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Herring Gull
Larus argentatus at
the harbour of Hirtshals.
Herring Gull ringed July 2001, by Hannu Nystrøm in Tampere Finland at
the nest as a downy young, reported (and photographed) in Hirshals,
Denmark, seven month and 14. days later on February 12. 2002, again
same place February 2004 and finally this Saturday October 16. 2004.
Its not that often You can actually study the developing plumage of
any Gull.
But take a good look at these pictures and check out the coloured
ring.
C020S. It is the same bird. This is the same individual Herring Gull
(Larus argentatus) and, for that matter with three years difference,
caught standing on almost the same spot, namely at a concrete fence at
the Hirtshals Harbour on the north western coast of peninsula Jutland.
The same spot within a kilometre, but with a time span of almost three
years between the first pictures taken, and the last one, showing he
subadult bird. Three years between the pic, showing the first winter
bird on February 2002, seven months and two weeks after it was ringed
as a downy young, at the nest, in Tampere Finland, and the last one
recaptured on a rainy Saturday October the 16. 2004 again in
Hirtshals. The bird returning, after its yearly trip back to Finland
to spend what will be its third winter in
this Danish industrial fishing hot spot situated on the north-western
coast of peninsula Jutland.
Compare the birds developing carriage over the years.
From the first winter youngster with the attitude almost of a puppy,
never the less having just done the distance of the 893 kilometres
from Finland to Denmark, and into the fourth winter bird, from
Saturday October 16 2004 showing the proud and more experienced
attitude of a fully adult Gull, with only small black markings on the
bill to give away that this is in fact still a young guy with a lot to
learn.
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