Antrim Marina - (Monday 22nd January 2024)

Antrim Marina - Monday 22nd January 2024

I got up on Sunday morning (21st January), and it was already wet and windy ahead of the approaching storm Isha which was soon to hit Northern Ireland.  Rather than going to Antrim Marina, where my weekly visit could be cut short by worsening weather, I decided to go on the following day.

Isha hit us with some of the strongest winds I haven't witnessed since possibly back in the 80's.  Monday morning was still quite windy when I left home in Ballymena to make my way up to Antrim.  At the same time, storm Jocelyn was following on the heels of Isha, though wind speeds were not be to so severe.  With an estimated time of arrival at Antrim Marina being around 10am, as I drove down the Avenue towards the Marina, I discovered that the road was closed.  A fully mature Beech tree in the grounds of Massereene Golf Club to the left of the Avenue, had fallen across the road.  Workmen were already in attendance, to cut up the tree and clear the road.

It wasn't until 11:25, that I was able to pass the workmen, with one lane now passable.  It was already very windy, with heavy cloud cover, and the temperature read 6°C.  Driving through the barrier into the car park, around 60 Black-headed Gulls were resting on the car park beside the small wooden jetty, and they were 'rocked' about whilst facing into the wind.

With the return of the Swedish -  2FDL  during my previous visit, I was on the lookout for 35 colour-rings today, which included 8 gulls that had been caught and ringed this winter.  The first ring to be read at 11:31, was that of -  2FIK , and an hour later at 12:34, the 18th and final ring read for the day was -  2CTA .  By 1:30, conditions became so bad, I decided to call it a day.  Heavy, 'squally' rain was now falling and it was so dark, I could hardly read rings.  By now, most of the gulls had left anyway, with between 15 to 20 birds remaining.

I would be fairly sure, that, had the weather been slightly calmer, and with more time to read rings, my total would have been far higher.  The Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 , was spotted again at 11:35.  Despite the weather conditions, several people still arrived to feed the birds with both bread and grain, and my single attempt to catch one or two new birds ended in failure - too well fed.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 22nd January 2022

2FIK	2BRA	2FFA	2FHC	2AAB	2FDJ	2ABN	2CJT	2FIF
2FIL	2FJA	2FJH	2FJT	2ACV	2CSK	2AAN	2FJJ	2CTA

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

2AFD	2BRD	2CSR	2FDK	2FDL	2FFT	2FFX	2FHT	2FHV
2FIA	2FIJ	2FIP	2FJF	2FJK	2FJL	2FJN	2FJP

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

12 (White) Mute Swans, plus one of the older cygnets, were all out of the water resting around the slipway.  All legs were checked, with no rings spotted.  One further adult bird arrived from upriver at 12:42.

The adult male Herring Gull was present throughout my visit, and the female from previous weeks appeared alongside him at 11:50.  A 3rd calendar year Herring Gull arrived at 1:06, and rested on top of the yellow 'navigation pole'.

One adult Common Gull was also present throughout my visit, resting in among the Black-headed Gulls.  A further two adults arrived at 12:22, and none of the three birds were ringed.

The adult Moorhen was once again present and on a couple of occasions, was seen eating a 'healthy' diet of swan poo.  The juvenile which arrived here a couple of weeks back, appeared around 11:50.

3 Hooded Crows, 4 Jackdaws and a male Pied Wagtail, were the only other species noted during today's visit.

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Antrim Marina - (Sunday 14th January 2024)

Antrim Marina - Sunday 14th January 2024

Today, I arrived at Antrim Marina at 9:55am, to find very calm conditions with just a the slightest of breezes, 20% blue sky, with the temperature reading 3°C.  Just a short time later, we had a 50/50 blue sky, plenty of sunshine and the temperature reached 5°C.  The Lough Neagh Rescue boat was out again and shortly after my arrival, the boat was brought ashore for the day.  Talking to shore crew member Danny, the Antrim man that went missing back on the 17th December 2023, had still not been found.  During the week, the police had divers in the river, searching upstream from the Marina.  It is still not clear whether the man entered the river when he went missing, though it was one option that had to be investigated.

