Xmas Returns...

 

What a poor Christmas we had with the weather.  Christmas Day, having started wet and windy, did dry up before I got to Belfast, but it remained fairly dark and blustery throughout the day.  The only saving grace, was that it was not cold.  Boxing Day, was less windy, though heavy rain fell till around 1:30 or so, by which time it was not worth going out, as the light would soon disappear.

My troubles with my laptop continues.  I was going to purchase a new one, but I then came down with the flu or a cold, which I caught from my son.  He did have Covid tests which came back negative, so we were spared from that.  We both work in the same factory, which has seen a number of positive cases, but somehow we have escaped so far.  A new laptop is a must get now, as I'm having all sorts of problems with this one.

 

While I was off work on the sick, I had hoped ring sightings would come in, so as I would have some material to work with, but all was quite.  In the last couple of days, sightings are being reported once again.  I have received emails from a couple of observers, and it turns out, that they have been out in the field, but no ringed birds are being spotted.  Whilst up here in County Antrim, I'm complaining about the lack of gulls, it appears that County Down are full of them.  What an odd winter I'm beginning to think this is.  I had wondered if 'Bird Flu' could be a cause, but seemingly not.

 

As I publish this post, 2021 is nearing an end, so I wish all my readers a happy 2022.

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Antrim Marina - Monday 27th December 2021

After a wet and windy Christmas Weekend, today's weather conditions were excellent for this time of the year.  It was nice and sunny with 50/50 cloud and blue sky, and it was almost windless.  Just 18 Black-headed Gulls were present, and I was on the lookout for 53 colour-ringed birds, 14 of which have been ringed this winter.

As the morning wore on, it soon became apparent that this visit was going to be a total disaster.  Numbers did not even exceed the 60 mark, whereas for this time of the winter, the 200 mark should easily be surpassed.  On arriving at 09:05, the first ring read, was that of -   2BRA , at 09:08.  The 21st and final ring read, was that of -  2ABL  , who can only be identified by it's metal number, as it managed to shed it's colour-ring some time ago now.

At times, there were no gulls present at all, as four paddle-boarders arrived, these the gulls do not like.  On top of that, a family with two young boys arrived with a radio controlled car, and boat.  Shortly before I departed at 12:30, a group of young people made their way onto the low wooden jetty and began jumping into the river.

 

I ended up with 32 absent Black-headed Gulls, with no further returnees, and no foreign ringed gulls have arrived this winter.  I am becoming more frustrated as the winter progesses, and things could get worse, as me may end up having more Covid restrictions placed on us in the new year.

 

Surely the gull situation has to improve.  After a poor weekend weather wise, I thought this was going to be a great visit today - how wrong was I.

 

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 27th December 2021

2BRA	2AAK	2ABK	2FFF	2CJT	2FDK	2CTC
2FHP	2ABS	2FFA	2AAA	2FFJ	2CSL	2FFX
2CSJ	2FHA	2FHL	2ACV	2FFL	2AAN	2ABL

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

2AAB	2AAR	2ABA	2ABN	2AFD	2BRD	2CSA	2CSB
2CSK	2CSR	2CSX	2CTA	2FDJ	2FDT	2FDV	2FFC
2FFN	2FFP	2FFT	2FHC	2FHF	2FHH	2FHJ	2FHK
2FHN	2FHT	2FHV	2FHX	2FIA	2FIC	2FIF	2FIH

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On my arrival today, just 5 Mute Swans were on the slipway, but I kept on missing further arrivals.  Of all of the visits that I have made to Antrim Marina over the years, I've never had so many conversations with folk, as I had today.  With so few gulls about, it really did help to pass the time.  Before I knew it, a total of 13 Swans, plus 2 cygnets were now present.  Just the one ring was read, and that was -   Z78580 , a bird that was ringed as a juvenile in November 2020.    Z78580 , arrived back to the Marina on the 6th December 2021, and has been recorded each week since.

Just 3 Mallards were present when I arrived today, and numbers did not exceed the 40 mark.  This was by far the lowest total ever recorded at this time of the year if I can recollect rightly.

 

At 9:40, the only Common Gull of the visit appeared, and I'm sure it was the same bird which came and went throughout the morning..  It just goes to show how poor things are, when just the one Common Gull appears.  What is going on this winter?

 

My usual adult Herring Gull also arrived about the same time as the Common Gull, but it too came and went.

