This will probably be our last post of 2021 we wish all ringers and ring readers a very Happy New Year 2022.

A short post to finish off the year.

Great Black Backed Gull P:15F another of this years ringing. We received the first sighting since ringing from Shaun Grove via the West Cornwall Ringing Group and Mark Grantham. Seen by Shaun on the 23rd December in Newlyn Harbour Cornwall.

No post would be complete with out GBBGull P:43A now named old faithful, back at Perelle Beach Guernsey on the 29th December seen by Wayne Turner and Dave Andrews.

 Sightings have been absent during the two recent storms that hit Northern France and most of the UK particularly the North.

The latest sightings are of Great Black Backed Gull P:38D which has returned to Perelle Beach on Guernsey, seen there on the 14th December by Wayne Turner and Abby Oliveira.

                                                                    Photo Wayne Turner

Second sighting since fledging.

Anther great Black Backed Gull P:13F was sighted once more at Douarnenez Brittany on the 16th December. This is the second sighting from this site. Previous sightings were from Perelle Beach Guernsey.

 A short post for the end of November featuring 3 species of Gull.

26th November Herring Gull 746 ex rehab was seen back in Weymouth Harbour seen by Keith Betton

29th November Great Black Backed Gull P:16F was still to be seen around the fishing boats in Weymouth Harbour. Seen by Edward Betteridge

30th November  a Black Headed Gull was once more on  Radipole Lake Weymouth. Originally ringed there in January 2011, metal ring was read in the field by Edward Betteridge    

 Two more sightings from Perelle Beach Guernsey thanks to Wayne Turner.

Great Black Backed Gull P:43A the well known resident seen 22nd November.

Great Black Backed Gull P:63D making a return visit 23rd November.

Photo P:63D Wayne Turner.

Ringed June 2019 first sightings were at Perelle in March 2021 nothing from April 2021 to this new sighting. It may over winter on Guernsey or move on only time will tell.

 Sightings from Perelle Beach Guernsey thanks to Wayne Turner, all Great Black Backed Gulls.

P:43A on the 18th November. No list from Guernsey is complete with out this Gull.

P:24F on the 17th November

P:42B on the 18th November

Our first sighting from the Isle of Wight came in this week, Great Black Backed Gull P:59A was seen at Bembridge Harbour on the 21st November by Kevin Duncan.

Ringed originally in June 2012 sightings up to November 2015 from Guernsey, Cornwall & Calvados France then nothing until this sighting from Bembridge.

Great Black Backed Gull P:16F ringed this year is still favouring Weymouth Harbour, seen there on the 23rd November by Tom Gale.

Photo Tom Gale 

Not the normal type of photo of a GBBGull.

 Three sightings from this years Pulli ringed in June.

Metal ring read in the field Great Black backed Gull MA57418 ringed 29th June 2021 on the Portland Break Waters. Seen at Peverell Point, Swanage, Dorset on the 12th November 2021.

Great Black Backed Gull P:22F seen on the 17th November on the Gann Estuary, Dale, Pembrokeshire, Wales  first sighting since ringing and our first from Wales.

                    Photo and sighting by Dave Astin

Great Black Backed Gull P:13F ringed June 29th 2021,  5 sightings at Perelle Beach Guernsey since ringing. The latest sighting has come from Port De Douarnenez, Brittany. Seen there by Sylvain Reyt on the 18th November.

 Latest list from Ian MacLean of Gulls on the Devon Axe Estuary.

GbbGull's 

P:88B seen 22nd October Axe regular with visits to Dawlish Devon Guernsey and Swanage Dorset.

P:04D seen 8th October 3rd sighting since ringing in 2019 all on the Axe

P:79C seen 22nd October  sightings from Otter Estuary Devon, Guernsey and the Axe Devon

Herring Gull 769 seen 24th October ringed locally

From Wayne Turner on Guernsey GBBGull P:13F was still present at Perelle on the 24th October.

                                                                   

Photo Wayne Turner

GBBGull P:24F has made a return visit to Perelle seen 28th October.

                                                                  Photo Wayne Turner

 Guernsey is still the place to see our Great Black Backed Gulls, Wayne Turner has sent us his latest sightings.

