| Antrim Marina - Monday 31st March 2025 |
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I still have not fully recovered from my illness, and an offer to cover this week's weekly visit was offered by Suzanne Belshaw, which was easily accepted. Being the last day of March, Suzanne's visit saw the conclusion of this winter's weekly study which began on the first weekend of August. No visits will be made during April, as many gulls will be busy courting and building nests. Once the first eggs are laid, off duty adults will venture out looking for food, so summer residents are more easily recorded in May, also in June by which time chicks will be hatching out. My thanks to Suzanne for covering my final visit and also for her photos. Just for the record, my doctor has given me a sick-line until the end of April.
Suzanne's visit lasted for two and a half hours, arriving at 10am and leaving around 12:30. The maximum number of Black-headed Gulls never passed the 20 mark during the visit. Six colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls were recorded, 5 of which are known to be residents, the exception being - 2ACV . I was surprised by this sighting, as in the past, the gull has been seen at breeding colonies in Leighton Moss in Lancashire, England, and also at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast. Last summer - 2ACV landed on a bonnet of a car at Carrickfergus on the 14th July 2024, which suggested the gull was enroute to the Marina for the winter (present on the 4th August 2024). Could it have nested in Leighton Moss last summer, or had it moved north from Belfast?
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Black-headed Gull - 2ACV - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as a Juvenile/1st Winter Bird, on the 21st October 2013, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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Resident Black-headed Gull - 2BRA - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 1st February 2015, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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Resident Black-headed Gull - 2CJT - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as a Juvenile/1st Winter Bird, on the 4th December 2016, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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Resident Black-headed Gull - 2CSR - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as an Unsexed 2nd Winter Bird, on the 24th December 2017, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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Resident Black-headed Gull - 2FIF - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 23rd November 2021, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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Resident Black-headed Gull - 2FIJ - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 10th January 2022, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
Other Birds at Antrim Marina
Driving along the avenue towards the Marina, a pair of Oystercatchers were seen feeding on one of the playing fields of Antrim Forum. At the Marina, four Sand Martins were checking out the Swift nestboxes which have been incorporated high on the wall of the Gateway Centre. The Sand Martins used these for the first time last summer, and a few boxes are still available for more pairs.
Other species spotted around the Marina, were Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Great-crested Grebe (1), Grey Wagtail (2), an immature Common Gull and the pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Around 20 Mallards were present, and though no numbers were given for Mute Swans, Suzanne did record the regular ringed bird - X4707 . This swan was ringed as an adult male, on the 5th April 2024, at Bartins Bay on the eastern shore of Lough Neagh. The distance to the Marina, is 21 kms / 13 miles (NNE), and the duration since being ringed, is now 11 months and 26 days.
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Mute Swan - X4707 - Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim (31 Mar 2025)
(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 5th April 2024, at Bartins Bay, Lough Neagh, Co. Antrim)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)
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