 22nd July and HG 478 on the 3rd July.

Chouet Landfill on the Island of Guernsey is officially closed but not to Gulls, two of our Great Black Backed Gulls are regular's to the Island.

Great Black Backed Gull P:43A (a Guernsey resident it would seem) and Great Black Backed Gull P:87C were both at Chouet on the 5th August sightings by Wayne Turner.

Photo P:43A Wayne Turner ©

Photo P:87C Wayne Turner ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:55C last seen at Lamiako Marshes near to Bilbao Northern Spain in May 2019, has moved North to the Isle des Re off the French West coast.

Seen at the Lilleau des Niges Nature reserve by Julien Gernigon on the 2nd August 2019, ringed originally in June 2018.

Lee Collins has sent in sightings from Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary in Devon, Lee is a committed ring reader and a great help to all who colour ring Birds.

Great Black Backed Gull P:87B continues to grace Dawlish, the latest sightings 21st March, 6th & 25th April, 6th, 19th & 20th July

In addition Great Black Backed Gull P:68C on the 14th July and Great Black Backed Gull P:89C on the 17th July.

Showing enormous patience Lee read metal ring MA39383 on one our Great Black Backed Gulls that didn't get a Darvic at ringing.

Wayne Turner came across an old friend of the feathered kind Great Black Backed Gull P:43A ringed in June 2012.

First current sighting was at Chouet Land fill on the 19th July then again on the 22nd July at Perelle Beach all on the Channel Island of Guernsey, the 88th sighting all from Guernsey.

Seen every year except for 2016 & 2017.

Great Black Backed Gull P:73C is continuing its visit to Guernsey Channel Islands, seen again by Wayne Turner on the 16th July at Chouet.

                                             Wayne Turner ©


Mike Lewis sighted Great Black Backed Gull P:83C at Man Sands Brixham Devon earlier this month and sent on a photo which got into the spam box and only just located.

Mike Lewis ©

A Jersey ringed Herring Gull was found in a small yard in Weymouth, Dorset with another Herring Gull.

The Jersey HG was ringed with a White Niger Darvic OHS5 this was found to be damaged and was replaced with one of our HG Darvic's it is now Niger White 794. This was done to make it easier to send on any further sightings to the ringer or ringers once we know their contact details.

Unfortunately the other HG which was unrung, had suffered a broken wing it is receiving Veterinary treatment although the outcome is not likely to be good.

Great Black Backed Gull P:83C was sighted by Michael Lewis at Man Sands Brixham Devon on the 3rd July. The second sighting since ringing in June 2018, the first sighting was also from Devon in April this year.

Wayne Turner had another sighting of our Great Black Backed Gull P:73C at the old Chouet landfill on Guernsey CI.

                                           Photo Wayne Turner ©  sighted 25th June 2019

This Gull seems to like Guernsey as does Wayne.

Great Black Backed Gull P:61C was ringed  on the 28th June 2016 and that's the last we heard of it.

Until now an email from Mark Grantham (West Cornwall Ringing Group) gave us our first sighting of this particular Gull since then.

Seen at Southerly Point on the Lizard, Cornwall 20th June 2019, there are just 8 days to go to the anniversary of the date that we ringed it.

Great Black Backed Gull P:78C was ringed in June last year 2018 on the Portland Break Waters.

Seen at Rocquaine Bay Guernsey during November 2018 by Wayne Turner.

Now a new sighting from Jean Michel Sauvage on the 10th June 2019 at Boulogne sur mer, Pas de Calais France.

                                                     Photo Jean Michel Sauvage ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:46A ringed in June 2012 and sighted on Alderney Channel Islands later the same year.

Subsequently sighted during 2015 & 2016 on Looe Island Cornwall.

Two sightings from Down Derry Cornwall during 2017 both from Alan Payne.

P:46A has been resighted once more at Down Derry again by Alan Payne seen 29th May this year.

Tom Russell fishing 7 or 8 miles out in the Channel from Swanage Dorset is finding his Boat is becoming a magnet for our Great Black Backed Gulls, with two more visits over two seperate days.

23rd May P:95B ringed June 2015 a regular visitor to the South Devon coast and now back in Dorset.

24th May P:52B ringed June 2015 only previous sighting was at Ouessant Finistre Bretagne France until this sighting on Tom's boat.  Once more off Swanage in the Channel

Dave Bishop sighted Herring Gull 782  which was ringed in Weymouth October 2018 and now the first sighting on Lodmoor Nature Reserve 22nd May 2019.

