The Black-headed have been back for a little while now, their numbers on the foreshore between Crabtree Wharf and Hammersmith Bridge are almost at winter level already. And there are a lot more juveniles this year than last. But what I'd really like is a
Med(iterranean) Gull, so I keep on scanning. I mentioned it to Louis in Chiswick yesterday and he texted me that he had just seen one by the Eyot. By then, it was a bit too late for me to go and check, but, early this morning, instead of going to the allotment I went to search for a Med Gull. No such luck. But, as I was scanning the gulls I noticed that one had a colour ring, so I grabbed my camera and tried a few shots. At last, it got closer and presented the right profile: white UYC on right leg.
At home, I checked my records and realised I had seen this bird before, as I was off-patch, in Ladbroke Grove, last February. There is a bridge over the canal, with a Sainsbury's on one side, it was on a building on the other side:
I did at the time report my sighting via the
BTO website after I had no reply contacting the marker directly (as recommended). From what I gather, this bird has probably been rung in Denmark, but it's been almost 6 months now and I have not had any reply. I shall try again with this second sighting, and we'll see how that goes...