Around 60 Black-headed Gulls were present, with this total more or less remaining constant throughout my visit which lasted to 2pm.  This total is roughly half that of my previous visit, which easily reached a winter high of 100 to 120 birds.  This lower total, was mirrored by the number of colour-ringed gulls recorded today, as I had 16 absentees.

I was on the lookout for 34 colour-rings altogether, with 8 of those being gulls caught and ringed this winter.  Judging by the colour-rings recorded, the gulls were clearly coming and going, with sightings of rings being well spread out.  My 13th sighting was a welcomed returnee, as it was the Swedish bird -  2FDL .  I had expected this gull's return in late November, and seeing as it had not been recorded, I was fearing the worst, especially as around half of my gulls have failed to return this winter.  Of course, the bird may have arrived back on time, but had not appeared at the Marina during my previous visits.

 2FDL , was caught and ringed at Antrim Marina, as an unsexed adult, on the 18th November 2019.  It's only sighting away from Antrim, was made in a breeding colony, on the 3rd April 2022, at Råstasjön Nature Reserve, at Solna on the edge of Stockholm, Sweden - 1,551 kms / 963 miles (ENE).  The duration since being ringed, is now 4 years, 1 month and 27 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FDL   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Jan 2024)

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

With just the 19 colour-rings read today, these included the three gulls that reappeared again last week after lengthy absences - the Icelandic  2FHV ,  2FDK  and  2FIJ .  My final ring sighting was made at 13:09, this being -  2FJN , one of the 8 birds ringed this winter.  The metal-rung Black-headed Gull from Iceland -  543335 , was recorded again at 12:29.  This gull was ringed on the 14th July 2023, and arrived at Antrim Marina on the 8th August 2023, and has been recorded again during most of my visits.

With so few gulls present, and colour-rings sightings well stretched out, today's visit felt very slow and time seemed to drag by.  I made one attempt to catch one or two birds to be ringed, but they did not bite.  Before my attempt, a few folk arrived with bread, and one man scattered a whole bag of Swan and Duck food (pellets) across the small sandy beach, with the Black-headed Gulls especially, having a 'field day' feasting on these.

With the return of -  2FDL , I will now be on the lookout for 35 colour-rings on my next visit.  Although unlikely, I'm still hoping for further returnees.  With January quickly disappearing, it will not be long now before the first of the gulls will be thinking of a move back towards their breeding sites.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 14th January 2024

2FFA	2FFX	2FJT	2FIK	2FJH	2AAB	2CJT
2FHV	2FIL	2FJP	2FDJ	2FJJ	2FDL	2CSK
2BRA	2FDK	2FIJ	2FJA	2FJN

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

2AAN	2ABN	2ACV	2AFD	2BRD	2CSR	2CTA	2FFT
2FHC	2FHT	2FIA	2FIF	2FIP	2FJF	2FJK	2FJL

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

In this section of my previous visit to Antrim Marina (7th January 2024), I focused on what was probably a record number of Common Gulls recorded since I began coming here back in September 2013.  A head count at 1:30pm, gave me a total of 17 adults and a single juvenile, though a colour-ringed bird from Norway spotted a little earlier, would have taken the total to 19 altogether.  A couple of the adults may have been immature birds, but I was focusing more on looking for rings rather than checking the plumage for younger birds.

With so many Common Gulls and no sign once again of the small Scottish metal-rung female, in my mind, I resigned myself into believing that I had seen the end of her.  At 12:50 during today's visit, I was sitting in my car, when a metal-rung Common Gull alighted onto the top rail of the small concrete jetty in front of me.  Judging by it's sized, I knew it had to be my Scottish bird -  EY64036 .  Grabbing my camera, I took photos of the bird before zooming into the ring.  Although I did not complete the whole number -  EY*4036 , there was no doubting I had my bird.

