Gulls On The Move...

In my previous post, I was undertaking my final summer visit to Antrim Marina in order to record the resident colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.  In the days before the visit, I had noticed a build up of Black-headed Gulls in my home town of Ballymena.  With gulls appearing in my own estate, and at the nearby People's Park, I knew these were the first to return to Ballymena from their breeding sites.  There are no breeding colonies around Ballymena.

Whilst at Antrim Marina, the return of -  2FJA  was noted.  It was last seen at the Marina on the 25th February 2025 and was not seen during any of my random summer visits, which also ties in with the summer of 2024 where no sightings were made during five random visits.   2FJA  is definitely nesting outside of the Antrim area - but where?

Over the past couple of weeks, other sightings of Black-headed Gulls on the move have been reported - the details of these can be found below.

Going back to my previous post, on leaving Antrim Marina, I drove to Antrim's Junction One shopping Centre in search of another one of my gulls -  2FDK .  Last winter, it failed to return to Antrim Marina so I wrote it off as having died.  I had to 'Un-Kill' the bird on the 8th June 2025 when it appeared back at the Marina during a random visit.

The idea of searching the Junction One Shopping Centre, was to check if Black-headed Gulls were nesting there.  A few years back, they nested on derelict buildings behind the Asda Shopping Centre, but as far as I knew, these buildings had been knocked down.  At Junction One, I noted a lot of Black-headed Gull activity on top of the tall Enkalon building, but there was no way of proving that they bred up there.  Having drove around looking for -  2FDK , there was no sign of the bird.

However, on the 17th March 2025, I received an email from Emma Inzani who has a PhD Project through The University of Exeter, concerning Urban Herring Gulls.  Emma was redirecting an email sent to her by Emma Tweed concerning -  2FDK .  Emma Tweed had been at the Junction One Shopping Centre the day before, and unfortunately found -  2FDK  with it's colour-ring having slipped over it's ankle.

Emma Inzani, stated that she has released Herring Gulls whose legs had been caught up in netting, also noting that the legs suffered no permanent damage.

The slipping of colour-rings is very rare, and hopefully the ring will fall off soon.  Emma Tweed had enclosed a photo which saw the lower leg looking black, but I'm sure this was just caused by a shadow rather than a circulation cut off.

A few years back, we had another gull at Antrim Marina which had the same problem.   2ABL  was ringed at Antrim Marina by Adam McClure as part of his former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.  Ringed in January 2013, the gull was proved to be a year round resident at the Marina, but during a random summer visit on the 8th July 2016, I noticed it's colour-ring had slipped over it's ankle.

The colour-ring remained there until the 2nd January 2017, by which time it had fallen off.

The gull suffered no 'ill effects', and was recorded regularly (metal ring read) until the 8th March 2023.  Despite rings slipping, they are not tight enough to cause serious problems, so I'm hoping that -  2FDK  manages to discard the ring as soon as possible.  I shall be resuming my weekly visits to the Marina shortly, and if possible will try and catch the gull.  Also, I'll keep a look out for any gulls with metals only, just in case it is -  2FDK .

Below are the birds reported to me over recent weeks :-

Saturday 5th July 2025

Black-headed Gull -  2CLV , is another bird from Adam McClure's former NI Study, and was spotted on the grass in front of the 'Café Cod' fish and chip shop in Bangor, Co. Down by Leslie Crawshaw, on the 5th July 2025.

The gull was ringed as a chick by Adam, on the 16th June 2017, on the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Reserve on Larne Lough in County Antrim.  Over the years since 2017, this bird has often been recorded wintering at Luke's Point in Ballyholme, which is only a short distance away from the centre Bangor.  As yet, the breeding site of -  2CLV  is unknown.

This latest sighting takes the duration since being ringed to, 8 years and 19 days, and Bangor lies 18 kms / 11 miles (SE) from Larne Lough.

My thanks goes to Leslie for the sighting report along with the photo.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CLV   -  Bangor, Co. Down  (05 Jul 2025)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Leslie Crawshaw)

Also on the 5th July 2025, Suzanne Belshaw visited the Sprucefield Shopping Centre in County Down when she spotted the return of Black-headed Gull -  250B .  Suzanne has known this gull for a long time and surely must have been excited to see it back again.

 250B , was ringed as a chick, on the 6th June 2008, on Lough Mask in County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland.  First recorded at the Sprucefield Shopping Centre in July 2013, the gull has returned every autumn since then.  This gull usually moves on towards it's wintering site in August or September, but so far we do not no where that is.  In the past, I've drawn a straight line from Lough Mask, through Sprucefield, which would lead through to Scotland - so you never know.

