Colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull in Christchurch Harbour, July 2008

Adult Mediterranean Gull - July 2008 Alan Hayden

Details of a colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull seen in July 2008 are given below. If you see this individual or any other birds, please email us and we will pass the information on. Multiple sightings are welcome.

Right leg below knee: Long White with Code 36K5

17 May 2007 ringed at Noordelijk, Insteekdok, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, as a third calendar year (second-summer), and has been seen on:

14 July 07 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, France
25 August 07 St Helen's Millpond, Isle of Wight
28 August 07 Foreland nr. Bembridge, Isle of Wight
22 March 08 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerp, Belgium
02 April 08 Zwijndrecht, Antwerp, Belgium
03 April 08 Zwijndrecht, Antwerp, Belgium
04 April 08* Zwijndrecht, Antwerp, Belgium
25 April 08 Noordelijk, Insteekdok, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
24 July 08 Stanpit Marsh

* On this occasion, the bird was confirmed as a female and had paired with colour-ringed male, 3N13.

The life history indicates a clear pattern of summer, westward dispersal from the Belgian breeding colony.