From this years fledgelings P:24F 3rd sighting and P:24F 4th sighting at Perelle Beach, both ringed on the same break water.

GBBG P:41C seen on the 18th October also at Perelle. A well travelled Gull since fledging in 2016 it has visited London and the surrounding Counties, Devon and Guernsey several times.

GBBG P:63D  seen also on the 18th October at Perelle, is a regular visitor to Guernsey

GBBG P:73C seen on the 18th October at Perelle has visited Guernsey on a regular basis since fledging in 2016

GBBG P:41C photo Wayne Turner

 Great Black Backed Gull P:83B was ringed in June 2015.Tthe only sightings have so far are from the southern part of Portland. 9 sightings so far. The latest on Portland was on the 9th October seen by Jim Rose.

                                                                     Photo Jim Rose

Seen on the same day 9th October, also on Portland was Great Black Backed Gull P:06D

Photo Jim Rose

In contrast P:06D ringed June 2019 has visited Alderney, Guernsey and now back on Portland.

 

 Ian MacLean sends us regular reports of our Colour ringed Gulls he sees on the Axe Estuary in Devon, this is his latest report.

P:79C seen 30th September a regular in Devon and Guernsey

P:08A seen 1st October a regular on the Axe since 2012

P:31A seen 2nd October a Devon regular

P:62A seen 2nd October a regular in Devon Cornwall and Somerset

Wayne Turner on Guernsey has sighted another of this years fledglings P:36C ringed in June 2021 and this is the first sighting a Perelle Beach on the 1st October.

                                                                Photo Wayne Turner

 Most of our sightings come from our Great Black Backed Gulls, when a sighting comes in from our Herring Gulls it is very welcome as are all sightings.

Sightings from Perelle Beach Guernsey sent in by Abby Oliveira and Wayne Turner.

P:13F seen on the 29th September & 1st October

P:43A seen on the 1st October

                                                            P:13F Photo Wayne Turner

Jim Rose sighted Herring Gull 591 at Lodmoor Weymouth on the 1st October.

Photo Jim Rose

Ringed June 2016 the only previous sighting came from Coverack Cornwall in 2018.

 Considering Slapton Sands Devon is directly across Lyme Bay from our ringing site on Portland, we have received to date just two sightings of our Colour ringed Gulls from there both by Perry Sanders.

Great Black Backed Gull P:32D was seen there on the 23rd September 

                                                                     Photo Perry Sanders

Ringed June 2019 first sighting was at Perelle Beach Guernsey and the last sighting prior to this new one was from Alderney also in the Channel Islands.

Perelle Beach Guernsey continues to be a Mecca for Gulls including ours. Wayne Turner and Abby Oliveira have sent on their recent sightings of our Great Black Backed Gull's.

Seen on the 17th September P:24F, P:43A, P:73C 

Seen on the 20th September P:05D

                     Photos of P:73C and P:05D at Perelle Beach Wayne Turner & Abby Oliveira

 

 Two more of this years fledgelings have been sighted for the first time.

Great Black Backed Gull P:13F was seen at Perelle Beach Guernsey on the 18th September.

Photo and sighting Abby Oliveira

Great Black Backed Gull P:22D flew in the opposite direction to Dungeness in Kent, seen there also on the 18th September by Martin Casemore.

Photo and sighting Martin Casemore

 Great Black Backed Gull's continue to give sightings as they move from to post breeding sites to their over wintering areas. Our Gulls are keeping us busy logging their sightings thanks to the observers who send them in.

Listed in site order not date order are.

From the Axe in Devon courtesy of Mike Hill

GBBGull P:63B last seen October 2019 seen by Mike 9th September 2021

GBBGull P:31A last seen October 2018 on Portland seen by Mike 14th September 2021

GBBGull P:08A last seen on the Axe March 2021 seen by Mike 11th September  2021

GBBGull P:72C only one previous sighting at Belle Isle Brittany November 2016, seen by Mike 13th September 2021

                                                               Digi scope photo Mike Hill

Mike has followed up with GBBGull P:33D also on the Axe on the 15th September. Previously seen on Portland and at Shoreham Harbour.

Guernsey

Dave Murray took a ring reading trip to Guernsey where he located two more of our fledgling GBBGull's ringed on the 22nd June this year.

