Friday 1 July 2011

Gulls and Owls

On Wednesday evening I met Dave Parsons from East Norfolk Ringing Group to climb on to the roof of Yarmouth Steel Services where Dave has been observing the growth of two Herring Gull chicks; conveniently visible from his office window at neighbouring Fugro Survey Ltd.

Upon reaching the top of the roof inspection ladder we were greeted with the sight of not two but three gull chicks. The third one was very small and given that it's long term future didn't look too promising it was decided not to ring it - a wise decision as it was found dead during a roof inspection several weeks later. The two healthy chicks were quickly caught up and ringed with a fantastic view of the Gapton Hall Industrial Estate. Thanks are due to Yarmouth Steel Services for allowing us access to their roof.

Herring Gull pulli

Safely back on Terra Firma, Dave and I met Sharon Yardy, another member of ENRG, and headed out to check a Barn Owl box located in an old stock shed near Candle Dyke. Three healthy chicks were ringed and replaced in the box which has another compartment below; checking this revealed a Stock Dove's nest containing the usual array of warm and cold eggs.

Sharon with Barn Owl pulli from Candle Dyke

The team then drove to Billocky to check a Barn Owl box. The box, actually a disused cold water tank in the corner of an old barn, is reached by a route resembling a serious obstacle course. Dave did the ladder work and discovered four chicks - each in a separate corner of the tank. Passing them down to Sharon and I they were ringed, weighed and measured. Sadly ENRG have not ringed as many Barn Owl chicks as usual this year with many boxes empty. It will be interesting to discover the breeding success of this species for the whole of the region once the BTO have collated Nest Record data for this year.


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