 

Three Hooded Crows and six Jackdaws were the only other species spotted today.  Thinking back to previous winters here, I'd usually see the odd Moorhen or two, and even a few Chaffinches and Long-tailed tits.  I'm really beginning to think that something odd is going on, especially with the lack of gulls and some other species.

 

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Christmas Day

Today saw me heading off to the Connswater Shopping Centre in Belfast, to look for what I call - my Xmas Day Gull.  Christmas Day is the only day in the year, where all of the shops are closed, which means I have the car park at the Centre all to myself.  Normally, I would go to Belfast straight after leaving my wife to her work at a Nursing Home, but it was still so dark that I returned home until 10am.  It was heavily overcast with dark cloud, some rain/drizzle, and very blustery.

On arriving at Connswater at about 10:35, the rain had ceased but it was still quite dark.  Even all of the cars had their headlights on, which tells you how dark it was.  Driving through the car park, to where I would park my car in front of the Halfords Store, not a single gull was to be seen, which I must confess was a bit worrying.  Back at home in Ballymena, when I drove passed my local park, not a single gull could be seen there either.

 

I began flicking out bits of bread and after a few slices had been tossed out, a Rook and a few Ferel Pigeons arrived and began feeding. Then came a Black-headed Gull, followed by another, and then more.  Arriving from over the rooftops, they locked their wings and came bombing down onto the ground.  Soon afterwards, a White Darvic was spotted.  Quickly zooming in with my camera, there it was - my Xmas Day Gull - the Norwegian-rung Black-headed Gull (White) J4TJ.

 

(White) J4TJ, was ringed as a third calendar male, on the 19th April 2013, in Oslo.  It's first ever re-sighting was made in Northern Ireland, on the 13th January 2014, when Adam McClure spotted the bird in this very same car park.  In my pursuit of further re-sightings, I realised that my best chance would be on Christmas Day, when all of the shops at the Connswater Shopping Centre would be closed.  I have since gone on to record (White) J4TJ, every Christmas Day from 2015, with the exception of 2019, when I could not find it anywhere in Belfast.

 

Since Christmas Day 2020, there has only been one re-sighting, and that was back in Oslo, on the 28th March 2021.  The distance to the Connswater Shopping Centre, is 1,154 kms / 717 miles (SW), and the duration since being ringed, is 8 years, 8 months and 6 days.  Guess where I will be on Christmas Day 2022.

 

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  J4TJ  -  Connswater Shopping Centre Car Park, Belfast  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as a 3rd Calendar Male, on the 19th April 2013, at Texburger, Oslo, Norway)

 

Almost 10 minutes had passed from when I first spotted (White) J4TJ, when I noticed that there were now two birds with White Darvics.  I suspected that the second bird would be the Dutch-rung (White) EAK9, and I knew I needed to verify this one as quickly as possible, as the gulls kept rising due to sudden noises being caused by the strong wind.  With camera in hand, the gulls took to the air, but more bread offerings brought them down again.  With both colour-ringed gulls in sight, I zoomed into the wrong bird, as it was (White) J4TJ again.  Having located the second bird, it took off much to my annoyance, but luckily it landed again.  This time, I was able to confirm it was (White) EAK9.

(White) EAK9, was ringed as a 3rd calendar male, on the 13th June 2012, at Benthuizerplas in Holland.  This bird has a very extensive re-sighting history, with all sightings bar one, having either been made in Belfast, or back home in Holland.  It's first ever Northern Ireland sighting was also made by Adam McClure, who recorded the bird in this same car park, on the 10th January 2014.

On Christmas Day 2018, I recorded (White) EAK9 at the Connswater Shopping Centre, and a short time later, I went on to record it again at Victoria Park, which is a short distance away from the Centre.  Then in January 2019, Frank Majoor in Holland, sent me an email to let me know that (White) EAK9, had been spotted at Lac d'Orient, on the northern coast of France, on the 25th January 2019.

In the last couple of years, I have recorded this gull on numerous occasions at the Shopping Centre, Victoria Park or on the Connswater Mudflats.  My previous sighting of (White) EAK9, was made on Christmas Day 2020 at Connswater Shopping Centre.  Since then, it was spotted on one occasion, which was on the 10th June 2021, at Slijkplaat in Holland.