On the odd occasion,  250B  has returned to Sprucefield on it's return journey to Lough Mask where it has been recorded during the breeding season at the village of Cong close to the Lough.

The duration since being ringed, is now a very impressive 17 years, 1 month and 4 days, when Suzanne had a second sighting on the 10th July 2025 (see below).  The distance from Lough Mask to Sprucefield, is 232 kms / 144 miles (ENE).

Black-headed Gull  -   250B   -  Sprucefield Shopping Centre Car Park, Co. Down  (05 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 6th June 2008, at Lough Mask, Co. Mayo, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Sunday 6th July 2025

On the 6th July 2025, I received an email from Richard Smith who has a blog site called (Dee Estuary Birding).  Richard was reporting the sighting of a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull that had been spotted earlier that day be a Timothy Knich, having been spotted at Hilbre Island on the Dee Estuary in Merseyside, England.

Checking my records, this was a first re-sighting of -  2ALT .   2ALT , is another one from Adam's McClure's former study and was ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2015, at the WWT Castle Espie Wetland Reserve in County Down.  I now respond to sightings of the gulls from Adam's Study.

The duration for this first re-sighting comes after 10 years and 21 days since being ringed.  The distance from Castle Espie, is 206 kms / 128 miles (SE).  I still find it amazing when gulls pass by all of that time without being seen.

My thanks goes to Timothy for the sighting report and photo, and to Richard for getting in touch.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ALT   -  Hilbre Island, The Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England  (06 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2015, at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Timothy Knich)

Thursday 10th July 2025

Suzanne Belshaw records -  250B  for a second time this autumn (read above).

Black-headed Gull  -   250B   -  Sprucefield Shopping Centre Car Park, Co. Down  (10 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 6th June 2008, at Lough Mask, Co. Mayo, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Monday 14th July 2025

Suzanne Belshaw makes a brief visit to my study site at Antrim Marina, where she records two of my colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.  The first was -  2FJK , another returnee, but again, it's breeding site is unknown.  I caught and ringed -  2FJK  at the Marina as an unsexed adult, on the 3rd December 2023.  It was last recorded here on the 10th March 2025.  The duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 7 months and 11 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJK   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Jul 2025)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The second Black-headed Gull was -  2FJN .   2FJN , was also ringed at the Marina on the 3rd December 2023 as an unsexed adult.  Random summer visits during the breeding season in 2024 and this summer, firmly establishes this gull as being a year round resident.  Again, it is 1 year, 7 months and 11 days since being ringed.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJN   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Jul 2025)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Wednesday 16th July 2025

On Wednesday 16th July 2025, Suzanne visited the tidal Whiteabbey Lagoon on the edge of Belfast Lough, where she spotted another returning Black-headed Gull.  (White) 2BVL, was ringed as chick, on the 8th June 2020, at the Broad Law colony situated on the Moorfoot Hills in the Borders Region of Scotland.

Two previous sightings of this gull at Whitehouse Lagoon occurred in December 2020 (myself) and in September 2023 (Suzanne).  Having been in touch with Tom Dougall, these three sightings are the only one's to date.  The duration since being ringed, is 5 years, 1 month and 8 days, and Whitehouse Lagoon lies 220 kms / 136 miles (WSW) from Broad Law.

Tom stated, that no further chicks have been ringed over the last two summers.  If memory serves me right, I think the breeding site no longer exists. 

My thanks goes to Suzanne once again for the sighting reports along with her photos.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  2BVL  -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (16 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 8th June 2020, at Broad Law, Moorfoot Hill, Borders Region, Scotland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Thursday 17th July 2025

David Nixon has been in touch concerning a Great Black-backed Gull that he recorded on the high tide roost at the South Inner Bay, Dundrum, Co. Down.   7J7:D , was ringed as a chick, on the 9th July 2023, on Ireland's Eye Island in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

One previous re-sighting was made by Declan Clarke, on the 31st December 2023, at Ardglass Harbour in County Down.

The distance from Ireland's Eye Island to the South Inner Bay at Dundrum, is 98 kms / 60 miles (N), and the duration since being ringed, is 2 years and 8 days.

My thanks goes to David for the sighting along with the photo.

Great Black-backed Gull  -   7J7:D   -  Dundrum South Inner Bay, Dundrum, Co. Down  (17 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 9th July 2023, on Ireland's Eye Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

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Antrim Marina - Wednesday 2nd July 2025...