 EY64036 , first appeared at Antrim Marina as a juvenile, on the 9th February 2014.  It had been ringed as a chick, on the 20th June 2013, at Hunterston in North Ayrshire, Scotland.  Today's sighting is now the 62nd record for the gull at Antrim Marina, with the bird returning every winter since 2013.  Looking at my records, there wasn't a single sighting in 2023, and I last recorded the gull here on the 28th November 2022.  It is now 10 years, 6 months and 25 days since being ringed, and the distance from Hunterston is 141 kms / 87 miles (SW).  There is a possibility that I might not record this gull again until next winter, but it was a privilege having spotted her once more.

Looking at the photo, standing beside the Black-headed Gull, just goes to show how small she is.  Common Gulls on the whole, are between Black-headed and Herring Gulls in size.

Common Gull  -   EY64036   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 20th June 2013, at Hunterston, North Ayrshire, Scotland)

The winter plumage in Common Gulls can vary widely around the head and neck. and for comparison I took a photo of a Common Gull which was heavily speckled.

Common Gull  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Jan 2024)

Just a single Common Gull was present on my arrival today.  A further two birds arrived at 10:17, followed by another two at 11:06.  A juvenile appeared at 11:48, remaining throughout the remainder of my visit.  The Scottish female arrived at 12:50, and a final count of the Commons at 1pm, gave a combined total of 9 birds.  There was no sign of the Norwegian colour-ringed bird that appeared last week.

Two Herring Gulls were present throughout my visit, one being the resident male, and the other was presumably the female which has been absent during my previous two visits.  The two of them were seen standing side by side on several occasions.  A juvenile made a brief visit around 12:15.

8 (White) Mute Swans were standing around the small sandy beach when I arrived, and included -  Z78580 , which was ringed here as a juvenile in November 2020.  This bird, which seems to be a female, arrived back for another winter on the 1st October 2023.  By 11:48, 13 (White) swans plus one cygnet were counted.  The cygnet, was one of the two younger birds that arrived along with a juvenile Whooper Swan a while back.  A final count at 12:30, gave a total of 18 (White) swans and the cygnet.  All legs were checked, but no more rings were recorded.

Mallards numbered around 30 birds, with this total remaining more or less constant during today's visit.  Most if not all legs were checked for rings.

Jackdaw numbers were up slightly, with 6 birds counted.  Two pairs of Hooded Crows made repeated visits, with a couple of birds flying off with their beaks packed with bread.  I reckon, they hoarded the bread before returning for more.  The adult Moorhen was again present throughout my visit, and the juvenile which first appeared a couple of weeks ago, was spotted for a brief time.  The male Pied Wagtail, completed today's list of other species.

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Antrim Marina - (Sunday 7th January 2024)

Antrim Marina - Sunday 7th January 2024

This week's weekly visit to Antrim Marina, was a strange one for all sorts of reasons.  To begin with, I delayed my arrival time today, as an online weather map was showing fog in the Antrim area, which I had hoped would lift during the visit.  Plus, during my visit, the Lough Neagh Rescue Team were busy, and I had a few interesting ring re-sightings as well.

I arrived at 10:45 to find that the fog was a little thicker than I had hoped for, although conditions were very calm.  The temperature gauge in my car was reading 0°C, which lasted to around 1pm, before moving up to 2°C.  The fog never cleared, and actually became thicker around my departure at 2pm.

As I say, Lough Neagh Rescue were busy, with one boat checking the river which flows out into Lough Neagh.  Talking to Danny and Janet who are part of the shore crew working out of the office, the search was still ongoing for an Antrim man who has been missing since the 17th December 2023.  I was informed that a further two rescue boats were making their way over to Antrim from their base at Kinnego Marina, situated at the southern end of Lough Neagh.

The two boats arrived shortly afterwards, and all three crews went into the office for a quick cup of tea and to discuss what to do next.  The idea was to comb Lough Neagh with the boats three apart working long stretches of the Lough in search of the missing man.  After a lengthy wait, it was decided that the conditions were not going to improve, and at 12:20, the search was called off.