One of our locally ringed Herring Gulls, was seen back at Radipole Lake Weymouth on the 20th May by Annabel Sharpe.

Ringed last year 2018 seen regularly on Radipole where it goes in between we don't know as yet.

                                                               Photo Annabel Sharpe ©

Tom Russel was out fishing off  Swanage and the Dorset Coast in the Channel on 13th May, two Great Black Backed Gulls landed on his Boat.

 For Great Black Backed Gull P:75B  this was the second time it has landed on Tom 's Boat.

Great Black backed Gull P:88B is well travelled visiting Devon, Guernsey and now Swanage Bay

Great Black Backed Gull P:55C was ringed in June 2018 on the Portland Break Waters.

Now thanks to Ivan Sarabia we have our first sighting since then. Seen on the Lamiako Marshes, Leioa, Northen Spain on the 3rd May 2019.

Close to the Ferry Port of Bilbao.



Great Black Backed Gull P:91C, also ringed in June 2018 on the Break Waters has produced its first sighting since then although a little closer to home.

Seen 9th May 2019 at South Huish Marshes near Kingsbridge, Devon by Alan Doidge

                                                GBBG P:91C Photo Alan Doidge ©

Two local sightings from Radipole Lake Weymouth sent in by Edmund Mackrill.

Herring Gull 757 seen 6th May. Ringed August 2018 in Weymouth, this is the first sighting since then.

Herring Gull 699 seen 7th May

                                                           Photo Edmund Macrill ©

 Ringed in Weymouth  July 2018 and last sighting was in October 2018.                                                    

Moira Jackson sighted Herring Gull 588 on Portland as mentioned in a previous post.

Moira has sent us a Photo taken at the time of HG 588

                                                        Photo Moira Jackson ©

A Great Black Backed Gull P:99C ringed in the Axmouth area on the Devon Dorset border in January this year.

Has been sighted further inland to the north at Chard Junction Quarry on the Dorset Somerset Border on the 2nd May by Dave Helliar.

                                                          Photo Dave Helliar ©

Ian MacLean has sent us an updated list of our Gulls that he has seen on the Axe Estuary Devon .

Great Black Backed Gull P:68C seen 25th February a regular visitor to Devon since ringing in June 2016. Sightings from The Otter Estuary, Dawlish Warren and now the Axe.

Herring Gull 476 seen 4th March, previous sighting August 2018 also on the Axe. This Gull was ringed locally in Seaton Devon

Great Black Backed Gull P:89A seen 26th March, ringed June 2014. Previous sightings on the Otter and at Dawlish Warren in July 2018.

Peter Rock and Nick Adams sighted our Herring Gull 631 at Lower Compton Landfill near Bristol on the 3rd May. This is the first sighting since ringing on the Break Waters in June 2016.

Where it has been like so many others we don't know, we rely on sightings from ring readers like those above, as we can't  like all ringers running similar projects be everywhere our selves.

All projects are very gratefull for the time ring readers put in  and for all sightings recieved.

It is quite some time since we last reported sightings of our Colour ringed Herring Gulls, happily we can now as we have two new sightings.

Herring Gull 628 ringed in June 2016 on the Break Waters. It was seen regularly on Portland during 2018, then on the Axe Estuary on one occasion at the end of December 2018.

The latest sighting is from Boulogne sur Mer France seen there by Patric Decory on the 25th April.

Herring Gull 588 ringed on the Break Waters in June 2018, has given its first sighting since then.
It was seen on the 29th April on Portland by Moira Jackson.

Where it has been in between times must remain a mystery.

First sighting since ringing on the Break Waters in June 2018 of Great Black Backed Gull P:83C.

Seen at Dunster Beach Somerset on the 26th April by Chris Gladman and Kim Batchelor.

                                                        Chris Gladman ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:20C has reappeared in Cornwall this time in Newlyn Harbour, seen there on the 21st April by Shaun Grose and passed on by Mark Grantham West Cornwall Ringing Group.

                                                                 Photo Shaun Grose ©

Thank's to Pascal Bounie we have another sighting of Great Black Backed Gull P:22B,  the long term resident at the Port of Sainte Guenole in Brittany or should that be Bretagne.

Seen by Pascal on the 16th April and this is our 22nd sighting from the Port. The first was in May 2015 following fledging in June 2014.

Another well established Great Black Backed Gull is P:73C, but it will have to find a new place to rest as Chouet Landfill on Guernsey is closing and being re landscaped.

Seen there by Wayne Turner on the 17th April.

