Owl Herding

A large number of Mediterranean Gulls are still present at the gull roost on the eastern bank of the River Arun just to the south of Arundel. This updates the previous post. Numbers rose from between one and five birds at the start of the month to 42 on 11 July, peaking the next day at 97 before falling back markedly. The influx appeared to have ended, but numbers jumped again on 17 July. By 18 July there were at least 84 birds by the river and adjacent water meadows at high tide, when birds otherwise spread out along the lower reaches of the river become concentrated at the site. Twelve of the Mediterranean Gulls have carried plastic colour rings on their legs that could be read with a telescope. Few European gulls have received the amount of attention from ringers that Med Gulls have, but even so the occurrence of 12 ringed birds within a week is notable. Ringed Mediterranean Gulls by the Arun on 11-18 July Ring colour Code Site Date bird ringed

It’s already hot in spite of the easterly breeze, and the river is sluggish after days without rain. The grass is parched yellow, even the reeds in the ditches wilting. The gull loaf is building up on the stone-lined sections of the river bank and 55 Herring Gulls and 78 Black-headed Gulls have been joined by two Great Black-backed Gulls and single Mediterranean, Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. All of them are inactive. Even the Great Black-backs make only occasional forays, scolded when they do so by a pair of vigilant Oystercatchers. A dozen Lapwings dot the muddy stretches of the river’s edge, standing stock still before indulging in seemingly inconsequential runs. Much more active are the seven Common Sandpipers, their numbers up from only three a few days ago, while a single Little Ringed Plover and a calling Greenshank may be harbingers of other less common passage waders in the weeks ahead. There are probably no passage passerines yet. Sedge Warblers and Reed Warbl