A New Year surprise!
Friday, 01 January 2021 10:43 |
Walk across the Renteria bridge in Gernika on any winter day and you will see more than 200 seagulls hovering over the river. When they come to rest on the railing, you will get a great view of their elegant winter plumage. These beautiful birds are black headed gulls (Chroicocephalusridibundus), a very abundant species of gull in central and northern Europe. Although there are some individuals which breed in the Iberian Peninsula, the vast majority that can be seen here are migrants from the regions of Europe mentioned above.
And the good news is that his work has paid off ! He downloaded the photos on New Year´s Eve and the information was easy to read. What a surprise! Information shown on the ring An old friend has returned! It is the same bird that he photographed on the bridge a year ago. Having reproduced in the center of Europe, the gull has come back to its favourite wintering spot.
It is 1019 km as the crow (or gull) flies from Gernika to Berendrecht This seagull has been observed in Gernika twice, once in 2018 and once in 2019. We are sure, however, that she has wintered here on many other occasions. We have also been able to identify individuals from Malmo (Sweden) and Gdansk (Poland) in this flock of gulls. Why not join is in our investigation? You can read the rings of these wonderful travellers too. All you need is a camera. Come to Gernika and collaborate in the identification of these amazing birds. Origins of the black headed gulls identified in Gernika. Finally, from all at Urdaibai Bird Center, the best of luck to our Belgian friend in 2021. We hope to see her again next winter on her favorite bridge in Gernika. |