Herring Gull

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (letter 'P' into the code)

Please report your sightings using the new POLRING platform, where you are getting an immediate access to the life histories. Please visit ring.stornit.gda.pl and register to create an account. After your account is created, you may add records of birds you resighted (by using option 'New record'). There are many fields to fill in, that define your records precisely, but in  most cases you just select one option from the predefined list. You may upload photographs accompanying the record of course. When you use the platform, it is a matter of hours (up to 2 days) to have an access to the full life-history of the bird, assuming that ringing data are in the system (they are not only if a bird was ringed very recently, the system then asks the ringer to provide data as soon as possible. This is anyway sooner than email). If you experience any problems using the system, write to:
ptaki@miiz.waw.pl

note 1 : gulls are ringed since 2000 in central and southern Poland as either breeding adults or chicks.
note 2 : species are L. argentatus (mainly central Poland), L. cachinnans, L. michahellis (mainly southern Poland) and hybrids between these three (everywhere). One L. fuscus and two hybrids L. fuscus x L. argentatus have also been ringed.
note 3 : there are quite many hybrids, not always possible to identify in the field, so please take a digiphoto if possible.

Green ring  with a white 3 alpha code (on left tarsus) and metal ring (on right tarsus.

note 1 :

Green ring with a white code (letter 'M') and combination of 3 rings.

note 1 : used colours are white, blue, yellow, black, orange, red and dark green.

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter 'X').

note 1 : birds ringed in the Baltic region.

note 2 : used code are 1994 : X001-X050 ; 1995 : X051-X400 ; 1996 : X401-X000 ; 1997 : XA.., XE..,XL.., XM.., XP.. ; 1998 : XM.., XT.., XX.. ; 1999 : XC.., XD.., XH.., XJ..; 2000 : XR.., XY.., XH.., XC.., X..A, X..J. ; 2011 : X1J3 - X0J0 and X0E1 - X0E0.

note 2 : some gulls were ringed in the inland near Dresden with code XU.. or X+3 letters (f.e. XEAC).

note 3 : during 2012 codes with the letters A, C and H between the digits will be used.

note 4 : some hybrids are ringed L. argentatus x L. cachinnans.

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter 'A').

note 1 :  used codes are AA, AB, AC, AD, AF, AH + 2 digits.

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letters 'AX') (on right tarsus).

note 1 : used code are AX01-AX50.
 

Light-green / lime ring with a black two alpha code.

note 1 : used codes are with a ":" or a "+" between the two letters.

note 2 :

Light-green (lime) ring with a 2 alpha-numeric code code.

note 1 : rings are placed above the knee (on the tibia) for better observation results in the colony (high vegetation) and on rubbish-dumps. All other colours (with vertical placed codes) above the knee are also part of this project.

note 2 : Same codes can be used by other large gull species. If you have doubts about the species and/or code, please note the age and position of all the rings, including the metal ring.

note 3 : used letters/numers are : A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, + and =. Only the letters I, O and Q are never used

note 4 : In this project are also used a combination of two coloured rings with both one letter or number at each tibia.

note 5 : 

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric  code (starting letter 'K')

note 1 : 50 birds ringed in Russian Karelia, no metal ring.

Pale-green ring with a white code (on left leg) and metal ring (on right leg).

note 1 : these rings were used for 200 birds at each of the following colonies in 1997 only. R = Ribble Estuary National Nature reserve (53°42'N/02°55'W) ; T = Tarnbrook Fell colony (54°01'N/02°35'W) ; W = South Walney Nature reserve (54°03'N/03°12'W).
note 2 : Use of colour rings to study inter-colony movement and feeding/roosting sites of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at three sites in NW England. The NW Gull project, which involves ringing and colour marking juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls at three large colonies, as well as a smaller number of adult and Herring gulls has now been running each year since 1997 with exception of 2001. A smaller number of gulls have also been ringed at roost or feeding sites. The project's aim is to look at the level of movement between colonies and the interaction between gulls at feeding/roosting sites as well as on migration.

The project started in 1997 with a pilot study using green rings with a white code letter for the colony ; R=Ribble, T=Tarnbrook Fell , W=South Walney. Between 1998 and 2000 black rings with three yellow letters and one number were used. The initial letter indicates the colony and is the same as that used in 1997. There was no ringing in 2001 because of the restiction relating to Foot & Mouth Disease.

The project continued in 2002 and is to continue until at least 2005, though the number of gulls marked each year will be reduced. The colour rings used are of the same type as described above for 1998-2000. It is intended to analyse date based on sightings and reports from individuals, bird clubs and through national organisations like the BTO and the large gull coordinator Peter Rock.

Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve (53°42'N/02°55'W).
In cooperation with Mike Gee/Dick Lambert, English Nature Wardens and SW Lancs Ringing Group, who have carried out some ringign for most years since the mid-1980's. The site within salt marsh near the mouth oft he River Ribble and is subject to periodic flooding by high tides, which influences the level of teh breeding success in some years.

Tarnbrook Fell, Forest of Bowland (54°01'N/02°35'W).
With permission and sponsorship from Grosvenor estates, Abbeystead and Mr. R. Banks, the Abbeystead Estate Manager, and Mr. I. Grindy of United Untilities for Brennenand estates. Dr John Coulson and associates had undertaken studies and control measures at this site since at least the mid 1980's. The colony is within heather, grass and peat-hag moorland at a height of 450-530 metres. It is here that culling and menaged disturbance over a number of years has been used in an effort to improve the qulaity of the local water supply.

South Walney Nature Reserve (54°03'N/03°12'W).
With permission of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the warden(s) of the reserve. There has been ringing of gulls on this dune site at the south end of Walney usland since at least the early 1960's. Theringing was continued led by Ian Spence and Rob Shaw through the 1980's and 1990's.

Colour rings used are :
1997 : Pale-Green showing white single letter code indicating the ringing site : R=Ribble , T=Tarnbrook , W=Walney.
1998-2005 : Black showing yellow 4-letter/number combination code with initial with the letter indicating the site as in 1997.