A Norwegian in Widnes

Bridge building over the Mersey

On a misty, grey September morning the group found themselves at a popular area on the Mersey estuary.
Spike island is a great spot  for birdwatching  and watching for signs of migration, just around the bend of the river as it flows under Runcorn Bridge.
From here you can  walk along the river (part of the trans-pennine trail (currently restricted due to the construction of the new Mersey Bridge) or follow the St Helens Canal or both!

St Helens canal end, Spike island

The canal is popular with mute swans, canadian geese and ducks. 27 swans  were waiting to be fed when we arrived!

Whilst admiring the swans, Chris with his ever sharp eagle eyes noticed a black headed gull with a white ring  on it's leg.  The gull was then followed by a dozen or so pairs of binoculars intent on reading the letters and numbers. Fortunately our feathered friend obliged us and landed on the marina. Shame we lopped off his head in the photie!

Black headed gull - W Sumner

Chris sent the details off and here's our birds history.

We going to call him 'Vandre' . Norwegian - to wander!


CR-Code White ring with black code: J2LC LBM;RBWN(J2LC) Ringing Centre Stavanger Museum (Norway) Ring number K01834 Species Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Sex Male Age 3 cy+

Date	Place	Coordinates	Observers	Days/km/°
14.05 12	Vaterland, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'49"N 010°45'30"E	Lome, Carsten	-
31.05 12	Kuba, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°55'27"N 010°45'11"E	Lome, Carsten	17/1/345
30.06 12	Aker Brygge, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'35"N 010°43'38"E	Sandøy, John	47/2/256
13.04 13	Vaterland, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'49"N 010°45'30"E	Molværsmyr, Sindre	334/0/0
06.07 13	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Mjelde, John Martin	418/6/131
21.07 13	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	433/6/131
14.03 14	Oslo Sentralstasjon, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'37"N 010°45'02"E	Helberg, Morten	669/1/229
20.03 14	Bjørvika, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'20"N 010°45'11"E	Lome, Carsten	675/1/198
01.04 14	Vaterland, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'49"N 010°45'30"E	Isaksen, Kjell	687/0/0
02.04 14	Kuba, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°55'27"N 010°45'11"E	Lome, Carsten	688/1/345
09.04 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Helberg, Morten Sandøy, John	695/6/131
11.04 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Norland, Anne Kari Sandøy, John	697/6/131
22.04 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	708/6/131
29.04 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	715/6/131
10.05 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Lome, Carsten Molværsmyr, Sindre Sandøy, John	726/6/131
14.05 14	St. Hanshaugen, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°55'30"N 010°44'25"E	Lome, Carsten	730/2/321
27.05 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Norland, Anne Kari	743/6/131
03.06 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	750/6/131
12.06 14	Tollbukaia, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'24"N 010°44'49"E	Sandøy, John	759/1/219
10.07 14	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Norland, Anne Kari	787/6/131
11.07 14	Hovindammen, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°55'13"N 010°48'01"E	Sandøy, John	788/2/72
15.07 14	Bjørvika, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'20"N 010°45'11"E	Lome, Carsten	792/1/198
24.03015	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Norland, Anne Kari	1044/6/131

28.03.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	1048/6/131
08.04.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Helberg, Morten	1059/6/131
18.0415	Middelalderparken, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°54'14"N 010°45'42"E	Sandøy, John	1069/1/170
19.04.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Molværsmyr, Sindre	1070/6/131
21.04.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Helberg, Morten	1072/6/131
02.05 15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Betlejewicz Marek, KULING	1083/6/131
01.06.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Molværsmyr, Sindre	1113/6/131
07.06.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Betlejewicz Marek, KULING	1119/6/131
22.06.15	Østensjøvannet, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°52'51"N 010°49'57"E	Sandøy, John	1134/6/131
13.07.15	Hovindammen, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway	59°55'13"N 010°48'01"E	Sandøy, John	1155/2/72
20.09.15	Spike Island, Widnes, Cheshire, Great Britain	53°21'16"N 002°43'49"W	Tynan, Chris	1224/1098/234

Laura