IJmuiden 17-05-10 -- visit to Forteiland colony

[Ruud Altenburg]

I was invited by Fred Cottaar and Kees and José Verbeek to join them to the Forteiland in IJmuiden, which houses a colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (about 1000 pairs) and Herring Gulls (about 100 pairs). After counting nests and eggs, Fred and Kees ringed 16 adults on the nest using walk-in cages and José and I read rings. Below is an impression of the colony and its inhabitants.

[Ruud Altenburg]

An overview of the colony.

[Ruud Altenburg]

Most nests contained three eggs (the norm), a few even four. Hatching had just started, only two nests contained chicks.

[Ruud Altenburg]

Plenty of locally ringed birds of course, including those ringed years ago with metal only. Also quite a few birds from the Europoort colonies.

[Ruud Altenburg]

YAHH is a breeding Yellow-legged Gull, although I suspect, based on mantle colour that it has some LBBG ancestry.

[Ruud Altenburg]

It was a treat to encounter some of the Amsterdam residents in the colony! YABN, YAAM and YACB.

[Ruud Altenburg]

Finally some non-local ringed birds in the periphery of the colony. The Caspian Gull was ringed in... Belgium!