Both seen at Perelle Beach P:73D seen 8th September and P:38D seen on the 14th September.

No write up would be complete without a mention of GBBGull P;43A now relaxing post breeding on Perelle Beach Guernsey seen there by Wayne Turner on the 15th September.

.

 Sightings from the Axe Estuary Devon.

Ian MacLean sighted Great Black Backed Gull P:62A on the 26th August. Mike Hill saw the same GBBGull also on the Axe on the 28th, 29th, &31st August.

Ian also sighted on the Axe on 26th August GBBGull P:99C, the same Gull was subsequently sighted also on the Axe by Mike Hill on the  28th August & 7th September.

Both Ian and Mike are regular ring readers on the Axe Estuary, their time and patience reading rings is greatly appreciated.

Great Black Backed Gull P:43A was seen at Perelle Beach by Wayne Turner on the 7th September, post breeding.

Along on the Otter Estuary still in Devon Peter Bennett sighted Great Black Backed Gull P:79C on the 9th September, with some unusual companions.

Photo Peter Bennett.

Both species are water birds and have web feet in common, although that is where the similarities end.

 Great Black backed Gull P:35B has been a frequent winter visitor to the La Coruna area of North West Spain.

Photo and sighting Antonio Lopez Porto seen 3rd September at Santa Cruz Beach.

Since being ringed as a Pulli in June 2015, we have received 12 sightings from La Coruna, 1 from Brittany France and 2 from Dawlish Warren Devon England a well travelled Gull.

Another GBBGull P:24F ringed as a Pulli this year was seen at Perelle Beach Guernsey on the 4th September sighting by Wayne Turner and Abby Oliveira.

                                                                   Photo Wayne Turner

 Thanks to the efforts of 4 observers of colour ringed Gulls, Abby Domaille, Wayne Turner both on Guernsey, Mike Hill Axe Estuary Devon and Julian Gernigon Isle de Re France. We have received quite a few sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls recently.

On the Axe Estuary  Devon. P:88B 16th August, P:62A on the 18th & 25th August, P:79C on the 25th August. 

Herring Gull 769 gave its first sighting since being ringed locally to the Axe on the 25th August.

From Guernsey.

GBBG P:43A was seen at Chouet on the 27th August  & L'Eree on the 1st September

P:73C was back at Perelle Beach on the 1st September

                                                         P:55C photo Abby Domaille

P:55C made a return visit to the Isle de Re France seen there by Julian Gernigon on the 30th August.

 

 The first sighting from the Gulls we ringed this year on the Break Waters has arrived.

Abby Domaille sighted Great Black Backed Gull P:92D at Perelle on Guernsey 23rd August.

                                                                  Photo Abby Domaille

 Back on the Axe estuary Devon is Great Black Backed Gull P:62A. This particular GBBGull commutes on a regular basis between the Axe and the Reservoirs in the Chard area of Somerset and Dorset.

Seen on the Axe by Ian MacLean on the 13th August.

Another Great Black Backed Gull P:32D was seen by Paul Veron at Crabby Beach Alderney on the 22nd August. Previous sightings have been on Perelle Beach Guernsey.

 Thanks to Mike Hill we have two sightings from the Devon Axe Estuary, Great Black Backed Gulls that are regular visitors to the Axe.

2nd August P:88B returned there all sightings from the Axe except for three visits elsewhere so far they are Dawlish Warren along the coast still in Devon, West Bexington Dorset and L'Eree airport Guernsey.

3rd August P:62A made a visit also a regular to the Axe with regular trips up to Chard in Somerset.

 Another sighting of Great Black Backed Gull P:56D still in its favoured area of Cornwall in the vicinity of Porthleven and Newlyn. 

A new site for our Gulls Hazelpron Cliffs, seen on the 27th July sighting sent in by the West Cornwall Ringing Group.

 Latest sightings from our Gulls covering three of the English south coast counties and Brittany.

All Great Black Backed Gulls in date order.

25th July P:38B seen at West Bexington Beach n the Jurassic Coast by Mike Morse.

                                                                     Photo Mike Morse

Previously seen at Shoreham Sussex Calvados and Normandy France.

