| Antrim Marina - Wednesday 18th March 2026 |
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Before I report on Wednesday's weekly visit to Antrim Marina, I have to mention the belated sightings for one of my Black-headed Gulls - 2FHV . My last sighting of - 2FHV was made here two weeks ago (Read Here) and I stated that this bird often returns to the Marina in early spring before heading off to Iceland for the summer.
Looking at it's re-sighting history at the Marina, it seems that the gull uses the Marina as a 'staging post' before moving on to it's wintering site and returns enroute to Iceland. However, a couple of sightings last December suggests that the gull may well be wintering in the area of Antrim Town. I also stated that I could do with more sightings in Iceland, as the only two sighting records I had were made back in June and July 2022 at Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland.
On Thursday 19th March, I received an email from Jan Rod in Dublin. The ringing department at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland contacted Jan asking if two Black-headed Gulls belonged to his project. One bird - 2AFF did belonged to Jan and was ringed in Dublin, however, the second was - 2FHV , hence Jan contacting me. I was delighted and then realised that the sighting was made nearly a year ago - 14th April 2025.
I then contacted the ringing department in Iceland to say that the gull was mine, and supplied the full history for - 2FHV . In no time at all, I received a reply with apologies as their ringing department was under-staffed. A PDF file was also attached and I was in for quite the surprise - a further three sightings were listed that I knew nothing about - a third for 2022 and two in 2024. This now gives me a total of six sightings, all from Akureyri.
I looked at my BTO DemOn Ringing Account to check the history for - 2FHV , and found three records corresponding to the 2022 sightings in Iceland, but nothing for 2024, so these were not reported to our BTO. The reason why I knew nothing about the third 2022 sighting, is due to the BTO sending out recoveries via the metal ring number, which meant my ex-ringing trainer received the recovery and had failed to let me know. The metal-rings that I use are registered to my ringing trainer and not to myself. As can be seen, this can cause some problems.
I still have access to my ex-trainer's DemOn Ringing Account, and over the next couple of months, will check the metal-numbers for my Marina gulls to see if any other sightings have been reported that I know nothing about.
The distance to Akureyri from Antrim Marina, is 1,380 kms / 856 miles (NNW), and when last seen at Antrim Marina on the 4th March 2026, the duration since being ringed, was 4 years, 3 months and 24 days.
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Black-headed Gull - 2FHV - Akureyri, Northern Iceland (22 Jun 2022)
(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)
(Photo Courtesy of Ólafur Larsen)
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Black-headed Gull - 2FHV - Akureyri, Northern Iceland (14 Apr 2025)
(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)
(Photo Courtesy of Hrafn Svavarsson)
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Today I arrived at Antrim Marina just before 11am. Weather-wise, it was cloudy, calm, and the temperature gauge in my car read 12ºC. Only 23 Black-headed Gulls were present, but with the new breeding about to start, I was not expecting too much as far as numbers were concerned. I took a walk up to the breakwater and looked across Lough Neagh at the former 'Torpedo Platform'. There were plenty of gulls flying around it, with many prospecting a likely nest site.
I departed from the Marina just after 2pm, as very little was happening. Black-headed Gulls number varied from around 10 but never surpassed the 40 mark. Altogether, just 28 of my colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls were recorded during the winter, with at least 6 having failed to return. A couple of others were recorded on just once or on two occasions. Unfortunately, no new birds were caught and ringed this winter.
Just six colour-rings were recorded during my visit, and all six are known as to be year round residents and may well breed on the 'Torpedo Platform'. Some gulls do nest on the rooftops at the Kilbegs Industrial Estate on the northern edge of Antrim Town. These are mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Common Gulls, with smaller numbers of Black-headed and Herring Gulls. To date, none of my gulls have been reported as breeding there, though on a handful of occasions the odd gull has been reported at fast food outlets on the neighbouring Junction One Shopping Centre car park.
The ring of - 2CJT was first to be read at 11:29, and the sixth and final ring read at 12:04, belonged to - 2FIF . On my departure, no further rings were read after two hours.
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Black-headed Gull - 2FIF - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (18 Mar 2026)
(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 29th November 2021, at Antrim Marina)
Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Wednesday 18th March 2026
| 2CJT | 2CSK | 2FIL | 2CSR | 2BRA | 2FIF |
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Other Birds at Antrim Marina
As usual, the Mute Swans grabbed my attention as I drove across the car park to my spot beside the Small Concrete Jetty. 10 adults, along with two cygnets were being fed at the top of the car park by a couple who I have met several times. Several bags of seed had been emptied onto the ground. On parking, I went to say hello and had a look for the metal-rung female swan - X4707 , who was present. Along with her partner, they are the resident breeding pair and the larger of the two cygnets belongs to them. The smaller cygnet is the same youngster that arrived here unaccompanied after one of our severe storms a few months back. A pair of swans swan in from the Lough at 1:09, increasing the total to 10 adults. A little while later, the resident pair carried out some courtship display while on the river.
Two juvenile Herring Gulls were present throughout my visit, one of which belongs to the resident pair which arrived together at 11:50. They also did some courting on the edge of the slipway. A third year Herring Gull had arrived before them at 11:28, and I'm pretty certain that it too belongs to the resident pair having been reared in 2024. The resident pair departed about an hour later.
A juvenile Common Gull was also present throughout the visit, with a second juvenile arriving at 1:51. The only adult spotted today arrived at 11:37, and was still present when I departed. I have now given up hope for a second sighting of the metal-rung bird from Finland. The only sighting of - ST177.028 , this winter was made on the 30th December 2025. Ringed as a juvenile in August 1995, when I recorded it's return, the duration since being ringed, was 30 years, 4 months and 24 days. Fingers crossed now, that it will return again next winter.
A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived at 12:42. They spent their time on the lampposts waiting to raid the other gulls whilst being fed with bread.
Mallard numbers were very low. 20 present at first, soon dropped down to around 12 to 14. Interestingly, most were males, and a couple of the remaining females were often chased by eager males.
A pair of Hooded Crows were also present on my arrival. Likely to be the same pair, they made several visits.
Just the single pair of Jackdaws this week, and they too made repeated visits. At 11:51, the 'speckled' Jackdaw appeared briefly. This is only the second or third time that I have seen this bird over the winter.
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'Speckled' Jackdaw - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (18 Mar 2026)
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