Herring Gull

A common & resident bird to the reservoir; with numbers increasing steadily in recent years due to a small breeding colony within the town.

10/12/67 - Maximum count of 366 birds. Record count to date. (DEP).

No available information between 1968 & 1994.

1991 - At least 2 pairs bred successfully in Chard this year, with the adults & young visiting the reservoir regularly.

14/05/95 - 34 birds.

1996 - Bred in Chard & the young visited the reservoir on a regular basis.

13/10/97 - 29 adults. Bred in Chard & 11 young regularly visited the reservoir.

1998 - Bred in Chard.

??/11/98 - 63 birds.

16/11/98 - 29 birds.

29/01/99 - 24 birds.

??/03/99 - Highest count of 50 birds. Bred in Chard this year.

19/03/99 - 46 birds.

06/11/00 - 112 birds.

20/02/01 - 60 birds.

16/04/02 - 127 birds.

20/10/03 - 136 birds.

04/08/04 - 300 birds also 176 on 04/09/04

16/08/05 - 225 birds.

14/11/05 - 298 birds

12/11/06 - 160 birds.

23/01/07 - 155 birds. 2 oiled birds 22/01 presumably from Seaton.