More Common Gulls...

Again, it's been a while since my last post, but in truth, I have not been out that often.  To me, this summer has been ruined by the 'lockdown'.  The easing of travel restrictions here in Northern Ireland, have come just a little too late, as breeding Black-headed and Common Gulls, had already fledged most of their chicks.

Remaining at home for most of these past few weeks, we have had the downstairs totally re-decorated, and I've been catching up on a lot of much needed work in my garden.  It has been a slow job mixing cement by hand, in order to fill in all those cracks between the paving slabs.  My back garden is full of them, plus some at the side and front of the house, plus the steps leading up to my front door.  The bushes at the side on my house, have also had to be chopped down to size, with three brown wheelie bins being filled each fortnight for recycling.  Another problem that will need attention, is the back of my shed.  Some of the lower planks have began to rot through, with daylight starting to appear.  Always, so much to do, and little time to do everything.

I also had internet problems, which was all of my own doing.  Having had no connection, I thought there had been some fault in the system, which BT also confirmed during a phone call, and through their online testing of my connection.  They were going to send out an engineer, until I discovered, that my two year contract had ended.  I must start and read some of those emails I receive from BT, but how on earth did that wee lady on the other end of the phone, fail to notice that my contract has ended.

From this weekend, I shall resume my 'Ring Reading' visits around the country, as emails have been arriving in to me, concerning gulls having returned to their wintering sites.  More on these in my next post, but I will have to start and find a few for myself.  My weekly visits to Antrim Marina are due to begin in the first weekend of August, and it's almost 'Tern time', where our coasts see many Sandwich Terns on the move.  There's always plenty of colour-rings to look out for among these, plus those of the odd Common and Arctic Tern.

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From Suzanne Belshaw

Two Common Gulls sightings were made by Suzanne Belshaw on the 20th June 2020.  One of these was very welcomed, as it concerned one of my project birds -   2BJK .

  2BJK , was ringed as a chick, on the 18th June 2019, at Rue Point, on Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim.  It's first re-sighting, was made on the 31st January 2020, on Ballycastle Beach, by Ric (Richard) Else.  Rathlin is lies a short distance to the north of the beach.  On the 30th May 2020, Ric spotted   2BJK   back on Rathlin, at Mill Bay.  I think that it's unusual for a juvenile to return to the island so early in it's life, but perhaps this bird never left the area in the first place.

The latest sighting by Suzanne, at Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim, is 53 kms / 32 miles (SSE), from Rathlin, the duration being 1 year and 2 days since being ringed.

Common Gull  -    2BJK   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (20 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 18th June 2019, at Rue Point, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A second Common Gull spotted in the Sandy Bay area, was a metal-rung bird, which had been ringed as a chick, on the 22nd June 2014, on the Copeland Islands in County Down.  This was a first re-sighting since ringing, and all credit to Suzanne for capturing the number on the metal.  It's not that easy to get close enough to most Common Gulls, to read their metal numbers.  The duration since   EX97840 , was ringed, is 5 years, 11 months and 29 days, and the distance from the Copelands, is 26 kms / 16 miles (NW).

My thanks to Suzanne for the sightings and photos.

Common Gull  -    EX97840   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (20 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 22nd June 2014, on The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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Millisle - 23rd June 2020

Having had good results, reading Common Gull rings at Millisle in County Down, on the 15th June 2020, I returned on the 23rd June, to hopefully record a few more birds, and was successful.

My time was limited, so Millisle was my only stop for the day, and straight away, I made a first re-sighting on the north beach, though I did not realise this until I returned home.  Checking my photos, I'm convinced that this was   2HSX , though there could be a chance, the bird might be   2HSK .  Either way, both birds had been ringed as chicks, by Shane Wolsey, on the same date, at Big Copeland Island.  Having been ringed on the 28th June 2010, today's sighting comes just 5 days short of being 10 years old.