27th July P:16B seen at L'Abbesse  Plougasnou Brittany by Jean Roger Perrot. Also regular along the South coast of Devon and Cornwall.

28th July another one of ours P:18C  at West Bexington Beach seen by Mike Morse . This is the second sighting since ringing in June 2019. First sighting was at Dawlish Devon in 2019.

30th July evening P:66D seen at Slapton Sands Devon by Perry Sanders. Another second sighting since ringing, the previous was in 2020.

We have completed the ringing of Gull Pulli for this year on the Break Waters of Portland Harbour Dorset.

Thanks to permission from and transport provided by the Portland Harbour Authority.

 

Herring Gull 13 ringed with metal and colour rings

Great Black Backed Gulls 89 ringed with a metal ring, 65 of  which also have colour rings.

 A little behind with our posts time to catch up.

Ian MacLean sighted Great Black Backed Gull P:62A making a return visit to the Devon Axe Estuary seen on the 13th July. More commonly seen in land on the Somerset Dorset border near to Chard, on the reservoirs.

In June Wayne Turner made a visit to Lihou island off the coast of Guernsey to see if he could find any evidence of GBBGull P:43A breeding over there. Wayne returned twice in July no success on the first visit although a better result on the 14th July.

On this visit to the possible nest site he found P:43A and a Pulli within some 20 metres of each other and the nest, but no sign of the possible female. We are little nearer to claiming the first record of a Portland gull breeding, but not close enough that will have to wait for next years breeding season.potentially the nest site

                                                               Pulli but who is the parents?

Photos Wayne Turner.

 Herring Gull 816 ringed as a Pulli in June 2019 has given us just two sightings so far, the first was in 2020 seen at Lower Compton Waste transfer site near Bristol.

Now we have the second sighting back in Dorset at West Bexington Beach on the Chesil Bank part of the Jurassic Coast.

Seen there on the 8th July by Mike John Morse.

                                                         Photo Mike John Morse

 Great Black backed Gull P:56D is a devotee of Cornwall, normally seen at Southerly point on the Lizard or Newlyn Harbour.

On the 2nd July P:56D was sighted on the Reef at Porthleven Cornwall. Sighting passed to us by Mark Grantham West Cornwall Ringing Group.

 Thanks to Wayne Turners efforts and a walk across the causeway to Lihou island off the coast of Guernsey. There is the possibility of the first record of a Portland GBBGull breeding.

Wayne found GBBGP:43A with mate who was sitting it appeared on eggs in a nest on the 28th June. Wayne will return at a later date to see if it is possible to confirm breeding.

in the meantime.....

 

 

 Very quiet sightings wise nothing for about a month and then old faithful Great Black Backed Gull P:43A is sighted at Perelle Beach Guernsey. First recorded sighting there for two months.

                                        Sighting and photo by Wayne Turner, seen 8th June 2021

 

 A sighting of Great Black Backed Gull at Perelle Beach Guernsey led to a synchronisation of data bases and 2 new sight previous sightings on Alderney.

GBBGull P:06D seen at Perelle Beach on the 6th May by Wayne Turner in company with a GBBGull B82W ringed in L'Havre France .

                                                                 Photo Wayne Turner 

The 2 previous sightings were from Alderney Channel Islands on the 19th March & 8th August both 2020 by Elliot Montieth and John Horton.

Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has returned once more to Chard Junction Quarry in the Somerset sector seen on the 6th May by Dave Helliar

                                                                   Photo Dave Helliar

Alone on this occasion usually seen in company with another GBBGull which is unringed.

 A Herring Gull found trapped in Weymouth Town centre in 2019, subsequently ringed and released.

Has revisited Radipole Lake in Weymouth. Seen on the 17th April by Neil Price on the Old Bridge by Radipole Lake.

 Wayne Turner found Great Black Backed Gull P:05D had returned to Perelle Beach Guernsey on the 15th April.

Ringed in June 2019 and a Guernsey regular.

                                                                   Photo Wayne Turner

 Our Latest sighting comes from the North West corner of Dorset, from Chard Junction Quarry. Chard Junction is in Dorset, although the Town of Chard is over the border in Somerset, a little bit of rivalry for sure between the two.

