Antrim Marina - (Monday 11th September 2023)

Antrim Marina - Monday 11th September 2023

Today saw me undertaking my seventh weekly visit to Antrim Marina, where I am studying a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls, some of which are colour-ringed.  Again, choosing a later start time, I arrived just before 11am, departing at 3:07pm.  There was full cloud cover, with the sun breaking through shortly before I departed, and a very light breeze.  Parking in my usual spot, not a single Black-headed Gull was present.  I then looked at the roof of the 'Gateway Centre' thinking the gulls had parked themselves up there, but there wasn't a bird to be seen.

At 11:05, the first small flock arrived onto the concrete jetty, with -  2FIA  being the first ring read.  After this, there was a steady stream of arrivals, and despite the calm conditions, the gulls remained on the ground and around the jetties where legs were easily checked.  With very few people arriving to feed the ducks, the gulls were well settled, making counts far easier.  Counts at midday, 1:00pm and 2:15pm, gave totals of 71, 85 and 78 Black-headed Gulls.

Before today, 19 colour-ringed Black-headed Gull had been recorded this autumn/winter season, out of total of just under 50 from last winter.  My 17th and final ring to be read, was that of -  2FIF  at 13:02, with no further arrivals over the next two hours.  The Icelandic-rung -  543335 , appeared at 12:18, and once again, I was inches away from catching it, to fit it with a colour-ring.  Having first recorded this bird back on the 8th August, I am convinced that this bird has been wintering here in the past, and was on it's way to the Marina, when caught and metal-rung in Iceland on the 14th July 2023.

The more the weeks pass by, the more I feel that we have lost quite a number of gulls due to 'Bird Flu'.  However, at 11:32, my 10th ring sighting saw the return of -  2CSR , while my 13th ring sighting at 11:42, saw the return of -  2FDK .  With these two returnees, I will be looking out for 21 colour-ringed gulls next week, plus any further returnees.

 2CSR , was caught and ringed at Antrim Marina, as an unsexed 2nd Winter Bird, on the 24th December 2017.  Today's sighting is the 144th sighting record overall, with all sightings having been made here.  I am still not sure about the residential status of -  2CSR , but there has been two breeding season sightings made at the Marina, one back in May 2021, with the second having been recorded here by Suzanne Belshaw in June 2023.  With today's sighting, the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 8 months and 18 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CSR   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (11 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as an Unsexed 2nd Winter Bird, on the 24th December 2017, at Antrim Marina)

As with -  2CSR , the residential status of -  2FDK  is also uncertain.   2FDK , was ringed at Antrim Marina, as an unsexed adult bird, on the 18th November 2019.  Today's sighting, is the 92nd sighting record here overall, with no sightings away from the Marina.  Breeding season sightings in June 2020, and in May 2021, suggests that this gull may well be a year round resident.  The duration since being ringed, is now 3 years, 9 months and 24 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FDK   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (11 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 18th November 2019, at Antrim Marina)

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 11th September 2023

2FIA	2FFA	2FIL	2AAN	2FJA	2FIP	2FHV	2ACV	2AAB
2CSR	2FIK	2CJT	2FDK	2FFX	2FHC	2CSK	2FIF

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina This Autumn/Winter but Absent Today

2BRA	2BRD	2FHT	2FIJ

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

Two adult Mute Swans were on the slipway on my arrival.  The resident pair along with their 4 cygnets, swam in from the direction of Lough Neagh, at 13:13.  On my arrival, and with no gulls about, I made a reasonably good count of the Mallards which resulted in around 90 birds altogether.  Numbers went down slightly once some had a good feed of bread.

The Herring Gull pair was present throughout my visit, and rested on the boat moored on the long wooden jetty.  An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived at 11:21, and would come and go at intervals, though it often stood on a lamppost in the main car park beside the play park.  I'm sure this is the same bird seen over recent weeks.  Having recorded my first Common Gulls for this winter during last Monday's visit (juvenile + adult), I'm certain that the adult which arrived at 12:32, was the same bird which was recorded last week.

4 Jackdaws, 1 Hooded Crow and a male Pied Wagtail, were the only other species seen today.

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