I was delighted with this one, as it is another of those colour-ringed gulls from Shane's former project, which I believe are still alive after all these years.  Recently, having made a first ever visit to Big Copeland Island, I recorded other individuals, which had never been recorded since the day they were rung.

Common Gull  -    2HSX   -  Millisle (north beach), Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (23 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 28th June 2010, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

Moving on to the car park, at the main beach in Millisle, I re-sighted another two gulls, both with limited re-sighting histories.  The first of these, was   2ALN .  Having been ringed as a chick, on Big Copeland Island, on the 18th June 2012,   2ALN   went un-recorded until I came across the gull here, on the 14th July 2017, and again, on the 29th June 2018.  Today's sighting, is now the third for this bird, the duration being 8 years and 5 days since being ringed.

Common Gull  -    2ALN   -  Millisle, Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (23 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 18th June 2012, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

Today's sighting of   2ANA , is the sixth record of the gull on the Millisle seafront, with all previous sightings made by myself.    2ANA , was ringed as a chick, in the final year of Shane's project, before he had to give it up, hence my takeover.

Ringed on the 27th June 2014, the bird went un-recorded until June 2018, when I spotted it on three occasions.  The fourth and fifth re-sightings were made on the 1st June 2019, and 7th July 2019.  Today's record, takes the duration to 5 years, 11 months and 27 days, since ringing.  With all three of today's birds, having been ringed on Big Copeland Island, the distance is roughly 8 kms / 5 miles (S).

Common Gull  -    2ANA   -  Millisle, Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (23 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 27th June 2014, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

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29th June 2020

My main aim today, was yet another visit to Millisle in search of colour-ringed Common Gulls from Shane Wolsey's former Copeland project.  On my way, I had decided to check out the Tesco Warehouse in Antrim Town, and whilst there, make a short visit to Antrim Marina.  Leaving Antrim, I would call at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast and then move on to Millisle.  Everything went as planned, until I got to Millisle.  Along the Millisle seafront, there were far too many people about, and very few gulls.  I therefore decided to move on to Ballywalter, before finishing the afternoon at Portavogie Harbour.

In my home town of Ballymena, there has been a far greater showing of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, although they have yet to be proven as a breeding species in the town.  What was the cause for this huge increase in numbers?  It turned out, that the large rooftop colony at Antrim's Kilbeg Warehouse site, appears to be abandoned.  It seems as if Tesco has prevented the colony of 100 to 150 pairs from nesting, along with smaller numbers of Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls.  In recent years, small numbers of Common Tern and Oystercatcher, had also used these same rooftops.  Overall, there are a huge number of birds which will have to relocate to other sites.

A small number of Black-headed Gulls, and possibly a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls, are nesting on derelict buildings behind the nearby Asda Shopping Centre, but some of these buildings are in the process of being demolished.  If anyone knows where the Lesser Black-backed Gulls have re-located to in Antrim, I'd love to know.  Also, if they are breeding in Ballymena, again, please drop me line.

Moving on to Antrim Marina, very few Black-headed Gulls were present.  I stayed for two hours, and recorded 4 colour-ringed birds -   2AAB ,   2CSK ,   2CJT   and   2BRA .  Just one juvenile Black-headed Gull appeared, but did not stay long.  A pair of Mute Swans, with 5 very friendly, but small cygnets, were enjoying the bread offered by passers by.  For all the size of these youngsters, they have already become people friendly.  Overhearing a conversation, apparently, there were six chicks originally.

Moving on, I headed to the motorway which takes me to Belfast, but I made a slight detour to call in by Antrim's KFC outlet.  Here, I came across a small number of Black-headed Gulls, which included   2ADD .    2ADD , is known to winter at Carrickfergus Harbour, but prior to the start of the breeding season it stops by the KFC outlet for a couple of weeks, before moving on to Antrim Marina for the summer, where he nests on the nearby 'Torpedo Platform'.  After the breeding season has ended, he returns to the KFC outlet, again for a couple of weeks, before returning to Carrickfergus.  Today's sighting, indicates this summer's breeding season has ended for him.

