Tuesday 7 July 2020

The Teifi

Sixty-two Mediterranean Gulls this morning, following 37 seen yesterday evening at the roost viewed from the Webley Hotel. Three colour-ringed 2nd year birds this morning, only white 3LR2 was present yesterday. White 3FL5 and yellow AZET were new arrivals as was the Black-headed Gull black 2CHN.

(photo Dyfed James)

Not all Gull action at the Webley, 2 adult Sandwich Terns arrived, 3 Dunlin and 3 Black-tailed Godwits plus the more local Gulls and Geese. Of 139 Black-headed Gulls only 2 juveniles. Still early for juvs to reach us and no juv Med Gulls either.

More birders and photographers are recording colour-ring sightings, please note those of us who are regular colour-ring observers abbreviate our notes on the blog. Which leg the colour-ring is on is often helpful and also to note the position of a metal ring.

In the scheme to which  most of these Med Gulls belong, the colour-ring is placed on the right leg if ringed as a juvenile in a colony and on the left leg if an adult when ringed. The French in particular place the metal ring on the tibia (above the knee) most other countries ring on the tarsus (below the knee).

Don't let this put you off sending photos or partial sightings. The colour, the leg, and any position of rings often can identify the bird to the site of ringing even if not the full individual's details. The colour of rings often denote the year of ringing, so even the colour might help us age a bird. All great information, the more colour ring sightings the better.
Thanks in advance - on behalf of all ringers.

(sev obs)