Despite all of the activity, there were plenty of Black-headed Gulls present from the start, which I estimated to be somewhere between 100 to 120 birds.  So far this winter a total of 34 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls have been recorded, with 8 of those being birds ringed over the last couple of months.

Unlike recent weeks, ring sightings stretched over a long period, with the first being the year round resident -  2CJT  at 10:48.  My 4th sighting at 10:51, was that of the Icelandic bird -  2FHV .  A few weeks back, I made comment about the absence of this gull.  It had been recorded on most weekly visits since the beginning of August and disappeared after the 22nd October 2023.  Having looked back at it's previous winter records, I noted this bird has disappeared before and then reappears in January.  True to form, it has returned.  Really glad to see it back, and the gull should remain now until it heads back to northern Iceland in the spring.   2FHV  was ringed at Antrim Marina as an adult, on the 8th November 2021.  It has been spotted twice at Akureyri in northern Iceland, in June and July 2022.

My 11th sighting at 11:54, was that of -  2FIJ , making it's third appearance this winter.   2FIJ , is a bird that I strongly believe uses Antrim Marina as a 'staging post' to and from it's wintering site wherever that might be.  I caught and ringed this bird at the Marina in January 2022, with just one further winter sighting having been made in March 2022.  The following winter,  2FIJ  was recorded on just three occasions between the 8th August and 12th December 2022.  Having arrived back this winter, it was recorded on the 8th August and 4th September 2023, before disappearing until today.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FIJ   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (07 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 10th January 2022, at Antrim Marina)

My 16th sighting at 12:20, was that of a bird that had me slightly worried about it's welfare.  Ringed as an adult in November 2019,  2FDK  is a gull that is regularly recorded throughout previous winters, except for this winter.  Up until today, the only sighting was made back on the 11th September 2023, with it's continued absence making me feel as if the gull had perished.  Goodness knows where it has been or what it has been up to, but I'm really glad to see that it is still with us.

My 23rd ring sighting at 1:19, had me running back to the car to grab my camera.   2FJK , is one of the 8 gulls to be caught and ringed this winter.  Once each gull has been ringed, I try to obtain photos of them as soon as possible, just in case they depart from the Marina.   2FJK , was the fourth of the 8 to be ringed - an adult ringed on the 3rd December 2023.  Since it was ringed, there has been no sightings until today - Snap!!!

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJK   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (07 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 3rd December 2023, at Antrim Marina)

Altogether, 24 out of the 34 rings were read today, which left me with 10 absentees.  The metal-rung Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 , which has been here since the 8th August 2023, was again spotted at 12:42.  I did make on half-hearted attempt to catch a gull or two, and missed out on catching -  543335  by about two inches.  It crept in between the legs of the swans and managed to grab a large piece of bread, narrowly avoiding my attempt to grab it.  I'm 'dying' to fit this one with a Darvic before it returns to Iceland in the spring.  Unfortunately, no further returnees were recorded today, which still leaves me with around half of last winter's colour-ringed gulls still missing.

In correspondence with Graham Prole in Dublin, only two of their colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls have returned to their wintering sites around the City - and I thought I was doing badly!!

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 7th January 2024

2CJT	2FJT	2FJA	2FHV	2FJH	2FHC	2FJP	2FFA
2FJJ	2BRA	2FIJ	2FIL	2FFX	2AAN	2FDJ	2FDK
2FJN	2CSK	2FIP	2FIF	2CSR	2FJF	2FJK	2AAB

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

2ABN	2ACV	2AFD	2BRD	2CTA
2FFT	2FHT	2FIA	2FIK	2FJL

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

Normally in this section, I would begin with the Mute Swans, as there has been plenty around over recent weeks.  Although the Black-headed Gulls kept me on my toes today, it was the number of Common Gulls about that really caught my attention.  A total of 12 Common Gulls were already on site when I arrived.  With lots of people arriving to feed the ducks, the constant screams of the Commons could be heard as they chased after the Black-headed Gulls to try and force them to drop their bread.