At the RSPB Reserve, on Belfast's Harbour Estate, I discovered that the viewing rooms in the hides, were still closed to the public.  Having to scope the gulls through the perspex windows is not ideal, as they are on the dirty side, as well as preventing good images of the birds on the nesting platforms.  From Hide One, which overlooks the second nest platform, many Common Terns were nesting in amongst the Black-headed Gulls.  The lagoon has also partly dried up, and Black-headed's with fledged chicks could be viewed more easily, as they tended to be closer to the hide.

Two colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls whose rings were just readable through the perspex, were   2BHB   and   2CJF .  Both of these gulls were ringed as chicks, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Reserve on Larne Lough.    2BHB , was ringed on the 2nd June 2014, whilst   2CJF , was ringed on the 3rd July 2016.  The durations for each bird, are now 6 years, and 27 days, and 3 years, 11 months and 26 days respectively.  The Belfast WoW Reserve is situated 22 kms / 13 miles (SSW), from Blue Circle Island.

As previously stated, I had to give Millisle a by-ball due to the number of people about, and the lack of gulls.  Moving on to Ballywalter, I arrived just in time, as a fishing boat was just returning to the harbour.  This was attracting a large number of both Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, looking for the scrapes of gutted fish.  Despite the numbers, and the easy approach to the birds, not a single ring was spotted among them.

On my way to Portavogie Harbour, I stopped briefly to scope the Cormorants and Great Black-backed Gulls on the distant Burial Island.  I would doubt if my camera, despite it's power, would read a ring at that distance, but I did not spot any anyway to even try.

Arriving at Portavogie Harbour, there were absolutely loads of Herring and Great Black-Backed Gulls of all ages.  I ended up having a 'field day' here, as I used the last of a full loaf and a half of bread, which I had purchased on leaving home.  No-one should ever go 'Ring Reading' without a loaf, as this helps to draw the gulls in.

Finding a quite spot beside the harbour wall, I sat down and began throwing out bits of bread in front of me.  In no time at all, I was surrounded by mainly juvenile gulls, some of which took bread from my hand.  This was really quite an experience, to have so many juveniles piling in around me, and the noise they were making, was quite something.

Many of the adult gulls were not quite so forthcoming, remaining on the harbour wall.  I then noticed one Great Black-Backed Gull, bearing a Black Darvic, on the wall.  I suspected that this was   T7VZ , which was soon confirmed, when I zoomed in with my camera.  I first came across this bird, here at Portavogie Harbour, on the 13th February 2016.  It had been ringed as a chick, on the 17th July 2013, at the Point of Ayre Gravel Pits, on the Isle of Man.

Today's sighting, is my 10th record for this gull.  I have recorded it every year except 2015 and 2019.  My last sighting of   T7VZ , was made at Ardglass Harbour, on the 9th February 2020, which is the second record of the bird away from Portavogie Harbour.  The first ever sighting of   T7VZ , was actually made at Ardglass Harbour, on the 3rd March 2014 (info from Kevin Scott).

Although it is now a full adult, I was actually surprised to see the bird here at all.  Was it breeding?  If so, was it coming over from the Isle of Man to feed, or could it be nesting on the nearby Burial Island.  The distance from the Isle of Man, to Portavogie, is 69 kms / 42 miles (W), and the duration is now 6 years, 11 months and 12 days since being ringed.

Great Black-backed Gull  -    T7VZ   -  Portavogie Harbour, Portavogie, Co. Down  (29 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 17th July 2013, at the Point of Ayre Gravel Pits, Isle of Man)

I resumed my hand feeding of the juvenile gulls, when I then noticed another Black Darvic.  Rung   T6WE , this Herring Gull, had been ringed as a chick last year, on the 23rd June 2019, on the Calf of Man, a small island just off the coast, of the Isle of Man.

