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Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Ring-billed Gull Photo Index
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Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis |
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Rare transatlantic visitor
There are 21 published records of Ring-billed Gull in the region up to 2005, with 12 from Worcestershire, four from Staffordshire, three from Warwickshire and two from the West Midlands County. Thus, Worcestershire has been by far the most productive county, with a series of early spring records suggesting a regular movement of one or two individuals through the county, presumably involving birds which are now permanently resident on this side of the Atlantic. There were five in Worcestershire during 2002, with four during late March and April. Of the 21 published records in the region as a whole, 13 involved adults, five second-years and three first years. The monthly distribution was as follows:
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Thus, although a statistically small sample, the distribution suggests that records involve a combination of purposeful spring passage and more random winter arrivals.
Westport Lake, second-winter, November 16th 1981.
Westport Lake, first-summer, March 14th - 16th 1987.
Chasewater, adult, February 14th 1999.
Blithfield Reservoir, February 15th 2003.
Coton, adult, December 20th 1987.
Draycote Water, second-summer, April 13th - 21st 1991.
Draycote Water, second-summer, March 30th 1998.
Throckmorton, adult, March 2nd - 5th 1986.
Throckmorton, first-winter, February 16th & 17th 1989.
Bredons Hardwick, second-winter, November 21st 1989.
Bredons Hardwick, adult, April 5th - 12th 1997.
Bredons Hardwick, adult, March 31st - April 7th 2002, with two from April 1st - 4th.
Ryall, adult, April 3rd - 21st 2002.
Bredons Hardwick, second-summer, April 7th & 13th 2002.
Bredons Hardwick, adult, April 11th, 12th, 13th &23rd 2002 (probably the Ryall bird).
Throckmorton Tip, adult, November 23rd 2002.
Bredons Hardwick, April 6th - 11th 2003.
Lower Moor, adult, February 6th 2005, with assumed same
in the roost at Westwood Park on February 8th & early 9th 2005.
Westwood Pool, adult, March 3rd & 7th, 2005
Queslett Tip, adult, March 8th & 15th 1989.
Fens Pools, adult, January 3rd 1996.
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