Thursday 8 January 2009

Colour-ringed Brent Geese

"HDRB" (letters H and D on Red ring on right, Blue ring on left respectively) - was ringed as an adult male on 2nd August 2007 at Axel Heiberg Island, Arctic Canada before appearing on 27 October 2007 in Dublin Bay and spent that winter in the area last seen on 9 March 2008. He then re-appeared in the Dublin Bay area on 6 November 2008 and was last seen there on 7 December 2008. We believe he arrived at Hilbre on 9 December 2008 and was still present on 7 January 2009. This is the first sighting of this bird away from Ireland.

"X3YY" - was ringed as a first summer male on 14 May 2007 in Iceland (on passage) last seen there on 22 May 2007, he appeared at Strangford Lough on 19 October 2007 and was seen there the following day before disappearing and being found at Foryd Bay (North Wales) on 27 February 2008 before moving to Beddmanarch Bay (Holyhead - Anglesey) on 14 April 2008. He definitely arrived on Hilbre on 6th January 2009 but may have been present since 1st (see below).

"XXYY" - great news is that having last been seen at Hilbre on 14 March 2008 and having been seen in Anglesey between 27 March and 14 April 2008 she reappeared back at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, on 22 October 2008 (presumably after a summer in Canada to breed)....so she may appear back on Hilbre soon (although she was reported by a non-member as back on 1st January 2009 and we are investigating that sighting).

Many thanks to Graham McElwaine of the Irish Brent Goose Research Group for all the information and a very prompt response to our sightings.

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