Having reported my sightings to Mark Fitzpatrick, who is now the ringing co-ordinator on the Isle of Man,   T6WE , had been spotted on one previous occasion.  This occurred on the 16th May 2020, when the gull landed on a boat, 12 kms out to sea from the entrance to Strangford Lough.

Herring Gull  -    T6WE   -  Portavogie Harbour, Portavogie, Co. Down  (29 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 23rd June 2019, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

Although my day, had not gone quite as planned, a number of rings were still recorded, but my highlight, had to be those juvenile gulls which surrounded me.  I had never done anything like this before, but 'rest assured', I'm going to try this again, as it is by far the easiest way to check for rings among those larger gulls.

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Rathlin Island Opens Up

Our ministers here in Northern Ireland, finally allowed the hospitality sector to open up again, with the Rathlin Island ferry being able to take it's first 'socially distanced' visitors on Friday 3rd July.  A phone booking and payment system was set up, so I booked for four days running - Saturday 4th July to Tuesday 7th July.  For me, this happened far too late, as I knew that most Common Gull chicks, would either have fledged, or be too large to approach for the purpose of ringing.

Another big drawback with the ferry, was that it was on a limited timetable, with only the one sailing each way, plus the length of time available on the island meant that I could only visit one sub-colony on each visit.  Not only did I need time, to walk from the harbour to each site, but I also had to use up a lot of time, scoping the gulls for colour-rings from a distance, as well as keeping an eye out for any late chicks.

My first visit on Saturday the 4th, saw me travelling across on the ferry knowing that the Common Gulls had, had a poor breeding season, this information having been voiced by Ric Else, who had been in 'lockdown' on the Island.  Knowing that Ric had not visited the Arkill Bay colony, this was to be my first target of the day.

Having disembarked at the harbour, I walked along the seafront of Church Bay and Mill Bay, and spotted two of my colour-ringed Common Gulls in a flock of 40 to 50 birds at Mill Bay.  Both gulls had been ringed as chicks in 2018, and no doubt have been prospecting for nest sites, as they will not be fully mature until next year.

The first of these two, was   2BBT , which was ringed as a chick, at the Rue Point colony, on the 18th June 2018.    2BBT   went un-recorded until the 2nd February 2020, when I recorded it on the shore at Glynn, on Larne Lough.  Glynn is situated 54 kms / 33 miles (SSE) from Rathlin.

Whilst in 'lockdown' on the island, Ric had plenty of time to survey the islands gulls and raptors, and came across   2BBT   on the 16th May 2020, back at it's natal Rue Point colony.  These were the only sightings of   2BBT   until today, but on Monday 6th July, I saw   2BBT   again at the Doon Bay colony, which is just around the corner from Rue Point.  At this time, it had been 2 years, and 18 days, since this bird was ringed.

The second bird at Mill Bay, was   2BHL , and after a while, I spotted it again at the Arkill Bay colony.    2BHL , was actually ringed as a chick at the Arkill Bay colony, on the 26th June 2018, so there was no doubting, that it was prospecting the site for next year's first attempt at breeding.

Common Gull  -    2BBT   -  Mill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim  (04 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 18th June 2018, at Rue Point, Rathlin Island)

Common Gull  -    2BHL   -  Mill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim  (04 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 26th June 2018, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island)

Arriving at Arkill Bay, I spent a long time scoping the gulls from the hilltop before walking into the colony.  The Arkill Bay site, could be described as two separate colonies, as the north and south nesting areas, are broken by an area of unsuitable rocks.

Checking the south site first, a disappointing total of around 20 pairs were present, but three of these were colour-ringed, and after a while   2BHL , which I had seen earlier at Mill Bay, also appeared.

