In 2004,
2005 and 2006 a team of ornithologists from Germany ringed
and wing-tagged a total of 500 Mongolian Gulls Larus [vegae]
mongolicus in north-eastern and northern Mongolia. Rings
were issued by the German "Helgoland Ringing Centre"
and placed on each bird's right tibia.To make specific and
individual recognition easy, all birds were fitted with white
wing-tags which can be read from distances up to 300 metres
with a spotting 'scope. Birders observing large white-headed
gulls along Asian coasts might encounter such birds in any
congregation of gulls (check the area between the front scapulars
and the wing-bend).
The wing-tags show an individual black four-character code,
with the upper row consisting of two capital letters and the
lower row of a two-digit number.
This project involving tracking individuals of known origin
will help determine whether the identification criteria for
this species have to be modified and will help us find out
more about individual strategies in both breeding and wintering
over extended periods. If you come across one of these gulls
please record all relevant details including date, site name,
geographical coordinates, code on wing-tag, number of other
gulls present, etc.
Please send the information and a photograph if possible to
Andreas's e-mail: abu.cachellis@web.de
You will receive all relevant data on your gull sighting in
return.
Information
kindly supplied by Andreas Buchheim,
26th August 2006.
Recommended Book
The Gulls
of Europe, Asia & North America by Olsen and Larsson
is an excellent publication that any ornithologist who wants
to get to grips with the many confusing gull species, their
moult pattern and other aspects of their ecology must own.
If it had been available to the observers of this Slaty-backed
Gull when in the field I am sure they would have identified
it at the time.
Central
Mongolia , 20th May-3rd June 2021 - Black-billed
Capercaillie, Oriental Plover, Henderson's Ground Jay, Azure
Tit, Pallas's Sandgrouse: Contact
me for details
Thailand
Raptor Migration, 26th Oct-5th Nov 2021 -
Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pied Harrier, Lesser Fish
Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Contact
me for details
South
Korea, 5-17th January 2021 - Steller's Sea
Eagle, Relict Gull, Red-crowned Crane, White-naped Crane,
Baikal Teal, Solitary Snipe, Asian Rosy Finch: 
Central
Mongolia , 20th May-3rd June 2021 - Black-billed
Capercaillie, Oriental Plover, Henderson's Ground Jay, Azure
Tit, Pallas's Sandgrouse: 
Thailand
Raptor Migration, 26th Oct-5th Nov 2021 -
Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pied Harrier, Lesser Fish
Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper: 
