Ring Watching At Antrim Marina

Wednesday, 15 April 2026

BHG - Blue 2FHV Back Home in Iceland...

Black-headed Gull - 2FHV Back in Iceland

Around supper time on Monday 13th April 2026, I received an email from Iceland. The email was from Hrafn Svavarsson who was reporting the return of two colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls at a pond in the town of Akureyri in the north of the country. Both gulls were no strangers to Hrafn, as he recorded both gulls at the same pond on the 14th April 2025, just one day short of one year ago. The gulls concerned, were - 2FHV from Antrim Marina where I am studying a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls, and - 2AFF from Dublin. Details for - 2AFF can be found below.

2FHV , was ringed at Antrim Marina as an unsexed adult on the 8th November 2021 and it's final sighting during the 2021/2022 winter at the Marina was recorded on the 24th February 2022. The next two sightings occurred on the 26th June and 8th July 2022, made by Ólafur Larsen, who reported - 2FHV in Akureyri - 2FHV returned to Antrim Marina on the 8th August 2022.

Return dates at Antrim Marina over the next three winters, were recorded on the 31st July 2023, 26th August 2024 and on the 3rd August 2025. During this winter, I made a comment where I stated that I really needed further sightings of - 2FHV in Iceland and shortly afterwards four belated sightings arrived via the Ringing Department of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland (apologies due to being understaffed).

The Institute had contacted Jan Rod in Dublin concerning the sightings of two colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls that were recorded in Akureyri on the 14th April 2025 ( 2AFF and 2FHV ). Knowing - 2FHV belonged to me, Jan sent me a copy of the email. The email address of the finder was included, so I contacted Hrafn Svavarsson, providing the birds ringing history. I also copied in the Science Institute, who got back to me with three other sightings I knew nothing about. These included a third 2024 sighting (24th July), and two sightings in 2024 (11th & 25th June), all having been reported in Akureyri. My ex-ringing trainer had been informed of the 2024 sightings, but these must have been overlooked as I was not contacted about them.

Hrafn stated that both gulls were recorded at the same pond as in 2025, and at the time of his latest visit, 150 to 170 Black-headed Gulls were present. For all of the size of the pond, this must have been quite a sight.

Black-headed Gull - 2FHV - Akureyri, Eyjafjordur, Iceland (13 Apr 2026)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Hrafn Svavarsson)

Hrafn sent me a link from Google Maps which provided me with the exact location of the pond in Akureyri where - 2FHV was spotted. Via the link, I went into Street-View and took a Screenshot of the area concerned.

Screenshot from Google Maps Showing the Pond in Akureyri Where the Black-headed Gulls Gather

The distance from Antrim Marina to Akureyri is 1,378 kms / 856 miles (NNW), and the duration since - 2FHV was ringed, is now 4 years, 4 months and 5 days.

My sincere thanks goes to Hrafn, not only for reporting the sighting, but also allowing me create this blogpost along with his photo of - 2FHV .

Antrim Marina, County Antrim to Akureyri, Iceland

(Courtesy of Google Maps)

Along with the sighting of my Black-headed Gull - 2FHV , a second colour-ringed Black-headed Gull was also present. This one - 2AFF belongs to the Irish Midlands Ringing Group. 2AFF was ringed as an adult male, on the 9th December 2024, at Father Collins Park on the eastern edge of the City of Dublin.

This is now the second sighting of - 2AFF at Akureyri, as Hrafn spotted the gull at the same pond on the 14th April 2025, with - 2FHV also present at that time.

My thanks goes to Jan Rod from the Irish Midlands Ringing Group for supplying the ringing details for - 2AFF .

Black-headed Gull - 2AFF - Akureyri, Eyjafjordur, Iceland (13 Apr 2026)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 9th December 2024, Father Collins Park, Dublin City, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Hrafn Svavarsson)

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All My Own Work

Originally, I began this blog in support of the Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study, which was started by Adam McClure in the winter of 2012. Having become heavily involved with his project, I eventually began searching for rings elsewhere in Northern Ireland, documenting findings through my blog. All of this, also led to my re-training as a bird ringer, and eventually, I began my own colour-ringing project in 2017, concerning Common Gulls, based mainly on Rathlin Island.

Common Gulls had become a big favourite with me, and early in 2017, I took over control of Shane Wolsey's former Common Gull project, which was based on Big Copeland Island, with birds rung there between 2009 to 2014. I'm also the ringing co-ordinator for this project too.

Sadly, through the pressures of work and family commitments, Adam had to give up on his Black-headed Gull Study in June 2018. I have taken over the role as the ringing co-ordinator for Adam's former project, and can now respond to sightings.

One of the aims of this blog, is to encourage other birdwatchers to take up the task of 'Ring Reading'. There are any amount of birdwatchers around, but dedicated ring readers are in the minority. As can be seen through my blog, although Northern Ireland is a tiny country, there are lots of rings out there to be found.

There is no copywrite concerning my blog. Anyone wishing to use any of the content, are free to do so, and an acknowledgement would be appreciated. However, photos belonging to other observers, in reality belong to them, therefore permission to use their photos can be arranged through myself.

Gareth D.A. Platt.

plattgareth@yahoo.co.uk