The distance from Benthuizerplas where it was ringed, is 745 kms / 463 miles (WNW), and the duration is now 9 years, 6 months and 12 days.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  EAK9  -  Connswater Shopping Centre Car Park, Belfast  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as a 3rd Calendar Year Male, on the 13th June 2012, at Benthuizerplas, Zoetermeer, Holland)

 

On leaving the Connswater Shopping Centre, I drove to the Belfast Harbour Estate as quickly as I could, as I knew the tide was on it's way in, and I needed to get to the Connswater Mudflats.  On reaching the mudflats, around three-quarters were now submerged, with gulls and waders being pushed up towards the far side of the mudflats.

 

Well over 100 Black-headed Gulls were present, along with similar numbers of Lapwings.  Around 30 Oystercatchers, was the highest I've seen here this winter.  Also present, were small numbers of Common and Herring Gulls, plus a few Redshanks.  Having scoped everything in sight, only one ring was spotted, this being a White Darvic on a Black-headed Gull.  Zooming across the mudflats with my camera, I could not capture the details on the ring due to the very poor light, and the distance involved.  Had it been bright and sunny, I might have stood a better chance.

 

Disappointed, I drove on to the nearby Kinnegar shoreline, where wader numbers easily exceeded those of the gulls.  Most noticeable, were the Knots and Dunlins which had flocks of over 100 birds.  I had a hard job scoping through them looking for colour-rings, but came up blank.  Oystercatchers were also present in the highest numbers seen here this winter, and two with colour-rings were spotted.  The first bird spotted, was standing on one leg, and had Green over Yellow, but this bird flew off in the direction of the nearby pond, so I failed to record the colour-ring on it's other leg.  On returning home, I checked my spreadsheet for - GY-W( , but had no matches.  This bird was probably from Iceland, so would have had a White Darvic on the other leg with engraved letters - W(??).  Had I got it, the bird would have been a new sighting for Kinnegar.

 

On spotting the second colour-ringed Oystercatcher, the bird was ringed Black (Niger) over Green on it's left leg, with White (JE), on the right leg.  At the time, I thought it was my second sighting of this bird this winter, as I easily remembered the Niger over Green.  Back at home, I went to enter the latest sighting onto my spreadsheet, only to discover, that this one was a new bird entirely.  The other bird, which had been spotted on this same beach on the 30th October 2021, was actually a first sighting outside of Iceland, of - NG-W(XE).

 

I reported my sighting of - NG-W(JE), to Böddi in Iceland. Böddi replied on Monday to say that this was also a first sighting outside of Iceland.  The bird had been caught and ringed when incubating eggs, on the 18th May 2020, and was subsequently re-sighted in June & July 2020.  I do not have an offical distance, as I'm still waiting on a recovery from the BTO.  However, the duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 7 months and 7 days.

 

Oystercatcher  -  NG-W(JE)  -  Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough, Co. Down  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Breeding Adult, on the 18th May 2020, at Bæjarsker, SW Iceland)

 

With the tide fairly well up now, I drove round to the other side of Belfast Lough to visit Whitehouse Lagoon.  On arrival, I was surprised to see that the Lagoon was still largely empty.  Looking over to the concrete pipes which allow the tide to come in and out underneath the motorway, large amounts of debris had built up, and small amounts of seawater was breaching this with each wave.  Most of the gulls and waders were fairly distant, so everything had to be carefully scoped.  Here I was looking for two birds in particular, a second sighting for this winter of an Icelandic Oystercatcher, and for a Polish colour-ringed Black-headed Gull, which to date has seemingly failed to return.  Neither bird was spotted, nor were any other ringed birds.

Weather conditions was getting worse as the minutes ticked by.  With heavily overcast skies, it was slowly getting darker, and I then decided to head back towards home, calling into the town of Antrim on my way back.  First stop was at the town's Baptist Church, where I attempted to record my second sighting this winter of the Polish-rung BHG (White) TY43, as well as recording the return of a Scottish metal-rung Black-headed Gull.  I have tried for both on a few occasions lately without joy.

