Yellow-tailed Gulls sighted in North Down!!












More sightings needed.

Not a new species but rather a variant on our commonly seen Common Gull Larus canus. As part of my studies into the largest Common Gull colony in Ireland, on Big Copeland island, I have marked a dozen adult Common Gulls with a yellow dye on the tail and back of the head.  The dye changes to an orangey‐brown colour with time. 
The purpose of marking the gulls is to try to establish their foraging ranges while they feed theirchicks, and where they disperse to immediately after breeding (the dye will be lost as soon as the birds moult in the autumn).
I need to know of any sightings of any of these gulls – date, time, location and what the birds are up to.  Additionally all these gulls have a blue colourring on the leg, each with a unique four letter/figure code.  If this can be read and reported then the information will be even more valuable.
Please let me know of as many sightings as possible!

Thanks
Shane


Shane Wolsey
25 Ballyholme esplanade
Bangor
Co Down  BT20 5LZ
M: 07831 697371
E:  shane@swolsey.biz