                                                Photo Wayne Turner ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has once more returned to Chard Reservoir. Seen by Dave Helliar on the 10th April with what we are assuming is its mate.

     As they are always in close proximity to each other. Dave Helliar ©

P:57C Great Black Backed Gull was among the Pulli ringed in June 2018 on the Break Waters. Richard Bonser has sent in the first sighting since then, seen at Coverack Harbour Cornwall on the 9th April.

                                                 Photo Richard Bonser ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has returned once more to Chard in Somerset to the Reservoir this time, just inside the border seen 31st March. The last visit was to the Chard Quarry just in Dorset.

                                            Photo and sighting from Dave Helliar©

Dave tells us that P:62A is in company of an another GBBG which is unrung, both are of the age to breed.

Great Black Backed Gull P:73C has returned to Chouet Landfill on Guernsey sighting by Wayne Turner seen on the 15th March.

Wayne sent a photo will it transfer to this blog no chance....!!!!!

P:73C ringed June 2016 seen at Chouet December 2016 and July 2017 before making a return visit this month.

Adam Bassett has sent in a sighting of Great Black Backed Gull P:82B, which has made a return visit to Little Marlow Gravel Pits Buckingham shire seen 10th March.

Since fledging in 2015 it has been seen at Little Marlow on 6 occasions, Axe Estuary Devon on 1 occasion,  Portland on 2 occasions and Stratford sub Castle near Salisbury on 2 occasions.

It would seem a strange route for a Sea Bird but is it? As we are reliant on sightings of colour ringed Birds to tell us where they go. The more sightings we and other studies get the more we learn of Bird movements in general, that is until satellite tracking costs tumble to affordable for all.

Great Black Backed Gull P:49B made a return visit to the RSPB Dungeness Reserve. Seen on an island in Burrowes Pit on the 9th March sighting by Martin Casemore.

Ringed June 2014 on the Portland Break Waters, sighted at Dungeness March 2015, then on the Axe Estuary Devon August 2016 and 25 separate sightings on Portland through 2018.

Lee Collins has been out on Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary in Devon and among the sightings he recorded where two sightings of one of our Great Black Backed Gulls.

GBBG P:87B seen 6th & 7th March

Wayne Turner is continuing his sterling observations of colour ringed Gulls on Guernsey.

Despite the wind keeping the Gulls low to the ground on L'Eree Aerodrome Wayne managed one photo of a Great Black Backed P:88B, luckily for us it was one of ours from Portland seen 3rd March 2019.

This Gull was ringed in June 2015 and has been a regular visitor to the Axe Estuary in Devon between March 2016 and October 2018.

Apart from one visit to Dawlish warren Devon in September 2016, one visit to the Otter Estuary Devon February 2018 and now a visit to Guernsey just when we thoought it would never leave the Axe...!!!!

Seen in the La Coruna area of North West Spain at Ria du Burgo on the 2rd March 2019 Great Black Backed Gull P:77C. Ringed in June 2018.

This is our second sighting of this Gull particular Gull from the La Coruna area .

                                               Photo and sighting Antonio Lopez Porto ©

Great Black backed Gull P:21C ringed in June 2017 visited Hopes Nose Torquay Devon in January 2018  and has been seen there again on the 17th January 2019.

                                         GBBG P:21C Photo and sighting Tom Bragg ©

Runa Madsen on holiday in England from Norway, visited Radipole Lake in Weymouth and sighted Herring Gull 693 on the 23rd February.

Ringed last year in Weymouth and hatched there the same year.

                                                             Photo Runa Madsen ©

Herring Gull 605 has moved from Park Grounds Landfill where it was seen on the 25th February and made its frsit recorded visit to Lower Compton Landfill, seen  there the next day 26th February by Nick Adams.

Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has returned to the Chard area, seen on the 26th February by Dave Helliar although this time just over the border in Dorset at Chard Junction Quarry.

As Dave noticed the Red code has gone very dark virtually black. Photo's Dave Helliar ©

Herring Gull 509 can usually be found on the Lower Compton Landfill near to Bristol, ringed in June 2014 and seen at lower Compton during 2016 & 2018. One sighting this year also from Lower Cmpton in January.

That was until 24th February this year when Paul Winter sighted it on the Lower Test Marshes near  to Southampton.

                                                         HG 509  Photo Paul Winter ©

A Great Black Backed Gull sighting from last month, P:35B was still in the La Coruna area of North West Spain present at Esmelle Beach on the 4th January seen by Jose Ramon Castro.

Herring Gull 605 is continueing to enjoy the delights of Park Ground Landfill near Bristol , seen there 25th February by Nick Adams.