Antrim Marina - Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Today saw me making my fifth random summer visit to Antrim Marina to record the resident colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.  In the days leading up towards today's visit, Black-headed Gulls have appeared around my home in Ballymena, which tells me these gulls are now on the move towards their wintering sites.  Even at my local park (The Peoples Park), around a dozen Black-headed Gulls were perched on the roof of the former 'Cottage Hospital' which overlooks the park's lake.  They have obviously completed their breeding season, whether they failed or were successful in rearing chicks.

Arriving at Antrim Marina just before 12:30pm, I departed at 3:45pm.  Altogether, 8 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls were record, 7 of which have been recorded during previous random visits.  The exception was the third to be recorded -  2FJA .  I caught and ringed -  2FJA  at Antrim Marina as an unsexed 2nd Winter Bird on the 19th December 2022.  During random summer visits in 2023 and 2024, the gull was absent, so I assumed that it nested outside of the Antrim area, returning to the Marina on the 31st July 2023 and 4th August 2024.  Today's sighting is now the earliest return date.  Having spotted it resting on the short concrete jetty early on, it was still there when I departed.  Although healthy looking, perhaps it was having a good rest.  It is now 2 years, 6 months and 13 days since it was ringed.  My last sighting of -  2FJA  at the Marina, was back on the 25th February 2025.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJA   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (02 Jul 2025)

(Ringed as an Unsexed 2nd Calendar Year Bird, on the 19th December 2022)

Black-headed Gulls were present throughout my visit, with numbers ranging from around 20 birds to 60 / 70 altogether.  There is still no sign of -  2AAB  which does not look good.  My next visit to Antrim Marina will be on the 3rd or 4th August 2025 when I will resume my weekly winter visits running through to the end of March 2026.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Wednesday 2nd July 2025

2FIF	2FJN	2FJA	2FIL	2BRA	2FFA	2CJT	2FJL

A look at the 'Live Camera' situated on the nearby 'Torpedo Platform' before leaving home, I noticed that many gulls have now departed, with very few chicks visible.  From what I've seen this summer, it looks as if the gulls have had a poor breeding season.  At the Marina today, two juveniles made brief appearances, whilst others flew overhead calling, with at least one parent following.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (02 Jul 2025)

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

Parking at my usual spot beside the concrete jetty, the absence of Mute Swans immediately caught my attention.  Around 2pm, a male flew in from upriver, landing on the water in front of the jetty.  About 10 minutes later, his mate, ringed -  X4707  swam in from upriver along with her six cygnets.  They have fairly grown since I last saw them, and they are already very comfortable with people around them.  Children really enjoy being so close to these youngsters.

The Mallard with three newly hatched chicks seen on my previous visit, were nowhere to be seen.  Mallard numbers were down from last week's visit, two counts giving me 25 and 28 birds.  Just before 2pm, a Mallard arrived from upriver along with four large chicks.  She made her way to the slipway and turned around and swam towards the opposite side of the river along with her youngsters.

Female Mallard along with Four Large Chicks  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (02 Jul 2025)

A juvenile / 2nd Calendar Year Common Gull was present throughout my visit, likely the same bird as on my previous visits.  An adult un-ringed Common Gull arrived on several occasions which looked to be the same bird each time.

Both the resident male Herring Gull and his mate made repeated visits but never together.  I reckon each time they managed to obtain a feed, they headed off to their nest site most likely on the nearby 'Torpedo Platform'.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls also made numerous visits, with a high of five at one time.

9 Jackdaws were present at one time, and a juvenile made a brief visit.  2 Rooks and 1 Hooded Crow, were the only other visitors.

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On leaving Antrim Marina, I drove to the Junction One Shopping Centre with the aim to find Black-headed Gull -  2FDK .  With no sightings last winter, I had wrote this bird off as 'Dead'.  With a surprise sighting at Antrim Marina on the 8th June 2025, I had to 'Un-Kill' this bird.  The last sighting of this gull was at the Junction One Shopping Centre (McDonalds Outlet), on the 13th July 2024 hence the search today.

In the past, a small colony of Black-headed Gulls nested on derelict buildings behind the Asda outlet, but I heard these buildings had been demolished.  On today's visit, those buildings are gone, but a large number of Black-headed Gulls were flying above the roof of the tall Enkalon building next to the demolished buildings.  Although so high up, no fledged youngsters could be seen, so I'm not sure if the gulls are nesting there.

Whilst in the area, I drove slowly looking at other buildings.  When I got to Ferguson's Way, I could hear the distinct calls of Common Gulls.  Turning in between the outlets, plenty of Commons were flying about, but again, I could not get a view onto the roofs to confirm nesting.  No chicks were heard, but surely with so many birds here they are bound to be nesting.

Finishing up at the McDonalds Outlet, just a handful of Black-headed's were present, but no -  2FDK .

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