At midday, I tried to count the Common Gulls with a lot of difficulty, as many kept on moving about.  At the time, a man with presumably his three sons were feeding the swans bread on the small sandy beach.  As well as counting the gulls through my binoculars, I was also checking legs in case the small metal-rung Scottish female was present.  I reckoned, that at least 15 Common Gulls were present, when at 12:02, I spotted one with a White Darvic on the end of the long wooden jetty.  I rushed back to my car to grab my camera, but when I returned to the beach, my gull was gone.

With all of the gulls flying all over the place chasing the Black-headed's, I desperately tried to relocate my target just in case it would depart from the Marina.  Eventually, I found it standing on top of the boat moored to the long wooden jetty and managed to get a few photos.  On looking at the code - (White) JE956, I knew the bird was from Norway, as their colour-rings on both Common and Black-headed Gulls begin with the letter 'J'.

On returning home, I made a search of the code on my 'Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet', and found a match.  (White) JE956, was ringed as a juvenile male, on the 24th September 2018, in the Nedre Leirfoss area, close to Bratberg Kraftverk Power Station, Trondheim, Norway.  The first re-sighting was recorded here in Northern Ireland, on the 16th December 2022, when spotted at Lurgan Park Lake in Co. Armagh, by Suzanne Belshaw.  The next two sightings occurred in June 2023, when the gull was recorded back in the area where it had originally been ringed.

The distance from Nedre Leirfoss to Antrim Marina, is 1,347 kms / 836 miles (SW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 3 months and 14 days.

Common Gull  -  (White)  JE956  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (07 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as a Juvenile Male, on the 24th September 2018, at Nedre Leirfoss, Trondheim, Norway)

With most of the gulls settled around 1:30, I made another count, with a total of 17 adults and 1 juvenile present.  The juvenile arrived at 10:56, and remained throughout my visit.  At this point, there was no sign of the Norwegian bird, and with all legs checked, there is still no sign this winter of the Scottish metal-rung bird.  I cannot recollect totals for past winters, but to have a total of 18 and the Norwegian making 19, this could well be a record number for the Marina.  I really like Common Gulls, and looking through the birds that were here today, there was much variation in sizes, head, neck and leg colouration.

The resident adult male Herring Gull was present throughout the visit, and once again, there was no sign of the female that arrived here a few weeks ago.  A juvenile Herring Gull made a brief appearance at 1:24.

A count of the Mute Swans after my arrival, gave a total of 19 (White) swans, and five cygnets.  Four of these are presumably the ones reared upriver, whilst the smaller browner cygnet is likely to be one of two which first appeared here along with a juvenile Whooper Swan.  The metal-rung -  Z78580 , was recorded again at 11:44.  No more swans arrived during the visit.

Around 25 Mallards were counted on my arrival, with numbers more or less remaining constant during my visit.  I do not have a clue as to what is going on with the Mallards.  Numbers at this time of the winter should be in the region of 100 birds.

The adult Moorhen which first appeared a few weeks ago, arrived at 11:15 today, and the juvenile which appeared here recently, was spotted at 12:45.

A male Pied Wagtail was seen on several occasions, and 4 Jackdaws completed today's list of other species at the Marina.

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Some Recent Ring Sightings...

From Martin Goodey and Bob Dawson

An email from a Bob Dawson came in, on Friday evening of the 5th of January, which had me bouncing on my kitchen chair (the kitchen table happens to be my office at home).  Earlier that day, Bob's friend Martin Goodey photographed a juvenile Common Gull with a Blue Darvic, which was reported as either -  2CJK  or possibly -  2CJR .  I instantly knew that the bird would have been ringed as a chick on Rathlin Island here in Northern Ireland last summer.