The Channel islands are well known. Jersey for John Nettles and Bergerac. Guernsey and the Chouet area is reknowned for the presence of Great Black Back Gull P:43A

Sighted 20th February 2019 by Wayne Turner ©. Who is doing a fantastic job recording colour ring Gulls on Guernsey.

First sighting of our Gull from this year and later this year this Gull will have completed 7 years residency on the island .

Thanks also to Paul Veron for sending on the sighting.

Latest sightings from our Weymouth ringed Herring Gulls (all ringed in and around the Town) sighted at Radipole Lake Weymouth.

Sightings from David Bishop
Herring Gull784 seen 22nd January
Herring Gull 744 seen 29th January
Herring Gull 721 seen 29th January

Sighting from Allan Reese  also from Radipole Lake Weymouth of Herring Gull 773 on the 16th February

Allan Reese ©

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we used a string of 10 rings on Herring Gulls on the Break Water's in June 2016. The first sighting of any of these Gulls, was Herring Gull 605 which came in January and February  this year from Park Grounds Landfill thanks to Nick Adams and Peter Rock.
We now have another sighting from this group thanks to Edmund Mackrill from Radipole Lake Weymouth.

Herring Gull 603 ringed June 2016, first sighting since then on the 12th Feb 2019 Edmund Mackrill©
On the same day Edmund sent in another first sighting of  one of our Herring Gulls, 776 ringed September 2018 in Weymouth.         Edmund Mackrill ©

Herring Gull 605 has given its second sighting since we ringed it in June 2016. Once more at Park Grounds Landfill seen by Peter Rock on the 6th feb 2019

Adam Bassett sighted another of our GBBGull’s at Little Marlow Gravel Pits, Bucks 2^nd Feb 2019 P:41C second of our GBBG's to visit this site that we know of.

Ringed in June 2016, first sighting was at Rotherhithe Docks London in Oct 2016, next sighting was on the Axe Estuary Devon Sept 2017, then it appeared at Bexley Tip near London in Feb 2018, a return visit to Portland in August 2018 and now Little Marlow Buckinghamshire…!!!!! 

Will we ever know, does it go overland or round by the sea??????????????????

It would seem our Gulls took a break from giving sightings over the Christmas New Year period. Especially notable at Lower Compton Landfill near Bristol.

But it is ok Neil Adams has been in touch with  three sightings of our Herring Gull's

HG 659 seen by Peter Rock 30th Jan and Nick Adams 31st Jan, ringed in Weymouth
HG 509 seen by Nick Adams 31st Jan, ringed on the Break Waters

As has been mentioned previously our main study is of the Gulls dispersing from the Portland Harbour Break Waters. However we believe nothing should be absolutely rigid and  Gulls have been ringed with Darvic rings carrying our codes in Weymouth and others on the Dorset, Devon Border. 

A freind and colleague Neil Croton lives on the Dorset, Devon Border and at times one of more Great Black Backed Gulls have visited his garden. Naturally being a Bird ringer Neil wondered was it one Gull or more and where does it or they go when not in his garden?

One way to find out was to catch and ring it, if this was possible.

As you can see it was possible, the GBbGull  has been ringed with a BTO metal ring and one of our Darvic rings. Now all we need is some sightings.

Continueing with the slight deviation from our core study. During November 2018 one of our team trapped a Black Headed Gull at Radipole Lake Weymouth, it was ringed with a BTO metal ring and released.

On the 28th Jan 2019 Mark Painter read the ring in the field, with the help of a Telescope at Mayflower Park Southhampton. 

Peter Rock sighted one of our Herring Gulls at Park Ground landfill Bristol on the 23rd jan 2019.

This is a new site for a joint study Peter is running along with Nick Adams.

Herring Gull 605 ringed as a Pulli June 2016 on the Portland Break Waters and this is our first sighting since then. Where it has been is one of the colour ring mysteries.

A Herring Gull ringed in Weymouth, has returned to Radipole Lake in the Town. Where it has been is a mystery as with so many Birds colour ringed by our group and other Group's.

Herring Gull 454 was ringed in Weymouth in July 2015, no sightings until June and July 2018, then nothing until Neil Price sighted it at Radipole, on the 20th January 2019.

Wayne Turner has had another sighting of Great Black Back Gull P:87C , 24 hours after his first sighting of it.

On the 19th Jan 2019 it was 3 kms North East of the first sighting, at Perelle Beach Guernsey.

More photogenic this time.

                                                          Photo  Wayne Turner  ©