Immature Northern Gannet in Inland Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire in late spring 2002

By Lee G R Evans, Ian Lewington & Mike King 

An immature Northern Gannet Sula bassana was discovered on Pit 58 in Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs) at 8.00pm on 25th May 2002. It remained until dark and was still present the following morning. At around 10.00am on 26th, it moved the short way to Pit 57, and remained there until late on 27th May. 

On 31st May 2002, the bird was seen flying west over Botley, in West Oxfordshire. Despite a search of all suitable waters it could not be relocated. However, on the morning of 3rd June, John Melling was taking his routine walk along the Upper Thames between Tadpole Bridge and Radcot (Oxon), when he came across the third-summer Northern Gannet swimming on the river just upstream of Rushey Lock. John alerted other Oxfordshire birders via the ‘Oxonbirds’ website and by mid afternoon, several local birders had arrived on site. The bird had swum a further two kilometres upstream, but appeared to be reluctant to fly. It was clear to all present that the bird was in distress and an attempt was made to capture it. Phil Barnett expertly took up the attempt and with the aid of a fish landing net and the helpful occupants of a passing vessel soon captured the bird.

The bird hardly struggled during the attempt and was found to be bearing a metal ring subsequently traced to the Channel Islands, where the bird had been rung as a pullus in a Jersey colony in July 1999. It was then taken to St Tiggywinkles rescue centre near Aylesbury, where it was hoped to recuperate the bird and later return it to the coast. 

Ian Lewington obtained these magnificent pictures before the bird was captured. 

Third-summer Northern Gannet, Upper Thames near Rushey Lock, Oxfordshire, 3rd June 2002 (Ian Lewington)

Third-summer Northern Gannet, Upper Thames near Rushey Lock, Oxfordshire, 3rd June 2002 (Ian Lewington) 

The Oxfordshire bird can be safely aged as a 3rd-summer due to its adult-like head and bill pattern and heavily scalloped black on white patterning on the mantle, uppertail coverts, rump and secondaries. It represents the 27th record for Oxfordshire, the table below showing the occurrence since 1957.

Since 1951, 38 Northern Gannets have been recorded in Gloucestershire (inland) and the records of these are detailed below by Mike King. 

      One fishing over the weir at Tewkesbury on 30th October 1952.

      One picked up at Brookthorpe in a distressed state on 29th July 1953.

     An adult picked up moribund at Upleadon on 14th January 1957 and now in Gloucester Museum.

     An adult picked up exhausted at Selsley on 14th July 1958 and taken to Slimbridge WWT where it died shortly later.

      One picked up dead at Lower Rea, Gloucester, on 12th August 1960.

      One picked up exhausted at Uckington, Cheltenham, on 27th September 1963 and later released at the coast.

      An adult picked up at Winchcombe on 13th December 1964 and later released on the coast.

      A first-summer found alive at Broadway Hill in August 1965.

      One taken to the RSPCA centre at Leckhampton in September 1967.

      An exhausted bird found at Standish on 6th September 1967 and taken to Slimbridge WWT.

      One in Gloucester on 9th September 1967.

      One crash-landed in a field at Ashchurch on 7th June 1968 after being pursued by crows. It was then taken to Slimbridge WWT where it was later released.

      An adult and first-summer were present on Frampton Pools from 26th May to 1st June 1970, with the immature remaining until 3rd.

      An adult female was found dead in Gloucester on 13th September 1970.

      An immature was seen at Frocester on 22nd June 1972.

      An adult visited Frampton Pools on 10th August 1974.

      An immature was found exhausted at Longborough on 26th August 1974.

      One visited Frampton Pools on 6th September 1974.

      An adult was found exhausted in Cheltenham on 19th September 1974.

      One was found dead at Frocester on 28th September 1975.

      One visited Santhill GP, Bourton-on-the-Water, in September 1975.

      An immature was present at Cotswold Water Park from 3rd-8th August 1977, when it was unfortunately shot.

      An immature was seen beside the A40 at Highnam on 28th April 1981.

      An adult flew towards the Severn Estuary at Stonehouse on 10th June 1981.

      One was seen at Minsterworth on 4th September 1983.

      One visited Bourton-on-the-Water on 4th September 1983.

      Two birds became grounded at Cheltenham during severe weather on 4th September 1983.

      An adult flew over Michael Wood M5 services on 5th July 1987.

      A juvenile was grounded in Gloucester on 5th July 1987 and was taken to Slimbridge WWT for recuperation.

      An adult visited Frampton Pools on 9th February 1990.

      An adult flew over Hempsted on 11th June 1991.

      An adult flew over Junction 9 of the M5 at Tewkesbury on 13th July 1992.

      An adult was at Elmbridge, Gloucester, on 12th January 1993.

      An adult was present in a field at Fretherne on 11th August 1993.

      An adult was picked up exhausted in Gloucester on 21st June 1997.

      A juvenile flew SE over the Berkeley road near the A38 on 4th November 1998.