Recent ringing recoveries of interest Summer 2001

An increasing amount of information is being gleaned from reading of colour rings. Many of these relate to a specific project within the recording area; Dave Sowters Lesser Black-backed Gull study which includes Bowland. Pete Crooks has been conscientiously recording these and other colour-ringed gulls on the river by Lancaster Tip. An interesting aspect of the colour ringing has involved contacting the organisers to see if there have been any subsequent sightings of birds recorded in this area. So far we have received some most interesting information on Mediterranean Gulls, notably 36A. An attempt is in hand, for example, to see if there have been any subsequent sightings of the Black-winged Stilt recorded at Leighton Moss a few years ago. Many thanks to everyone for forwarding recoveries.

Mediterranean Gull

Bruxelles:
E-900563 & 09J
Ringed Zeebrugge Outer Harbour, Belgium, Pull, 51 20N 3 11E, 11/06/2000
Read in field Heysham Harbour and area, SD4060, from 31/7/00to 1/10/00

This bird was ever present on the outfalls during the first month or so but latterly became very erratic

Netherlands:
3471142 & 7FJ,
Ringed Stellendam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, Pull 51 49N 4 04E, 03/06/1999
Read in field Dockacres gravel pit, Carnforth, Lancs, 54 08N 2 48W, 29/4 & 2/5/00
Read in field Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais, France 50 43N 1 37E, 27/6-19/7/00

This pattern is becoming established. Northward wandering by first summer birds during the breeding season
followed by mid-summer return south towards the natal area/northern France.

Netherlands:
3449427 & 36A
Ringed Volkerakmeer, Zeeland, Netherlands Pull 51 38N 4 12E, 05/06/1990
Read in field Heysham P.S. outfalls, Lancs 54 02N 2 55W, 25-26/8/90
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 10/08/1991
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 25/07/1992
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 14/10/1992
Read in field Zeebrugge, Belgium 51 19N 3 12E, 10-13/4/93
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 20/8-2/9/93
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 29/07/1994
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 20/7 & 18/8/97
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 25/7-5/9/98
Read in field Wimereux, Pas de Calais, France 50 46N 1 37E, 7/9 & 3/10/98
Read in field Swanage, Dorset 50 36N 1 57W, 28/08/1999
Read in field Lac d'Hossegor, Landes, France 43 40N 1 25W, 17/03/2000
Read in field Le Portel, Pas de Calais, France 50 42N 1 34E, 27/7-25/8/00
Read in field Wimereux, Pas de Calais, France 50 46N 1 37E ,11 & 28/9/00

This bird was, at the time, the most northerly sighting involving a ringed juvenile. Although only the post-breeding season sightings have been well-documented, there is a hint of nesting in Belgium and wintering in western France.

Swallow:
N958020,
Ringed Lyth valley Cumbria, Pull, SD4858, 17/08/2000
Released alive Tinerhir, Ouarzazate, MOROCCO 31 31N 5 32W 12/10/2000, 2508km

The recovery rate from Swallow pullus ringing in this area has been atrocious. Could this be due to a combination
of ring prices and much reduced roost ringing to the south of here?

Goldcrest :
Denmark:
A28540,
Ringed Blavand Obs., Blavandshuk DENMARK, 5M 55 33N 8 05E, 09/04/2001
Controlled Heysham Observatory (Red Nab), 54 03N 2 54W, 02/05/2001
This is a very odd recovery for which there is no obvious explanation other than the bird appeared to be lost!

Pied Wagtail
J322236
Ringed: Pine Lake 3J, 6/8/93
Shot: Cambados, Pontevedra, SPAIN, 42 31N 8 49W, 8/12/93

Only just received!

Willow Warbler
6Y2043
Ringed: Easter Inch Moss, Blackburn, Lothian SCOTLAND, 3JM, 14/8/97
Caught and released: Heysham Obs. 26/4/01 208km