It is Great Black Backed Gull P:13B who generated this latest sighting, ringed in June 2013 on the Portland Break Waters (Dorset as are all our GBBGull's) and this is our 4th sighting since then.

In 2014 it was seen on Looe island Cornwall, 2015 at Dawlish Warren Exe Estuary Devon, 2019 back on Portland Dorset at the south part of the island and now 2021 at Chard Junction Quarry.

A good example of the wide ranging travels under taken by Gulls.

                                                      Photo and sighting by Dave Helliar ©

An additional sighting from Dave Helliar on the 12th April Great Black Backed Gull P:62A has made its annual visit to Chard Junction Quarry.

 A regular visitor to Perelle is Great Black Backed Gull P:43A. The latest sighting was on the 1st April thanks to Abby Oliveira and Wayne Turner.

Ian MacLean has sent an up date from the Axe Estuary Devon Great Black Backed Gull P:08A with its 90th sighting all from the Axe except for one occasion when it was seen on the Exe Estuary Devon.

Great Black Backed Gull P:78C has made a return visit to Boulogne sur Mer Harbour, Pays de Calais France see there by Eric Petit-Berghem on the 6th April.

Photo Eric Petit-Berghem©

In between visits to Boulogne it has been seen on Guernsey mostly Perelle Beach.

 Another sighting from Guernsey at a new site for our Gulls Jaonneuse Bay, although close by to another favourite site Chouet. Chouet was a landfill which has now closed.

Abby Domaille sent in a sighting of great Black Backed Gull P:73C a regular visitor to Guernsey seen there on the 28th March at Jaonneuse Bay.

                                                              Photo Abby Domaille ©

 We need to catch up before we get to far behind with the sightings. Wayne Turner has sent in two from Perelle Beach Guernsey.

Great Black Backed Gull P:05D still present on the 3rd March, why move from a nice place.

P:05D Photo Wayne Turner ©

Great Black Backed Gull P:32D was once again at Perelle Beach on the 26th March.

P:32D Photo Wayne Turner ©

 Perelle Beach Guernsey continues to keep and attract the attention of our Great Black Backed Gulls, we have received 2 more sightings from there thanks to Wayne Turner.

Great Black Backed Gull P:63D is continuing its stay there and has been joined by another Great Black Backed Gull P:32D. Both were hatched on the same section of the Break Waters in June 2019. 

This is the first sighting of P:32D since ringing and both Gulls were sighted on the same day 18th March by Wayne.

                                                                  Photo Wayne Turner ©

 Thanks to the efforts of Abby Domaille and Wayne Turner we have a regular supply of sightings from the Channel Island of Guernsey, along with excellent photos which we are always happy to receive.

The latest sightings from Abby and Wayne are all from a site which is proving to be the place for our Gull's at the moment and that is Perelle Beach.

Great Black Backed Gull sightings Perelle Beach.

P:43A seen 6th March by Wayne

P:05D  seen 8th March by Abby

P:42B seen 9th March  by Abby & Wayne

P:63D seen 9th March  by Wayne & Abby

GBBGull P:43A  Wayne Turner

 Perelle Beach Guernsey is the place at the moment to see our Gulls, Wayne Turner has sent us another two sightings from there.

Great Black Backed Gull P:05D was still present on the 5th March, along with a new comer and a first sighting for this new Gull since ringing.

Great Black Backed Gull P:63D ringed during June 2019 and the first sighting was at Perelle Beach on the 5th March.

Photo Wayne Turner ©

 As we mention from time to time it is always nice to get a Herring Gull sighting come in. Thanks to David Bishop we have another one. 

Herring Gull 590 with its first sighting since ringing, seen on the 3rd March at Ferry Bridge between Weymouth and Portland.

Ringed during June 2016 this is the first sighting anywhere, naturally we are very pleased that David sighted it.

Wayne Turner is continuing his good run of Gull sightings on Perelle Beach Guernsey with Great Black Backed Gull P:42B. Seen on its first recorded visit to Guernsey on the 4th March by Wayne.

                                                   GBBGull P:42B Photo Wayne Turner©

Only two other previous sightings to date, 

Coverack Harbour Cornwall Feb 2015 and West Bexington Beach Dorset July 2020. Following on from being ringed as all our Gulls are as a Pulli during June 2014.

