Antrim Marina - Wednesday 22nd October 2025...

Antrim Marina - Wednesday 22nd October 2025

I had intended to visit the Marina yesterday, but with persistent rain falling throughout the morning I decided to come up today instead.  With a much later arrival time of 11:20, I departed at 2:45pm.  Weatherwise, it was cloudy, dry and calm, with the temperature gauge in my car reading 10ºC.

At Antrim Marina, I am studying a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls, a number of which are colour-ringed in order to record their movements, residential status and longevity.  From the first weekend in August through to the last weekend in March, I undertake one weekly visit to read the colour-rings and if possible, catch and ring new birds to add to the project.

With the return of -  2FJX  on my previous visit, the overall total of colour-ringed gulls increased to 23 birds for this winter.  Once the swans had moved clear of my parking spot, a count of the Black-headed Gulls gave a total of around 70 birds.  That total remained more or less constant all the way through the visit, though judging by the colour-ringed birds present, there was a good turnover of birds coming and going.  Although it was calm, I was so glad that the gulls decided not to rest on the roof of the 'Gateway Centre'.

No sooner had I got parked, the Icelandic metal-rung Black-headed Gull -  543335 , walked right up to the door of my car.  Just goes to show, how some gulls recognize my weekly visits.  The gull got it's reward of a few bits of bread.

From the start, the reading of colour-rings progressed at a steady pace, with 15 being read within the first hour from my arrival.  My total for the day finished on 17, the final two being -  2FFX  at 12:50, and -  2FFT  at 1:59, leaving me with 6 absentees.  No new returnees were recorded.  

One of the absentees, is the Icelandic breeding -  2FHV .  Each year after it returns to the Marina, it remains until mid October, returning again in the spring in the weeks leading up to the new breeding season.  Now absent for a second week running, I reckon it has now moved on.  This gull does what we know as 'staging', meaning it stays in the locality for a period of time before moving on towards it's wintering site.  In the case of -  2FHV , so far we have no idea where it goes to.  In the spring of 2025, it did not return to the Marina, which had me worried.  To my relief, it was back at the Marina on the 3rd August 2025.  The gull was ringed here as an unsexed adult, on the 8th November 2021.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Wednesday 22nd October 2025

2FJK	2FJT	2BRA	2ACV	2AAN	2FFA	2ABN	2CJT	2FIL
2FJA	2FKA	2CSR	2CSK	2FJX	2FIF	2FFX	2FFT

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

2BRD	2FDK	2FHV	2FJF	2FJN	2FJV

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

Arriving at the Marina, I tried to park in my usual spot by the small concrete jetty, but had to wait as several Mute Swans were blocking my way.  A count revealed the resident female -  X4707 , her six youngsters, plus a further 9 adults - a total of 16 swans altogether.  With all legs checked, non of the others were ringed.  All 16 were still present when I departed.

Recently, I have made a few comments on the lack of Mallards present.  Today saw a reversal, with 34 present on my arrival, with numbers increasing to over 60 birds by the time of my departure.  As usual, most, if not all legs were checked - usual result, no rings.

Having had a good look around, there was no sign of the juvenile Mediterranean Gull.  There was still no sign of it by the time of my departure.  Having been here for I think, five weeks, it's typical it should disappear now that I have Yellow Darvics registered for use on Med Gulls.  Previously, without a tail, this youngster was very 'clumsy' in flight and I hope that this has not attracted the attention of a predator.  With woodland across the river from the Marina, there is a good chance of Sparrowhawks being present and a female could easily take a gull out.  I'll miss this little chap, as being so 'people friendly', it had no hesitation walking up to the door of my car.

The resident male Herring Gull was present throughout this visit and his mate arrived at 1:05.  Between them, they had one youngster which did not appear today.  A juvenile Herring Gull arrived at 12:48, but I knew with it's lighter feathers it was not the resident juvenile.  That youngster kept it's distance from people and departed around 40 minutes later.

My favourite gulls are Common Gulls which show a great variation in size, plumage colour, leg and beak colour.  Today was a Common Gull day.  So far, only one or two have appeared and by 2:10, I had 6 adults and 1 juvenile.  The first 4 arrivals were recorded at 11:33, 12:00, 12:08 and 12:31.  Soon afterwards, all four lined up on the rail of the small concrete jetty where I was able to capture a photo of them.  

The First Four Adult Common Gulls Recorded Today at Antrim Marina

With no sign of the small metal-rung Scottish female, I now know we have a least 7 adults visiting - a high so far this winter.  Over the next few weeks, I'm hoping for this total to increase.  

One Common Gull that I'm especially keen to see return, is the Finnish-rung -  ST177.028 .  Having thought it had died having last sighting on the 19th March 2018, it returned to the Marina on the 15th December 2024, much to my enjoyment.  I went on to record this gull on 4 further occasions, with the last sighting being made on the 17th February 2025.  The gull was ringed in Finland as a juvenile/1st winter bird on the 6th August 1995.  The duration on my last sighting, was 29 years, 6 months and 11 days.  If this gull does return, it will surpass a milestone of thirty plus years.  The record for a Common Gull on the BTO's Online Ringing Database, is 30 years, 10 months and 2 days.

Two pairs of Jackdaws made repeated visits, while a pair of Hooded Crows and a male Pied Wagtail made a brief visit.  A Kingfisher was heard, but I failed to locate it.

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