At least 100+ Black-headed Gulls were present at the Church, plus a couple of Common and Herring Gulls.  The Scottish and Polish gulls were not present, but two of my Antrim Marina birds were lured to the car park with bread.  Both gulls were absent at the Marina on Monday's visit, and the first to land, was the juvenile Black-headed Gull -   2FHT , which I caught and ringed at the Marina, on the 8th November 2021.  My last sighting of this youngster was made at the Marina, on the 6th December 2021.  The duration as of today, is 1 month and 17 days since being ringed.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2FHT   -  Antrim Baptist Church, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Juvenile, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

 

The second Black-headed Gull, was -   2AAB , who is often recorded at the Church when absent at the Marina.  Ringed as an un-sexed adult at Antrim Marina, on the 11th December 2012, I regard this bird as a year round resident, having been recorded in Antrim in every month of the year.  The duration as of today's sighting, is 9 years and 14 days since being ringed.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2AAB   -  Antrim Baptist Church, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 11th December 2012, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

 

My next two stops were at Antrim's KFC Outlet, and the nearby Elim Church.  Around a dozen Black-headed Gulls were checked for rings at both sites without success.  Recently, I have wrote -   2AAV  off as dead, as I last recorded this gull on the 14th December 2020.  If not recorded at Antrim Marina,   2AAV  would frequent the Elim Church on the Parkhall Housing Estate, but it's continued absence strengthens my view that the gull has died.

My final stop of the day, was at the Castle Way car park in Antrim's town centre.  Normally, the gulls here would be perched on the rooftop overlooking the car park, but with today's strong winds, all of the birds were perched on the ground of the empty car park.  By now the rain was beginning to spit, and on viewing the gulls with my binoculars, I quickly spotted a Yellow Darvic.  Zooming in with my camera, I read a familiar -   2EA1 , this being my third sighting of this Black-headed Gull.

I made my first sighting of this bird, as a juvenile, on the 16th October 2017, whilst it was on the roof of the town's Elim Church.  It had been ringed as a chick, on the 19th June 2017, at the Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  The distance to Antrim, was 390 kms / 242 miles (SW), and the duration at that time, was 3 months and 27 days.

I made my second sighting of -   2EA1 , last winter, having spotted the gull on the 25th October 2020, in this very same car park.  I reported my sighting to Calum Campbell, who replied to say, that since my first sighting,   2EA1  had been recorded back at Forvie on the 25th April 2018, and on the 23rd October 2019.  I have reported my latest sighting, but Calum has yet to get back to me.  The duration since being ringed, is now 4 years, 6 months and 6 days.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2EA1   -  Castle Way Car Park, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 19th June 2017, at Forvie National Nature Reserve, Aberdeenshire, Scotland)

 

Searching through the remainder of the gulls, I then spotted another Antrim Marina bird -   2AFD .  In recent years,   2AFD  has become a rare visitor to the Marina, even though the Marina is not that far away from this car park.  It was in March 2019, that I first discovered -   2AFD  at the Castle Way car park, having last recorded the gull at Antrim Marina, in February 2018.

Today's was my second sighting of -   2AFD  this winter.  We believe that the bird breeds in Latvia, having been spotted there in 2015 & 2016 at a dump just outside of the capital - Riga, and his return this winter was recorded during one of my weekly visits to the Marina, on the 22nd November 2021.

 

  2AFD , was ringed as an adult male, on the 12th February 2014, at Antrim Marina, and the duration since being ringed, is 7 years, 10 months and 13 days.  I was also hoping to record another sighting of a German metal-rung Black-headed Gull, which I first spotted last year in this car park.  I do know, it is back in Antrim this winter, as I have recorded the gull twice at the KFC outlet.  No other rings were spotted, so I drove home.  As I approached Ballymena, the rain began to lash down again.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2AFD   -  Castle Way Car Park, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (25 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 12th February 2014, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

 

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From Anthony McGeehan

I was not the only one reading rings on Christmas Day.  An email from a fairly new contact of mine - Anthony McGeehan, spotted Black-headed Gull -   TRX9 , during the afternoon at the car park at Luke's Point, Ballyholme in County Down.  This happens to be the third sighting of -   TRX9  in the same locality this winter.

  TRX9 , was ringed as a chick, on the 5th June 2019, on the island of Ptasia Wyspa on Lake Jezioro Rynskie in Northern Poland.  As a juvenile, the young gull was spotted at Ringstone Edge Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, on the 4th August 2019.  This apparently, was the only sighting until this winter, when recorded in Northern Ireland for the first time.  The bird was first recorded here on the 12th September 2021 when spotted by John O'Boyle.  George Gordon then recorded the gull still at Luke's Point on the 3rd October 2021.