Checking the code on my spreadsheet, the letter ' R ' is not used in my character set for this ring series, so the bird would indeed be -  2CJK .  The reason for me bouncing in my chair, is that this young gull had been spotted at Porthloo Beach, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, England.  I replied to Bob, asking for a Grid Reference, so that I could work out the distance from Rathlin to the point of sighting.  I knew this was going to be a record breaker for distance, and when the Reference came back, I worked out the distance as being 597 kms / 370 miles (S).

This indeed was a record breaker.  I began my Common Gull project on Rathlin Island in the summer of 2017.  The principal aim, was to record the number of surviving chicks that would return to the island to integrate into the overall breeding population of around 100 pairs once they had matured.  Over time, movements of all birds and longevities could also be investigated.

The previous best distance for a Rathlin Common Gull was that of -  2BAN .  This bird had been ringed as a chick in June 2017, and was spotted in April 2018, at Kilshannig Point, Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland, a distance of 414 kms / 257 miles (SW).  Unfortunately, there has been no further sightings of -  2BAN  to date.

I asked Bob if any photos had been taken, after which, Martin contacted me with photos and allowed me to use them for my blog.   2CJK , was ringed as a chick at the Arkill Bay (north) colony, on the 19th June 2023, and the duration as of the 5th January 2024, is 6 months and 17 days since being ringed.

My thanks goes to both Bob and Martin for the sighting report along with the photos.  I was really delighted with this one.   2CJK , if it survives till then, should return to Rathlin in 2025 to prospect a nesting site and breed for the first time in 2026.

Common Gull  -   2CJK   -  Porthloo Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England  (05 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 19th June 2023, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Martin Goodey)

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From Derek Polley

Derek Polley sent me an email on Thursday 4th January 2024, concerning the sighting of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit.  On most Thursdays, Derek works as a volunteer at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast.  The Godwit, ringed Red over Blue on the left leg, and Orange (=) on the right leg, was ringed at the WoW Reserve, on the 21st April 2021, as an adult female.  In this case, I cannot give out much information about the birds movements as I have been requested by the project leads, not to divulge any details.

Despite this, it is good to know the bird is still alive and well and revisiting the reserve.  The duration since being ringed, is 2 years, 8 months and 14 days.

My thanks to Derek for the sighting report and photo.  I think the photo was taken through the window of the visitor centre.

Black-tailed Godwit  -  Red/Blue - Orange (=)  -  RSPB Window on Wildlife NR, Belfast  (04 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 21st April 2021, at the RSPB Window on Wildlife NR)

(Photo Courtesy of Derek Polley)

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From Lindsay Hodges

Lindsay Hodges was also busy on Friday 5th January 2024.  At Ballyholme in County Down, Lindsay spotted all three of the regularly recorded colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls at Luke's Point.

The first two birds to be dealt with here, belongs to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.   2ABT , has an extensive list of re-sightings here at Ballyholme, as well as at Sandy Bay in Larne, Co. Antrim, and a single sighting at Glynn on Larne Lough.  It is this single sighting at Glynn, which leads me to believe the gull is nesting on the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Nature Reserve just a short distance away from Glynn.

Ballyholme is the wintering site for -  2ABT , and the gull was caught and ringed here on the 24th January 2013.  The duration since being ringed, is now 10 years, 11 months and 12 days.  The full re-sighting history can be read (here).

Black-headed Gull  -   2ABT   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (05 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 24th January 2013, at Ballyholme)

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Hodges)

Black-headed Gull -  2CLV , is also a winter visitor at Luke's Point.  This gull was ringed as a chick, on the 16th June 2017, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Reserve on Larne Lough, Co. Antrim.  Just over two months after being ringed, the then juvenile was spotted at Whitehead on the County Antrim coast, and the disappeared until February 2019, when spotted at Luke's Point by Suzanne Belshaw.

