Antrim Marina - Wednesday 7th January 2026...

Antrim Marina - Wednesday 7th January 2026

After last week's weekly visit to Antrim Marina, it was great to see a higher number of birds during the visit.  What was really pleasing, those numbers remained more or less static and did not drop off like some other weeks.  That visit also saw two returning Black-headed Gulls and the return of a Finnish-rung Common Gull which I was eagerly waiting for, as it had surpassed the thirty year mark since being ringed as a juvenile.

In the couple of days prior to today's visit, Northern Ireland had snow and freezing temperatures.  Where I live, I had a front row seat overlooking the steepish road, the only way into and out of the estate.  With the grit box raided by folk that do not live in the estate, it was amusing to watch drivers trying to get out onto the main road.  Around half kept getting stuck midway up, while others given a clear run easily made it up the hill.  Just shows the difference of peoples driving skills.  With the cold spell continuing, coupled with last weeks success, I was looking forwards to today's visit to the Marina.

Arriving just on the stroke of 11am, frustrated, I ended the visit early departing at 2:30pm instead of the planned 3pm - yet another poor day as far as numbers were concerned.  Weatherwise, it was cloudy and calm, with the temperature gauge in my car reading 5ºC.

Studying a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls, a number of these have been colour-ringed here in past winters in order to record their movements.  One of the two returnees last week, is known to breed in Sweden.  Those two gulls took this winter's list to 27 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls and I'm still waiting on 7 more.  One of those 7, is the Latvian breeding -  2AFD , which has a good resighting history during it's travels.

Around 30 Black-headed Gulls were present when I arrived today.  Numbers varied, with as low as 10, but never exceeded 40.  Of 27 colour-ringed gulls, just 13 rings were read today, leaving me with 14 absentees.  The final ring read at 12:22, was that of -  2FIL , meaning I had no more over the next two hours.  With the calm conditions, an unknown number of gulls rested on the roof of the 'Gateway Centre'.  I wish the Centre had a pitched roof instead of a flat one.

There is still no sign of the metal-rung Black-headed Gull from Iceland.  Last seen on the 25th November 2025, I'm now fairly sure that it has died.  Looking over my Antrim Marina Spreadsheet, some of my colour-ringed gulls have also been absent for a few weeks which is worrying.   

During the weekend, I had an email conversation with Scott Black who lives in Scotland.  He has also noticed a reduced number of Black-headed Gulls around his patch around the 'Central Belt'.  A keen 'Ring Reader', he reckons that 'Bird Flu' during the breeding season is the likely cause, killing many gulls.  Although his patch has escaped the worst of the snow, many water courses had frozen over.  With gulls standing on ice, legs were easily checked, with below average of 'Ringed' birds being spotted.

It's great to have another perspective on the Black-headed Gull situation, which clearly shows the similarities between my patch and Scott's patch.  I had wondered if the prior mild weather conditions had anything to do with returning birds, but it now seems that 'Bird Flu' is the main culprit.

With no further returnees today, this winters list remains at 27 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, though I'm still hoping for at least another couple.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Wednesday 7th January 2026

2FJA	2FFA	2BRA	2FJX	2CJT	2CSK	2FJT
2CTA	2AAN	2ABN	2CSR	2FKA	2FIL

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

2ACV	2BRD	2FDL	2FDK	2FFN	2FFT	2FFX
2FHV	2FIF	2FJF	2FJK	2FJN	2FJP	2FJV

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

As with the Black-headed Gulls, there was also a large drop in other species recorded at the Marina today.

Common Gulls are my favourite species of gull, due to the large variation in their sizes, leg and beak colourations and the different looks of their winter plumage.  Last week saw a high for this winter of 15 adults (though 2 may have been 2nd calendar year birds) and a single juvenile.  Among those 15 adults, I was delighted to see the return of the Finnish-rung bird -  ST177.028 , and another sighting this winter of the small Scottish-rung female -  EY64036 .

Not so many Common Gulls today, with a high count of 5 adults at 12:00 and the appearance of a juvenile at 12:12 - none bore rings.

The resident male Herring Gull was present throughout the visit, as well as two juveniles, one of which belongs to the resident male.  A second year Herring Gull arrived at 12:02, this one I'm fairly sure, also belongs to the resident male (last year's chick).  Again, no sign of mother.

Just 6 adult Mute Swans and a single cygnet today.  Two of the swans are the resident pair and the cygnet was theirs - the female is ringed  X4707 .

Mallard numbers were constant with around 30 birds at all times.  Most legs were checked for rings.

The adult Moorhen has appeared again.  Arriving at 11:31, it began it's nasty habit of eating the gull droppings.

A Kingfisher was heard 'pipping' at 11:40.  I could tell that it was flying upriver, but could not spot it through my binoculars.

At 11:45, a wild commotion broke out in the trees on the opposite side of the river from the Marina.  Three Hooded Crows were alarming calling, and minutes later, other Hooded Crows began arriving from different directions to join in.  Even a pair of Magpies joined in.  I scanned through the trees with my binoculars, but I could not find the cause of the problem.  Between them, they made a wild noise that lasted for a good twenty minutes or so.

At 12:47, all of the gulls suddenly lifted into the sky, and at the same time, a male Sparrowhawk flew past my car, over the concrete jetty and into the woodland on the other side of the river.  Could that explain the noise made by the crows a little earlier?

As normal, a pair of Jackdaws and a male Pied Wagtail made repeated visits.

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