Stranraer & Ballintoy...

At this time of the year, my attention turns towards my Common Gull Study based on Rathlin Island which is situated just off the northern coast of County Antrim.  With around 100+ pairs nesting on the island, I began a colour-ringing project during the summer of 2017.  Chicks were ringed with the aim to see how many survive to maturity to return and integrate into the overall breeding population.

The number of chicks ringed each year has varied widely due to several factors.  A couple of years saw a limited output of chicks reaching the fledging stage, possibly caused by the islands infestation of Rats and Ferrets, which is currently being addressed.  One exceptionally warm summer may have also added to the problem, as was the possibility of a lack of food.  The lifting of Covid restrictions at the end of June 2020, meant many chicks had already fledged by the time I was able to visit the island.  The UK suspension of ringing activities due to 'Bird Flu' did not help either.

Over the years since 2017, a few notable 'traits' have been identified.  It is very rare for any chicks to return to the island as 2nd Calendar Year birds.  A small number do return as 3rd Calendar Year birds, but, as they have not reached maturity, they visit colonies to prospect nest-sites with some building nests but not actually laying.  The majority of the colour-ringed gulls would return in their 4th Calendar Year as mature birds and breed for the first time.

This means, each summer, there are lots of Rathlin colour-ringed Common Gulls spread around the country and no-one spots them.  Post breeding season, nearly of the gulls depart Rathlin for the winter, and again, very few if any are spotted.  During this past winter, only one bird was spotted and this was in Newcastle in County Down.  Only one of my colour-ringed Common Gulls has been identified as a year round resident on Rathlin.

It's only when the gulls return to the island, that many are re-sighted back on their colonies.  Figures suggest that as few as 10 to 20% of the gulls are surviving to return as 3rd Year Birds or as Adults.  With islands in Scotland lying just north of Rathlin, some gulls are possibly nesting there, and I check small Common Gulls colonies on the County Antrim mainland for any colour-ringed gulls.

Recently, two adults have been spotted, one in Scotland, and the other on the County Antrim coast.  

_______________________________________________________________________

From Ruth Eastwood

On the 20th April 2025, Ruth Eastwood re-sighted -  2BNF  on the beach at Stranraer Harbour.  I was delighted with this sighting as the gull has a bit of history.

 2BNF , was ringed as a chick, on the 24th June 2019, at the Arkill Bay colony on Rathlin Island.  The first re-sighting was reported on the 23rd July 2021, when discovered on the shore in Dundalk Bay in County Louth, 143 kms / 88 miles (S) from Arkill Bay.

The next two sightings in April and May 2022, came as a complete surprise.  As a 4th Calendar Year bird, it was now of breeding age, and was spotted on the East Pier at the former Stranraer Ferry Terminal which served the route between Scotland and Northern Ireland.  The ferries now operate from the nearby terminal of Cairnryan. 

By September 2022 (two sightings),  2BNF  was back in Dundalk Bay again.  March and April 2023, saw many sighting being reported by Ruth and Dr. Brian Henderson.  Brian had witnessed courtship display, and suggested that the gull was likely breeding on the roof of the former ferry terminal (this area is currently fenced off).

With no sightings at all since April 2023, this latest sighting was much appreciated.  I have told Ruth that the gull was likely nesting on the ferry terminal and further sightings will be welcomed.  The duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 9 months and 27days, and Stranraer is situated 85 kms / 52 miles (ESE) from Rathlin Island.  My thanks goes to Ruth for the sighting report along with the photo.

Common Gull  -   2BNF   -  Stranraer Harbour, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland  (20 Apr 2025)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Ruth Eastwood)

******************************************************

Ballintoy Harbour

Every summer, I make three or visits to Ballintoy Harbour situated on the north coast of County Antrim, where I check on a small Common Gull colony.  Lying just 12 kms / 7 miles (WSW) from Rathlin Island, there was always going to be the possibility that one of my Rathlin gulls might breed here.  Today, I struck lucky as I scoped one bird with a Blue Darvic.  Moving closer to obtain a few photos, the code was read -  2BSP .  I knew straight away, that this gull has never been seen since the day that it had been ringed.

On returning home, I checked my records, and this was one of just 9 chicks colour-ringed when the 'Covid' restrictions were lifted.  Ringed on the 4th July 2020 at the Arkill Bay colony, the duration since being ringed, is now 4 years, 9 months and 20 days.  This bird would have reached maturity last year and may been overlooked here, or one of the nearby rocks..

Ballintoy Harbour is famous as being one of the locations used for the hit series 'Game of Thrones', and it is extremely popular with many worldwide tourists.  The Common Gulls around the harbour are extremely comfortable with the large number of people, and they actually nest on their own tall rocky island which holds around 20 pairs.  On todays visit, many were sitting on eggs.  A few smaller rocky islands nearby also has the odd few pairs.

Another largish colony is situated on a very large rock island towards White Park Bay, beside a rock known as 'Elephant Head'.  The rock is too far offshore to get anywhere near close enough to it.  No colour-ringed Common Gulls have been spotted there yet, but even so, I would doubt if my camera would have the reach to read the codes there.

Common Gull  -   2BSP   -  Ballintoy Harbour, Ballintoy, Co. Antrim  (24 Apr 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 4th July 2020, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

*******************************************************