crapbirder
Well-known member
Adult, female based on size and structure, Lesser Black-backed Gull, (Larus fuscus) observed at some length at Cley Marshes, Norfolk, UK on the evening of 2 September 2017. Experienced observer considered it may have been nominate fuscus on overall plumage, wing tip pattern and 'feel' though a dark intermedius was not ruled out.
The bird carried a white, unmarked plastic ring above the right knee with a black geolocator pack attached on the side of the ring. No alpha-numeric coded plastic rings were seen on either leg and both legs were seen well as the bird walked through relatively shallow water though the observer caught sight of what may have been a metal ring a couple of times,
Extensive searches online since the sighting revealed a number of projects that have used satellite packs( strapped between the wings) or geolocators, stretching back to 2009 (used from Netherlands to northern Norway). All of these with backpacks were ignored and those with geolocators only, seemed to use alpha-numeric coded colour-rings as well. The geolocator pack was considered to be newly applied based solely on the fact that the white ring looked pristine and not stained in any way.
The gull roosts at Cley Marshes are extensively watched by some very experienced laridophiles but this one has them foxed and they would be delighted to receive any help with tracing the origin of this bird.
The bird carried a white, unmarked plastic ring above the right knee with a black geolocator pack attached on the side of the ring. No alpha-numeric coded plastic rings were seen on either leg and both legs were seen well as the bird walked through relatively shallow water though the observer caught sight of what may have been a metal ring a couple of times,
Extensive searches online since the sighting revealed a number of projects that have used satellite packs( strapped between the wings) or geolocators, stretching back to 2009 (used from Netherlands to northern Norway). All of these with backpacks were ignored and those with geolocators only, seemed to use alpha-numeric coded colour-rings as well. The geolocator pack was considered to be newly applied based solely on the fact that the white ring looked pristine and not stained in any way.
The gull roosts at Cley Marshes are extensively watched by some very experienced laridophiles but this one has them foxed and they would be delighted to receive any help with tracing the origin of this bird.