With the exception of one sighting, all other sightings have been winter records at Luke's Point.  The exception occurred in June 2021 when -  2CLV  was the grateful recipient of a few chips thrown down by Jim Wells at Bangor Harbour, which is very close to Luke's Point.  The question then, was where could -  2CLV  be breeding at, as there is no colony close by.  Had the bird failed in it's breeding attempt, and made an early return to it's wintering quarters?  The closest two breeding colonies would have been at Groomsport or on Big Copeland Island, both some distance away.  Quite often, many gulls return to breed at their natal colonies, but Big Circle Island does not have any accessible viewing points.

The distance from Blue Circle Island to Ballyholme, is 19 kms / 11 miles (SE), and the duration since being ringed, is 6 years, 6 months and 20 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CLV   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (05 Jan 2024)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Hodges)

The third Black-headed Gull, was the Polish-rung -  TRX9 .  This one was first recorded at Ballyholme in September 2021, and has returned every winter since.   TRX9  was ringed as a chick on the 5th June 2019, on Ptasia Wyspa Island, Lake Rynskie, Poland.  1 month and 30 days after being ringed, the then juvenile turned up at Ringstone Edge Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, which remains as the only other sighting location other than at Luke's Point.  I have checked the Online Polish Ringing Database on numerous occasions, but the gull has never been recorded back in it's natal country.

The list of sightings at Ballyholme is now becoming quite numerous.  The distance from Ptasia Wyspa Island to Ballyholme, is 1,760 kms / 1,093 miles (W), and the duration since being ringed, is 4 years and 7 months.

Black-headed Gull  -   TRX9   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (05 Jan 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 5th June 2019, on Ptasia Wyspa Island, Lake Rynskie, Poland)

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Hodges)

Lindsay also recorded a colour-ringed Brent Goose at Ballyholme, ringed Yellow (Z) - Green (U).  Normally these days, I do not bother with Brent Geese as a prominent Irish Ornithologist promised a new 'Online Database' which failed to materialise.  The same man has caused much havoc among ring readers, as he fails to respond to sightings of his colour-ringed gulls and waders.

However, in the case of this Brent Goose, I noticed that it has a metal ring fitted above the Yellow Darvic.  This tells me that the bird would have been ringed with an Icelandic metal, so I have submitted Lindsay's sighting for the BTO to pursue the ringing details.  This may still take a week or two, but we should be able to obtain a recovery, though not the full ringing and re-sighting history.  Brent Geese ringed in Northern Ireland, are not fitted with metal rings.

My thanks goes to Lindsay, for the sightings along with the photos.

Brent Goose  -  Yellow Z - Green U  -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (05 Jan 2024)

(Waiting for the Ringing Details)

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Hodges)

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From Suzanne Belshaw

Suzanne Belshaw has been in touch again, regarding a juvenile Herring Gull spotted close to her home in Lisburn, Co. Antrim.   149:C , is possibly a first re-sighting since being ringed at the Old Lighthouse Island, which is home to the Copeland Bird Observatory in County Down.

A new colour-ringing project was started on the island by Roisin Kearney in the summer of 2023, where Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull chicks were ringed with the same set of rings.  A few adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also caught and ringed - presumably on the nest.

As yet, Suzanne is still waiting for a reply from Roisin, but I reckon  149:C  was ringed on the 1st July 2023, and having been spotted on the 31st December 2023, the duration is 5 months and 11 days.

My thanks to Suzanne again, for the sighting report and photo.

Juvenile Herring Gull  -   149:C   -  Lisburn, Co. Antrim  (31 Dec 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 1st July 2023, on Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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Antrim Marina - (1st January 2024)

Antrim Marina - Monday 1st January 2024

For this week's weekly visit to Antrim Marina, seeing as I'm still off work on holiday until Thursday, I opted for a Monday visit instead of Sunday.  My reasoning being, that fewer folk would pass through, possibly due to hangovers following the previous evening's New Year celebrations.

As things turned out, my decision was a complete disaster.  For the first time this winter, Black-headed Gull numbers finally reached the 100+ mark, though still 100-200 down on previous winters.  I arrived at 10am, the weather was calm and sunny with the temperature reading 3°C, rising to 5°C by midday.

