Black-headed Gull 5471338

 No, I haven't been out breaking any lockdown rules in order to see some new gulls, the bird in the title is one that I recorded back in September 2019 (!) at Rufford, and the results of where and when it  was ringed have just come back.

When I spotted the bird, a first winter, I could see that its metal ring had the word Germany stamped on it. After quite a few photos I managed to get the whole ring number and sent off details.

Black-headed Gull 5471338

Anyway, the results show that the bird was ringed, as a pullus, on 6th June 2019, 544km away on an inland lake called Auesee Nue in Wesel, Dusseldorf. My sighting was the first since ringing. It was a good sighting as this was my first German-ringed Black-headed Gull.

Year List 2021

It's the second day of 2021, but, due to COVID 19 restrictions I've not been out birding yet this year. Instead I've started this year's Year List from the back garden and from a shopping trip to the supermarket!!

The first bird of 2021 was Carrion Crow, followed quickly by Blackbird and a single Goldfinch on the feeders. The biggest surprise of the year, so far, was the 6th species I saw, a Raven, being mobbed by 2 Crows as it flew low over the garden!! Here's the list so far.

Year List update:

1 – Carrion Crow

2 – Blackbird

3 – Goldfinch

4 – Magpie

5 – Lesser Black-backed Gull

6 – Raven (garden on 1^st!)

7 – Starling

8 – Chaffinch

9 – Woodpigeon

10 – Black-headed Gull

11 – Coal Tit

12 – Collared Dove

13 – Greenfinch

14 – Jackdaw

15 – Rook

16 – Mistle Thrush

17 – Blue Tit

18 – Wren

19 – Robin

Year List 2020 - 175 species

 Well, 2020 is over and we're back in Lockdown!!

This year, despite everything, I've managed to see a reasonable number of 175 species of birds. The last bird of the year being a Red-necked Grebe, at Colwick Country Park that I saw on 21st December.

Red-necked Grebe

The highlight of the year has to be the Bearded Vulture,(my one and only lifer of 2020) that turned out to a be a 2nd year bird (born in 2019) that had flown over 1000km from the Alps in south eastern France.

Other interesting birds included two British ticks, Caspian Tern and Hoopoe, whilst the Grey Phalarope in Derbyshire was also a great record. 

Let's hope COVID is brought under control quickly and we can all get out and about birding soon.

Year List update:

175 - Red-necked Grebe.