The first of the three colour-ring sightings was that of   2AVT .    2AVT   is now an adult, having been ringed as a chick, on the 17th June 2017, at the Rue Point colony.  The gull was not seen again, until June 2019, where I recorded it 16th at Arkill Bay, the 18th at Rue Point, and on the 24th, back at Arkill Bay.  It was obviously prospecting for a nest site, and now that it's an adult, it appears that Arkill Bay was the chosen nest site.  I returned to Arkill Bay again, on Tuesday the 7th July, and   2AVT , was the only colour-ringed spotted on the site.  At this point, it had been 3 years, and 20 days, since the bird had been ringed.

Common Gull  -    2AVT   -  Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim  (04 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 17th June 2017, at Rue Point, Rathlin Island)

 2BBK , was ringed as a chick, on the 18th June 2018, at the Rue Point colony.  Having fledged,  2BBK   was spotted by Ric Else, 24 days later (12th July), still at Rue Point.  This had been the only sighting of this bird until today.  Not fully mature, is  2BBK   going to select Arkill Bay as it's nesting site?  I'll have to wait until next year to find out.  Today's sighting, comes 2 years, and 16 days since being ringed.

Common Gull  -    2BBK   -  Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim  (04 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 18th June 2018, at Rue Point, Rathlin Island)

The third Common Gull, was  2BBF , which is now an adult, and may have bred here at Arkill Bay for the first time this summer.  It was ringed as a chick on this site, on the 24th June 2017.  It's first re-sightings were made by me, on the 9th June 2018, and on the 7th July 2018, both times on the beach at Carnlough, 34 kms / 21 miles (SSE) from Rathlin.  The next encounter with  2BBF , was also made by me, on the 5th May 2019.  On this occasion,  2BBF   was prospecting it's natal colony for a nest site.  On the 28th January 2020, Ric Else recorded  2BBF   at Mill Bay, prior to the onset of this summers breeding season.  The duration, as of today's sighting is 3 years, and 10 days, since being rung.

Common Gull  -    2BBF   -  Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim  (04 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 24th June 2017, at Arkill Bay)

Although I only scoped the one youngster, I actually found and colour-ringed three chicks.

Moving on, I once again took a hilltop position to scope gulls for rings and any chicks.  Just the one colour-ringed bird was spotted, but for the 'life of me', I just couldn't get a good view to capture the code.  Only a single chick was spotted, and when I walked into the colony, I failed to find it.  The pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were present and kicking up quite a 'din', so I knew they had young about.  A good search of the headland revealed one chick, which was duly rung with only a metal ring.

Overall, there were not as many pairs of Common Gulls here, compared to previous years, so it was likely, that many had already failed early and moved away from the site.  Time just disappeared, and I had to make my way back to catch the ferry.

Sunday's sailing was cancelled due to bad weather, having received a phone call from the ferry service, just after 9am.  I was also informed, that times were being changed for my next two visits, starting on Monday, going out at 10am, and returning at 3.30pm.

On Monday, I walked to the furthest colonies from the harbour, these being Doon Bay and Rue Point.  Both sites had precious few Common Gulls about, and the only colour-ring to be spotted, was that of   2BBT   at Doon Bay.  I had recorded   2BBT , two days ago at Mill Bay.  Just one chick was spotted and colour-ringed at Doon Bay, with a further two being colour-ringed at Rue Point.

I found Rue Point especially disappointing, as it was the main breeding colony for the Rathlin Common Gulls.  Ric Else, had earlier stated that very few pairs were nesting on the Rue this year, and I couldn't even find a single nest on the lower slopes, below the footpath which takes you to the lighthouse.

Returning to the harbour, I passed Ushet Lough, and scoping the small island at the west end, not a single Common Gull was present.  Although this small rocky island was covered with droppings, any chicks reared there, had obviously flown.  Scoping the few Common Gulls floating around on the Lough, not one chick was amongst them.

I made my final visit on Tuesday, and decided to return to Arkill Bay.  Luckily enough, I found another three chicks on the south rocks, which were duly colour-ringed, as well as spotting   2AVT   again.  At the north site, I scoped a single chick, exactly where I'd spotted it on my previous visit, but again, I failed to locate it.  I then tried for a second Great Black-backed Gull chick, but only found the youngster that I had ringed on Saturday.

