Ringing Return from the Mediterranean Gull

Map of Mediterranean Gull from Ringing Site to Warnham LNR

Some of you may remember that we have recently had an adult Mediterranean Gull at Warnham LNR. When it first arrived I noted it had a metal ring on but unfortuntely it was only visible for a few seconds as it preened on one of the tern rafts. I was then dealt a real stroke of luck as the bird returned when the lake was frozen and I was able to read the ring number. I knew it had been ringed in Holland as this is written on the ring but where abouts exactly we would have to wait and see. I sent the data off a week ago and had the following reply this morning.

It was ringed as pulli (a chick) at Schouwen-Duiveland, Kerkwerve, Zeeland, Netherlands on the 14th June 2004. This means that it has travelled 299km to visit Warnham LNR from its ringing site and has survived 8 Years, 5 Months and 22 Days! (See the above map for details of direction etc) Hopefully we will get some more cold weather soon which will allow us to find more ringed gulls and wildfowl.