East Dales Ringing Group

Here are some recent sightings of BHG’s ringed by EDRG.

Black-headed Gull EL85444

Ringed as a juvenile at Upper Barden Reservoir on 19 June 2005, this BHG was seen in Nelson, Lancashire on 3 December 2022 only 24km (15 miles) from its original ringing site and 17 years and 6 months later!

Black-headed Gull EL85113

Ringed as a juvenile at Upper Barden Reservoir on 19 June 2005, this BHG was taken to Ashlands Veterinary Centre at Glusburn nr Bradford in an unhealthy and weak state on 26 June 2021 some  16 years later.

Black-headed Gull EG06335

Ringed as a nestling at Upper Barden Reservoir on 20 June 1999, this BHG was found freshly dead in nearby Addingham, 10km from the ringing site, but found almost 22 years later on 30 May 2021.

Black-headed Gull EL36679

Ringed as a nestling at Upper Barden Reservoir on 29 June 2003 this BHG was spotted at Hyde Park, London on 17 December 2019 the ring having been read in the field. The gull, which is over 13 years old travelled 304km (189 miles in a SSE direction.

Black-headed Gull ET53375

This BHG has been reported at Marine Lake, Southport for at least the last five winters.  It has now been given colour rings and so perhaps there might be even more sightings!  It is 21 years old and was originally ringed on 20 June 1999 at Upper Barden Reservoir. The colour rings left below knee BW(2X71), right below knee M were applied on 10 December 2020 by ringers Christmas and Christmas

Black-headed Gull ET60248

First ringed as a nestling on the 22 June 1997, this BHG was found freshly dead at Belmont Reservoir, Blackburn with Darwen on the 24 April 2020 some 53km (33 miles) SW from its original ringing site and nearly 23 years later.

Black-headed Gull ET60186

First ringed as a nestling on 22 June 1997, this BHG was found freshly dead on the beach at Hightown, Merseyside, 7772 days and 89km (55 miles) SW of the original ringing site and over 20 years later.

Black-headed Gull ET53375

First ringed as a nestling at Upper Barden Reservoir on 20 June 1999, this long-lived BHG was seen at Marine Lake, Southport, Merseyside, UK on 19 March 2018, 79km WSW from it’s original site but almost 19 years later!

Black-headed Gull EL36714

Ringed at Upper Barden as a nestling on 29 June 2003, this bird was spotted at Redcar Tarn, Keighley, West Yorkshire on 3 July 2017. The bird had travelled only 15km (9 miles) but is 14 years old now.

Black-headed Gull ET60265 

Ringed at Upper Barden as a nestling on 22 June 1997. This bird was found dead by the River Keer near Marsh House Farm in Lancashire on 14 August 2016. This bird was 19 years old and had travelled 55km (34 miles) from the ringing site.

Black-headed Gull EG40866

Ringed at Upper Barden as a nestling on 25 June 2000. This bird was found dead on 12 August 2016 in Sutton in Craven. The bird was 16 years old and had travelled only 14km from its ringing site.

Black-headed Gull EL02436

Ringed at Upper Barden as a nestling on 16 June 2002. This bird was also colour ringed with markings Left below knee RW92H96. This bird was predated by a cat in Otley, West Yorkshire on 8 August 2016. This bird was 14 years old but had travelled only 22km from its ringing site.

Black-headed Gull EW28524

Ringed at Upper Barden as a nestling on 25 June 2006. This bird was found dead in Skipton, North Yorkshire on 3 August 2016. It was 10 yeas old and had travelled only 6km from its original ringing site.

Black-headed Gull EL57460

Ringed at Upper Barden, North Yorkshire on 13 June 2004, this BHG was seen in Booterstown, Dublin on 11 January 2016, a distance of 288km (179 miles).