Gull-ringing - Ribble Estuary - 20th June 2012

 Juvenile Herring Gull

Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull

Today I visited the Ribble Marshes for my 2nd trip helping with the Herring and Lesser Black-back project. This is the first time I've been to a large gull colony ringing so it was rather exciting. We caught about 30 birds with 3 Lesser Black-backs, c27 Herring, plus 2 Greater Black-backs that we didn't ring due to lack of H rings. Still very impressive birds to handle (the weight difference is incredible!)
It was a very hot day and I now qualify to live in the deep south of America being a red neck!
I have also never been onto the deep Ribble marshes so it was a very unique experience. A thoroughly enjoyable day.