This adult Kelp Gull, one of about eight observed on the shore at Tanji on the above date,
was sporting a dark grayish-green (??) color band on the left leg, clearly inscribed with the code 5DL.
The right leg had a smaller aluminum band which couldn't be read at range with a telescope.

This is clearly of interest, since it may point to the origins of at least some of the Senegambian birds.
Should anyone have any knowledge of color-banding schemes involving Kelp Gulls, please contact me.

Update: Dec 8th '06 - Thanks to information graciously supplied by Clive Barlow and Dider Vangeluwe,
we now know that this bird (5DL) is a female was ringed/banded as an adult in the Saloum Delta in Northern
Senegal on June 6th, 2004. At least 15 pairs are to known to breed there (Didier Vangeluwe pers comm).
DV reports that he has trapped and ringed 19 Kelp Gulls at the nest in the Saloum up to 2005 (pers comm.).
The same individual (5DL) was also observed by Clive Barlow at Cape Point near Banjul on July 18th, 2006.

We would like to thank all the birders and ringers that supplied us with tips and information on color
ringing schemes, but especially Clive Barlow and Didier Vangeluwe who kindly gave us such a quick
and easy solution to our inquiry.

JPS.