From Suzanne Belshaw...

From Suzanne Belshaw

Four ring sightings have been reported to me by Suzanne, three of which are birds already spotted this winter, the fourth, a returning Black-headed Gull from Norway.

Regular wintering Oystercatcher, GW-GfN, was spotted on the 2nd November 2024, having previously been recorded by Suzanne on the 25th September 2024.  GW-GfN, was ringed as an unsexed breeding adult, on the 5th June 2015 at Mjóanef in Southern Iceland.  All sightings in Northern Ireland have been made at Whitehouse Lagoon adjacent to Belfast Lough.  It's first ever sighting here was made on the 6th September 2015, and the bird has returned to the Lagoon every winter since then.

Ringed Green over White on the left leg, the Green ring slipped inside of the White Ring in August 2019.  On the right leg, the bird was ringed with a Green Flag over a Black Ring (Niger), though the Green Flag had fallen off by April 2016.  These days, confirmation is made by the two remaining rings.

Altogether, this Oystercatcher has been recorded on 38 occasions at Whitehouse Lagoon over the years since being ringed, the duration now being 9 years, 4 months and 28 days.  Last winter, the bird was recorded on just one occasion (1st September 2023 - Suzanne Belshaw), though this was more like a lack of visits, rather than not being present.  During this past summer, it was spotted resting in the Vallarnes area on the 15th May 2024.  This single summer sighting was made just before the laying season began.

Whitehouse Lagoon lies 1,294 kms / 804 miles (SE) from Mjóanef.

Oystercatcher  -  GW-GfN  -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (02 Nov 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Breeding Adult, on the 5th June 2015, at Mjóanef in Southern Iceland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Suzanne visited Kinnego Marina on the 21st November 2024, recording two Black-headed Gulls -  2BPN  and (White) 24X7.  Both birds had been reported by Graham Prole and Jan Rod at Kinnego which is close to the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island where they attended a BTO Ringing Conference on the 4th November 2024, with the two of them having travelled up from Dublin.

This latest sighting of -  2BPN  is now the 84th sighting record, all having been made at Kinnego Marina over the years since being ringed here as an adult female, on the 29th October 2014.  The duration is now 10 years and 23 days since being ringed.

Black-headed Gull  -   2BPN   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (21 Nov 2024)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 29th October 2014, at Kinnego Marina)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw) 

(White) 24X7, has returned to Kinnego for a third winter running.  It was ringed as a chick on the 11th June 2022, at Hosehill Lake in West Berkshire, England and first appeared here in February 2023 as a juvenile.  It was still at Kinnego on the 8th March 2023, and was not seen again until the 11th October 2023 when spotted at the nearby Lurgan Park Lake.  By the 26th November 2023, it was back at Kinnego, and was last seen there on the 23rd February 2024.  

Graham and Jan, were the first to record it's return this winter (4th November 2024).  This latest sighting by Suzanne takes the duration to 2 years, 5 months and 10 days since being ringed.  Kinnego Marina is situated 492 kms / 305 miles (NW) from Hosehill Lake.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  24X7  -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (21 Nov 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2022, at Hosehill Lake, West Berkshire, England)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Also on the 21st November 2024, Suzanne recorded the return of a Norwegian Black-headed Gull - (White) J2234, at Lurgan Park Lake.  The gull first appeared here on the 14th November 2023, remaining till at least the 13th March 2024.  During this past summer, it was spotted on one occasion just outside of Oslo, in June 2024.

(White) J2234, was ringed as a chick, on the 11th June 2022, at Lyseren, Enebakk, Akershus & Oslo, Norway.  The first two re-sightings were made in February 2023, where it was spotted at Thetford, Norfolk, England.  This is interesting, as it obviously spent it's first winter in England, before changing it's wintering site to Lurgan.  The duration since being ringed, is now 2 years, 5 months and 10 days.  The distance from Lyseren to Lurgan Park, is 1,200 kms / 745 miles (WSW).

My thanks again goes to Suzanne for her latest sightings along with the photos.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  J2234  -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (21 Nov 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2022, at Lyseren, Enebakk, Norway)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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