 

We were not sure with these earlier sightings, whether -   TRX9  was just passing through, but with Anthony's latest sighting, it appears that this gull will remain for the remainder of this winter.  It's very likely that it will be reported again before it departs for home, and hopefully the gull will return again next winter.  The duration since being ringed, is 2 years, 6 months and 20 days, and the distance from Northern Poland to Ballyholme, is 1,752 kms / 1,809 miles (W).

 

My thanks goes to Anthony for reporting this bird, as it adds to the wintering status for this gull, and also for the excellent photo.  As I stated above, Anthony is a fairly new contact.  In our early conversations by email, Anthony had given up on reporting ring-sightings, as the ringer/ringers concerned never replied, but I'm sure that he is more than pleased with the results he has gained since we first made contact.  As a Ring Reader and a Ringer myself, I know only too well, how important it is to give feedback as quickly as possible - it's a 'Win, Win' for everyone concerned.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    TRX9   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (25 Dec 2021

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 5th June 2019, on Ptasia Wyspa Island, Lake Rynskie, Northern Poland)

(Photo Courtesy of Anthony McGeehan)

 

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From Lesley Crawshaw

On Tuesday 28th December 2021, I received an email from Lesley Crawshaw, who was a new contact.  Lesley combines watching wildlife along with voluntary litter picking along the Bangor/Ballyholme coast in County Down.  On Monday the 27th, whilst out on her travels, she noticed an exceptionally large gathering of Dunlins roosting on rocks, waiting for the tide to recede.  Lesley took several photos at the time, and while looking through them that evening, she noticed two of the Dunlins bore rings, one with a metal ring only, the second had both a metal and colour-ring.  On inspecting the colour-ring more closely, she was just barely able to make out the characters - 6CT on a White Darvic.

Going online to search for a project, Lesley came across my blog article about - (White) 6CT, and learnt that his bird was from Poland, and duly reported her sighting to them.  Lesley then contacted me to let me know about her sighting.

(White) 6CT, was ringed as an un-sexed 2nd Calendar year bird, on the 7th July 2016, at UJście Wisły, situated on the north coast of Poland.  What we believe, was the bird's first re-sighting, was made here in Northern Ireland by Suzanne Belshaw.  On the 7th December 2020, Suzanne was at Whiteabbey Beach in County Antrim, at high tide looking for another colour-ringed Dunlin, when she discovered - (White) 6CT.  The duration at the time of Suzanne's sighting, was 4 years and 5 months, and the distance to Whiteabbey from the ringing site, was 1,594 kms / 990 miles (W).

On replying to Lesley, she gave me permission to post her sighting, along with the photos.  Lesley has spotted ringed birds in the past, but like so many others, are not always sure where to report their sightings.  From now on, Lesley will contact me, and I'm only too happy to make sure the sightings reach the correct 'project leads', as well as submitting sightings to the BTO.  It will take a number of days before an offical recovery comes from the BTO, due to the holiday period, but I estimate the distance to Bangor/Ballyholme, as roughly 1,581 kms / 982 miles (W), and the duration is now 5 years, 5 months and 20 days since being ringed.

 

I copied in Suzanne Belshaw when replying to Lesley, and asked if she could check on (White) 6CT, on her account with the 'Live Polish Ringing Database'.  I received a reply, that other than hers, and Lesley's latest sighting, this Dunlin has yet to be recorded anywhere else - Thanks Suzanne.

 

My thanks goes to Lesley, and welcome to my circle of Ring Readers.

 

Dunlin  -  (White)  6CT  -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (27 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 2nd Calendar Year Bird, on the 7th July 2016, at UJście Wisły, N Poland)

(Photo Courtesy of Lesley Crawshaw)

 

General Scene of the Dunlin Roost  -  Photo Courtesy of Lesley Crawshaw)

 

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From Graham Prole

On Thursday the 30th December 2021, I received an email from my 'Ring Reading' counterpart, who lives in the City of Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, and 'WoW', I was thrilled with this sighting of one of our Black-headed Gulls -   2CJF .

Graham spotted the gull at 13:11, at the Grangecastle Business Park situated in the West of the City, and emailed me at 13:33.  I was sitting working on my blog post, when the email arrived.

