ringed Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus L.), Eastney, Hampshire 7th Feb 2014

Before the month is out, I should not forget to post about the BTO ringed adult Meditteranean gull, which I photographed at Eastney on the 07/02/14 - as the history of the bird has now been obtained from the BTO ringing scheme.

On the day, I could only take a hasty shot to capture the leg ring details, before the gull was flushed by a dog walker. Although no detailed observation could be made of the metal ring (RBM), I was able to secure the details of the second ring i.e. LBY (2E28).

          Having sent the record off to BTO on the night of the 7th, I received the following information the next day:

The bird (metal ring No. EG61729) was ringed as PULLUS 09/07/10 in Old Moor, Barnsley, South Yorkshire GB by Dave Waddington - it was later recorded as a JUV at another site in South Yorkshire on 11/08/10.

Interestingly, all subsequent reported sightings of this gull have been from Hampshire.

The first of which, was when it was observed as a 2w bird on 21/01/12 at Hayling Island. As an adult bird, it has then been recorded eight times. Seven of which were by the same observer at Titchfield Haven between the dates 03/03/13 - 29/04/13. The last by myself as per the information provided 08/02/14.

Bird-ringing at a local Country Park

I assisted my BTO trainer with bird-ringing at a local country park this morning; unfortunately my 07:30 start was delayed by 25 minutes due to an unhelpful sat-nav directing me to the wrong park entrance. I must learn to read a road map whilst driving.

On arrival at the ringing site, the first net round had already been collected and processing had started. My first bag gave me the opportunity to study a winter thrush in the hand in the form of the redwing Turdus iliacus. Redwing are characteristically winter visitors although small numbers breed mainly in Scotland. As a target bird for the ringing session a number of redwing were successfully processed throughout the morning each receiving colour ring combinations as well as a number ring.

Despite a well considered health and safety warning and precise handling instructions from my trainer - I still elected to process the next bird. Somewhat different in both its size and disposition from the redwing, the 3 ♀ sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus was to strong for my less experienced hands and the bird was passed to my trainer to complete the processing. The size of the bird had immediately suggested a ♀ and this was confirmed by its wing length being significantly longer than the max. range for ♂♂ it was aged via the amount of chestnut colouring which was still present in both its wing and tail feathers. The thumb and index finger of my left hand bore the brunt of the hawks displeasure in being handled and the power in the grip of its talons is not something I think I could easily forget.

Later in the morning I had the opportunity to process a small number of greenfinch Carduelis chloris. These birds are simply beautiful in the hand. Greenfinch can be sexed according to the amount and distribution of yellow on the leading edge of the primary wing feathers: on the ♂♂ the yellow extends all the way to the feather shaft whilst on the ♀♀ the yellow does not reach this far across the width of the primary.

Blackbird Turdus merula were also processed including a 4 ♂ whose wing length was indicative of a Scandinavian winter migrant. Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, great tit Parus major, dunnock Prunella modularis and a single robin Erithacus rubecula made up the rest of the morning's catch.

A rare autumn passage migrant at Titchfield Haven

An adult aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola generated a whole lot of excitement early this morning for both bird-ringers and paying public alike, when it was ringed and released at Titchfield Haven N.N.R. The aquatic warbler whilst in passing resembles the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus stands out from the latter due to its bright cream-coloured central crown-stripe and it's streaked back, rump and upper tail-coverts. The bird was aged as an adult because of its streaked underparts. This rare autumn passage migrant was last recorded in Hampshire in September 2007 when a 1st yr bird was ringed and released - again at Titchfield Haven.

This migrant passes through the South of England in the autumn en-route from it's breeding grounds in Eastern Europe to West Africa where it will over-winter.

The aqautic warbler is a SPEC 1 species with Unfavourable conservation concern (global concern) and also a RED List and UK BAP priority species.

For the author the bird was both a Life list and Hampshire bird tick.