Mediterranean Gull - White E742

Last week, during a short stop-off at Glynn to check the black-headed gull flock for colour-rings, I noticed four Mediterranean gulls preening and bathing at the edge of the tide.

Mediterranean & black-headed gulls

Med gulls aren't an unusual sight at Glynn, up to six pairs have bred on the nearby RSPB reserve at Blue Circle Island. While I was admiring their handsome summer plumage, however, I noticed that one of the birds was colour-ringed.

When I got home, I checked the cr-birding website, which told me the person to contact was Camille Duponcheel, so I sent an email off to Camille and eagerly awaited a reply. 

I didn't have to wait long to hear that White 742 had been ringed as a pullus by Frank Majoor on De Kreupel Island, Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands on 21 June 2012.

My sighting was the first of E742 since ringing, but it was closely followed by another sighting at Glynn by Cameron Moore.

Photo by Cameron Moore

It appeared to be paired up, so perhaps it will breed on Blue Circle Island this year. 

Thanks to Camille for the information and Cameron for the photo.