I had always entertained the idea that -   2CJF , wintered in the area of Kinnegar Beach on the southern side of Belfast Lough, and each time I visit the site, I'm always looking out for this bird.    2CJF , was ringed as a chick/juvenile on the 3rd July 2016, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Nature Reserve, on Larne Lough, County Antrim.  The first ever re-sighting, was made by me on the 26th August 2018, at Kinnegar Beach, which lies 22 kms / 13 miles (SSW), from Blue Circle Island, the duration at the time, was 2 years, 1 month and 23 days.

 

Then in March and April 2019,   2CJF  was then spotted on the breeding platform (No.2), at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve, situated on the Belfast Harbour Industrial Estate.  This reserve is very close to Kinnegar Beach.  The next four sightings were made either on Kinnegar Beach, or on the tidal pond close to the beach - July 2019, August 2019, 8th & 15th March 2020.  In late June 2020, I once again spotted -   2CJF  at the RSPB WoW Reserve, which suggests that the gull did breed on the platform, and then in October 2020, I recorded the gull back on Kinnegar Beach.

 

This was my last sighting of the gull, and during the breeding season of 2021, the viewing hides on the WoW Reserve remained locked due to the Pandemic.  Almost a year had passed by, when on the 25th September 2021, David Nixon, along with John O'Boyle spotted -   2CJF  back on Kinnegar Beach.  As I stated above, I had always presumed that -   2CJF  probably wintered around the shores of Belfast Lough, but there had never been any November, December, January or February sightings.

 

Graham's sighting today, answers the question, as the gull now seems likely to winter in the City of Dublin, but had gone unrecorded until now.  The distance from Blue Circle Island, where it was ringed as a chick, to Grangecastle Business Park, is roughly 171 kms / 106 miles (SSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 5 months and 27 days.

 

Yep, really thrilled by Graham's sighting, and at least we know the gull is alive and well.  I cannot wait now to see -   2CJF , back up this way in perhaps late February or early March 2022.  My thanks to Graham for his sighting report along with the photos.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2CJF   -  Grangecastle Business Park, City of Dublin, Republic of Ireland  (30 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as a Chick/Juvenile, on the 3rd July 2016, on RSPB Blue Circle Island NR, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Graham Prole)

 

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From César Fernández

Around 7pm on Thursday 30th December, whilst at work, I received an email from Spain.  A César Fernández, was reporting the sighting of a Black-headed Gull, on behalf of his friends Manuel Marcos and Guillermo Eguidazu.  Earlier in the afternoon, -   2FAA  was re-sighted on the Avilés Estuary, Avilés, Asturias, Northern Spain, this now being the third winter running.

  2FAA , was ringed as a chick, on the 4th June 2019, on the small island situated on Inch Island Lake, in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.  Back in 2016, when Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull project was still running, Adam was invited by the Causeway Coast Ringing Group and the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service, to come to Inch Island and ring Black-headed Gull chicks.  Although just over the border from Northern Ireland, this opportunity could not be missed.  Ken Perry, from the Causeway Ringing Group, has been ringing Sandwich Tern chicks at the site for over 30 years.  Adam had to give up on his project in 2018, by which time, I had re-trained as a ringer myself.  In 2019, I was invited to ring at the site, but since then Covid Restrictions have prevented further visits.

 

  2FAA , was first re-sighted as a juvenile, on the Avilés Estuary in Northern Spain, on the 13th February 2020, by Mónica Álvarez Couceiro & César Álvarez.  The distance from Inch, was a very impressive 1,279 kms / 794 miles (S) for a youngster, and the duration at that time, was 8 months and 9 days.  Earlier in 2021, 2FAA returned to the Avilés Estuary, being recorded by César Álvarez on a further four occasions - 21st January, 15th February, 18th February and on the 24th February.

 

No further sightings had been reported until today.  The duration since being ringed is now 2 years, 6 months and 26 days days.  I'm hoping that I can get back onto Inch Island in 2022, provided there are no further Covid Restrictions, and you never know, I might find -   2FAA  back at it's natal colony - wouldn't that be something to look forwards to.

 

My thanks goes to César Fernández for sending me the email on behalf of Manuel Marcos and Guillermo Eguidazu who spotted the gull, and also provided the best photo of the bird taken so far.

 

Black-headed Gull  -    2FAA   -  Avilés Estuary, Avilés, Asturias, Northern Spain  (30 Dec 2021)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 4th June 2019, on Inch Island Lake, Co. Donegal, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Manuel Marcos and Guillermo Eguidazu)

 

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