Overall, it was a very disappointing three visits, with just 9 Common Gull chicks being ringed altogether.  Prior to the 'lockdown', I had planned to visit the island in May, whilst the gulls were on eggs, so as to scope for colour-ringed adults, and then in mid June, return to ring chicks as well as scoping adults.  The easing of restrictions had obviously came too late for this summer.  Whatever has caused the crash in breeding pairs will not be known, but seems to have followed a similar pattern on Big Copeland Island, which I discovered during my first ever visit there.

Talking of Big Copeland Island, the Committee of the Copeland Bird Observatory, have granted my request to ring Common Gulls on the Big Island.  Traditionally, the 'CBO', holds the ringing rights for all three islands, but are allowing me to use my own metal and colour-rings on the Big Copeland.  The decision was very welcomed, and I thank those concerned.  Barring any pandemic problems, at last, I'll be able to continue Shane Wolsey's former project on the island.

News has also arrived via Richard Donaghey.  A couple of my colour-rings, which had been left with the Observatory for ringing Common Gulls, were used.  A few late chicks, had been metal-rung on the Observatory Island (Lighthouse Island), on the 4th July, but on the 11th, two of them were relocated and were now old enough to be fitted with colour-rings, which took this summers total to 11 chicks in all.  Richard also pointed out, that the Common Gulls have also failed miserably there this summer as well.

Why have so many pairs failed this year?  Could the extremely hot weather during the incubation period in May, be the cause?  Common Gulls are seemingly 'hardy' wee gulls - perhaps the weather was just too good for them!! 

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From Linda Thompson and Gillian McCormick

An email arrived from Linda Thompson, wondering if I was the contact for two gulls which she had recently recorded, as well as one spotted by a Gillian McCormick, the answer being - yes.

Gillian spotted one of my Rathlin Island project Common Gulls, on the 28th June 2020, at Sandy Bay, Larne Co. Antrim, a distance of 54 kms / 33 miles (SSE), from the island.    2BSC , was ringed as a chick at Arkill Bay, on the 29th June 2019.  Interestingly,   2BSC   was spotted at Church Bay on Rathlin, on the 7th December 2019.  I would have thought, that the chicks would have left the island by that time of the year, so it seems possible, that a few may remain.

My thanks to Gillian for the sighting and photograph.  The duration since ringing, was just one day short of a year.

Common Gull  -    2BSC   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (28 Jun 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 29th June 2019, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Gillian McCormick)

Linda's two colour-ring sightings were also made at Sandy Bay.  One was a Black-headed Gull from Adam McClure's former project, which I now respond to, and the second, was another of my Rathlin Island Common Gulls.

Black-headed Gull -   2CNR , was ringed as a chick, on the 16th June 2017, on the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Nature Reserve, on Larne Lough, Co. Antrim.  Linda's sighting of   2CNR , was a first for this bird, the duration now being 3 years, and 21 days since it was ringed.  Sandy Bay, is just 4 kms / 2 miles (NNW) of Blue Circle Island, so it seems likely that this bird may have bred at it's natal colony this summer.

Black-headed Gull  -    2CNR   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (07 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 16th June 2017, on the RSPB Blue Circle Island Reserve, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Linda Thompson)

Common Gull -   2BKJ , was ringed as a chick, on the 24th June 2019, at Arkill Bay on Rathlin Island.  As with   2BSC   mentioned above, it was still on the island when spotted by Ric Else, on the 7th December 2019, and still at Mill Bay, the following day.  The duration since ringing, is now 1 year, and 13 days, and the distance from Rathlin to Sandy Bay, is 54 kms /  33 miles (SSE).

My thanks goes to Linda for reporting these gulls, along with the photos.  Very much appreciated.

Common Gull  -    2BKJ   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (07 Jul 2020)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 24th June 2019, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Linda Thompson)

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