  Following on from the closure of the Chouet Landfill, Perelle Beach has taken over as the in place to see Gulls on Guernsey CI.

Thanks to Wayne Turner we have two more sightings of our Great Black Backed Gulls from there.

P:73C has returned to Perelle seen there on 1st March, the last sighting was on the same Beach in September 2020. A regular visitor to Guernsey since it was ringed during June 2016 with one visit to Dawlish Warren Devon and one visit to Normandy.

                                                                    Photo Wayne Turner©

Following in the web steps of the previous GBBG is P:05D with a first sighting anywhere since ringing during June 2019. Seen at Perelle Beach on the 2nd March also by Wayne Turner.

Photo Wayne Turner ©

 Always a little extra buzz when a Gull reappears after a long absence from the data sheets. Great Black Backed Gull P:55A has made a return visit to Saint Vast La Hougue Manche France. Seen there on two occasions during 2013.

The latest sighting was by Olivier Plisson on the 20th February. The previous sighting was on the Devon Axe Estuary in November 2015.

                                                        Photo P:55A Olivier Plisson©

                                                             Saint Vast La Hougue Manche

Great Black Backed Gull P:35B has also made a return visit, in this case to the La Coruna area of Spain.

To Ria do Burgo A Coruna seen there on the 23rd February by Ignacio Aparicio Montero.

                                                  Photo P:35B by Ignacio Aparicio Montero©

Location of La Coruna

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oWbszDrwCgELBCGX9

The last sighting was in this same area during September 2020.

 Herring Gulls don't feature very often in our posts, it is always nice when we can mention one.

Herring Gull 773 was hatched and ringed in Weymouth Town, it has been absent from the Radipole Lake area for the winter. The first sighting for this year was on the 19th February seen by Janice Grove in the Swannery Car Park and seen there again on the 20th February by Neil Price and his Son.

Great Black Backed Gull P:51D ringed June 2019 on the Portland Break Waters, made a return visit to Looe Island Cornwall. Seen there by Claire Lewis on the 29th January 2021.

                                              Photo Claire Lewis © Wardens Assistant Cornwall Wildlife Trust

 One of our most prolific Gulls for sightings has to be Great Black Backed Gull P:43A , clocking up its 109th sighting from the Island of Guernsey. First sighting for this year was on the 13th February at Perelle Beach seen by Wayne Turner.

Appropriately for the day prior to Saint Valentines day with a mate, photo by Wayne Turner. 

A return visit after just over a year since the last sighting  for Great Black Backed Gull P:08A to the Devon Axe estuary seen there by Ian MacLean on the 13th December. Its 87th visit that we know of to the Estuary for this GBBGull.  Since ringing only one other visit to another site which was to the Devon Exe Estuary in Jan 2013.

Another sighting from a little while back of Great Black Backed Gull P:13D  sent in by Alain de Dreff. Seen at Porsmoguer Beach Plouarzel Finistre Brittany on the 13th December 2018 fledging in June the same year.

 All sightings are of interest especially so with Herring Gulls as they don't seem to be as popular as Great Black Backed Gulls, as a result we have a lower number of sightings.

Waste treatment sites help in producing sightings one very popular site with the Gulls is the one at Lower Compton near to Bristol, which is checked on a regular basis by Peter Rock and Nick Adams and we among others benefit from there observations.

Herring Gull 509 returned there on 25th January lured along with other Gulls by the culinary delights on offer.

It has been seen there in previous years 2016, 2018, & January 2019, after which it was seen on the Lower Test Marshes at Southampton that was in February 2019 then nothing until this year.

 Two of our Great Black Backed Gulls have visited Shoreham Harbour Sussex, from sightings received not many of our Gulls go east.

GBBGull P:33D ringed June 2019 gave its second sighting since then at Shoreham on the 21st January 2021.

                                                  P:33D Shoreham Harbour Photo Nick Bond.

                                       

GBBGull ringed in error with Herring Gull rings 628 ringed June 2016 has visited Portland 5 times, the Axe Estuary Devon, Bolougne sur mer and Shoreham on the 21st January 2021.

                                                            628 Photo Richard Fairbank