Passing through the barrier into the front car park, I made my way over to my usual parking spot beside the short concrete jetty.  As I approached I could see a woman standing among the swans with a plastic container with what looked like - cat biscuits.  The swans had their beaks into the container spilling biscuits onto the ground where the ducks and gulls were having the 'feed of their lives'.  Once empty, the woman left, minutes later she was back with another full container.

There were Black-headed Gulls all over the place, with an estimated 120 already on site.  With 34 colour-rings to look for, that of -  2FJT , was the first to be read at 10:05.   2FJT  was the last of 8 new gulls ringed here this winter, courtesy of a Mute Swan having stood on it's wing.  I duly rescued and then ringed the bird.  An hour later at 11:05, the 23rd and what turned out to be my final ring sighting of the day, was of the Estonian -  2FDJ .

My visit began to turn 'pear shaped' around 10:30, when four canoeists across the river at Antrim Boat Club launched onto the river and then made their way upriver.  Gulls definitely do not like canoeists or paddleboarders, and of course the birds around me quickly departed.  Within minutes of the area clearing, some gulls began to return.  No sooner had these birds returned, when a Police helicopter arrived.  Flying just above the height of the tree tops, the helicopter kept combing the area, and through to the entrance to Lough Neagh.  I later learnt, that the man who went missing in the Town of Antrim on the 17th December, had still not been found, with some fearing that he might have entered the river known as the 'Six Mile Water', which flows past Antrim Marina and into the adjacent Lough Neagh.

As I write this on Friday 5th January 2024, the Police had put out a fresh appeal about this missing man.  By midday, a women with three small children arrived with a canoe.  These children continuously took turn's on the canoe, though staying within eye-shot of the women.  By 12:30, there was no sign of them leaving, so I abandoned the remainder of my stay.

At this point, an Black-headed Gulls that were still in the area, decided to perch themselves onto the roof of the 'Gateway Centre'.  With just 23 rings read, I had 11 absentees today, with no further returnees.  The Icelandic metal-rung Black-headed Gull -  543335 , that has been here since the 8th August 2023, was again recorded at 10:06.  Interestingly, the Latvian -  2AFD  was recorded for the third visit running.  In recent winters, it has preferred to winter at the Castle Way car park in the centre of Antrim town, but with the big decrease in wintering gulls, none can be found at that car park now, hence more sightings of -  2AFD  back at the Marina where it had been ringed in February 2014.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 1st January 2024

2FJT	2FIL	2AAB	2AAN	2CSR	2FIK	2FJA	2ABN
2AFD	2FJF	2BRA	2FFA	2FHC	2FJJ	2FIF	2CJT
2ACV	2CSK	2FJH	2FFX	2FIP	2FJL	2FDJ

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

2BRD	2CTA	2FDK	2FFT	2FHT	2FHV
2FIA	2FIJ	2FJK	2FJN	2FJP

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

As stated above, it was the Mute Swans that grabbed my attention on my arrival, with these being fed on what looked like 'Cat Biscuits'.  Once the commotion had settled, I was able to count 13 (White) swans, plus 4 cygnets.  The cygnets which stayed together, were likely to be the birds reared upriver during the summer.  Among the 13 swans was -  Z78580 , which arrived back in October.  Before I had departed, a further three adult swans had slipped in un-noticed, plus another cygnet.  This cygnet, was slightly younger than the others, and is probably one of the two mute swan juveniles that first appeared here along with the juvenile Whooper Swan.

Just the one adult Herring Gull today, this one being the resident male.  There was no sign of the female which had first appeared in recent weeks.

Two Common Gulls were present on my arrival, with a further five adults appearing before my departure.  Again, no sign of the Scottish metal-rung female.

The very friendly Moorhen was present throughout my visit, and at 11:23, I spotted a 2nd bird.  On closer look, this one was a juvenile.

A Rook and a male Pied Wagtail made brief visits.  4 Jackdaws, came and went on several occasions.

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