Promoting observation, free range exploration, sense of place and citizen science, through the field notes of a naturalist.







Saturday 27 February 2016

Not from Denny Island it seems



Stuck in the middle of the Severn Estuary, Denny Island is the overseas territory of Gwent. Famed for its cormorant colony, breeding rock pipit and a few other bits and pieces this is the outcrop that veteran naturalist Colin Titcombe attempted to walk to at low tide. His book Gwent: its landscape and natural history (1998) recalls the resultant adventure. The cormorant colony was also the subject of an annual colour ringing pilgrimage by members of the Goldcliff Ringing Group. It was therefore reasonable to assume that the colourfully ringed bird loafing on the floating island at Dunlop Semtex Pond, Brynmawr  last weekend was the product of such a mission. Not so it seems! After some research and correspondence the bird (Green AR) in the above image was tracked down to the Dutch ringing programme. Although I still await specific details its been confirmed it was ringed at Oostvaardersplaseen in the Ijsselneer area.


I've also received other recovery news over the last week for a couple of black-headed gulls. Firstly white AF460 that's been around Tredegar House for most of this winter was confirmed as a German bird. Summary of its history is as follows:
  • Ringed at Helgoland, Germany 12 March 2013
  • Observed at Pilling, Northampton, UK 12 January 2014
  • Observed at Helogland, Germany 02 July 2015.

Secondly the bird that showed well on the urban frontage of the River Usk, Newport early December 2015 was, as suspected, a Polish bird ringed as a pullus at Zachodniopomorskie on 8th June 2012.



Finally I've not had a colour ringed lesser black- backed gull for a couple of years, so this one, white 7WH, on the rooftop around Asda, Brynmawr was a welcome change. Details coming some.




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