Friday 25 March 2022

Lithuanian Visitor...

For the second time this month, I had to remain at home over the weekend, due to having no car.  On Thursday 3rd March, I left my car with a local Tyre Company, which also undertakes small repairs.  The filter on my washer bottle needed attention before the upcoming MOT on the 10th March.  The washer passed, but the car failed on a worn drop link, and a pitted brake pipe running past the fuel tank.  Before that, I missed my weekly visit to Antrim Marina on the 7th March, as I did not get my car back until that afternoon, which by then, was too late to head up to Antrim.

Having failed the MOT, I rebooked my car for repairs at the Tyre Company, but they could not take the car in until Thursday 17th March.  By midday Saturday afternoon, there was no word of the car, as they only work a half day on a Saturday, which meant I was grounded for another weekend.  Happily, Suzanne Belshaw offered to cover Antrim Marina on Monday 21st March.  Well into the afternoon that Monday, I phoned to see what was happening with my car.

The owner, informed me, that his mechanic failed to turn in on Friday, Saturday or on that day, Monday.  This meant, I had been grounded, whereas I could have got out, seeing as my car was available.  Late on Tuesday afternoon (22nd March), came the phone call to say my car was ready to be collected.  I will not rebook an MOT test until Monday the 28th, which will ensure I can get out this weekend, and make my final weekly visit for this winter to Antrim Marina.  From next Monday, visits to Antrim Marina will be made on a random basis, beginning from the end of April, in order to record the resident breeding Black-headed Gulls.
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      Antrim Marina - Monday 21st March 2022 (Suzanne Belshaw)       
As I once again had no car, Suzanne Belshaw volunteered to undertake this weeks visit to Antrim Marina, which was very much appreciated.  I had to cancel my weekly visit on the 7th March 2022, as I had no car, and it would not have looked good having missed two visits during this important time.  Many of the Black-headed Gulls at Antrim Marina, have now departed towards their breeding sites, so having dates for last sightings are a vital part of my study here, and helps to build up profiles for each bird, whether they are year round residents, or winter visitors, whereby a picture can be built up concerning their return and departure dates.

During Suzanne's visit which lasted in excess of two hours,  Suzanne reported, there were never more than 35 Black-headed Gulls present at any time.  Over the course of those couple of hours, a total of 12 Colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls were recorded, the most significant being that of -  2FIJ .  This gull was the last of 15 Black-headed Gulls which I caught and ringed during the winter at Antrim Marina, and it had not been recorded here since I ringed it on the 10th January 2022.  At the time of ringing, I had to rescue the gull, as a Mute Swan had stood on it, pinning it to the slipway.  It is now 2 months and 11 days, since I ringed -  2FIJ , so I was well pleased about this re-sighting.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FIJ   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 10th January 2022, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

As -  2FIJ , was the last gull to be ringed at Antrim Marina, in contrast, Suzanne also recorded the first Black-headed Gull to be ringed at Antrim Marina -  2AAA  2AAA , was caught and ringed here as an adult male, on the 12th November 2012.  Over the years, it has been established that -  2AAA  is a year round resident to the Marina, and likely nests on the nearby 'former' Torpedo Platform.  During World War Two, the platform was used to test out torpedoes.  Today's sighting of -  2AAA , takes it's duration since being ringed, to 9 years, 4 months and 9 days.

Belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study, which lasted from November 2012, until June 2018, many of the birds which Adam ringed, have now fallen by the wayside.

Black-headed Gull  -   2AAA   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 12th November 2012, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

During my visit to Antrim Marina last Monday (14th March 2022), none of the gulls which have been re-sighted in other countries were recorded, so I stated that many will now be on their travels.  Having said that, Suzanne recorded two of those gulls, which are still present.  The first of these, was -  2ACV , which has been reported in the past, at the RSPB Leighton Moss Reserve, in Lancashire England.  The latest date that -  2ACV , has been recorded at Antrim Marina, prior to it's departure, was made by Neville McKee, on the 2nd April 2015. 

The Leighton Moss sighting, was made on the 24th April 2016, and remains the only sighting record away from Northern Ireland.   2ACV , was ringed as a juvenile here at the Marina, on the 21st October 2013, which now take's it duration to 8 years and 5 months since being ringed.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ACV   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Juvenile, on the 21st October 2013, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The second bird which still has not departed is -  2CSL .  I caught and ringed this bird as an un-sexed adult, here at the Marina, on the 24th December 2017.  It's final sighting at the Marina during the winter of 2017/2018, was made on the 19th March 2018.  10 days later, on the 29th March 2018, it was spotted in Olsztyn, in Poland, which still remains as being the only sighting record away from Antrim Marina.  For now, it is presumed that the gull nests in Poland.  The duration since being ringed is now 4 years, 2 months and 25 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CSL   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 24th December 2017, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

There was no sign of the two Black-headed Gulls that I recorded at Antrim Marina last Monday (14th March 2022),  2K48  from England, or  527908  from Iceland.

There was no mention of Lesser Black-backed, Herring or Common Gulls by Suzanne, but she did have an interesting sighting of an adult Mediterranean Gull in full summer plumage, which as far as I know, would be a first for Antrim Marina.  When not chasing the Black-headed Gulls, the Med Gull would perch on the roof of the Gateway Centre, so Suzanne was not unable to get a good photo.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded by Suzanne Belshaw on Monday 21st March 2022
 2ABS   2FHL   2FHX   2FFA   2CSL   2ACV 
 2AAA   2FFL   2AAB   2FHP   2CJT   2FIJ 

Other Birds at Antrim Marina
No details were included regarding other species or numbers, but Suzanne did record both of the metal-rung Mute Swans -  Z78580  and  Z78574 .  I am still hoping for the return of another Mute Swan -  W34156 , but if this bird was at the Marina, I'm sure Suzanne would have got it.

Mute Swan  -   Z78580   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Juvenile, on the 15th November 2020, at Antrim Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Mute Swan  -   Z78574   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (21 Mar 2021)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Juvenile, on the 8th November 2020, at Ballyronan NR, Ballyronan, Co. Londonderry)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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      From Suzanne Belshaw       
Not only did Suzanne cover for me at Antrim Marina, she has been busy recording rings elsewhere, having recorded five colour-ringed Gulls.

On the 12th March 2022, Suzanne recorded juvenile Common Gull -  2HBK , at Groomsport Harbour in County Down.  This was one of 21 chicks ringed on Big Copeland Island in County Down, on the 13th June 2021, which was the first of three planned visits to ring chicks there.  However, I ran into a problem during that visit, so I had to cancel my proposed 2nd and 3rd visits.  Having ran across the island's gamekeeper, unknown to me, the permissions to visit the island had changed from father to son, and the son did not want visitors.  I've tried without any luck, to obtain the son's phone number to plead my case for access.  At present, visits this coming summer are not looking good.

Until recently, -  2HBK , had been the only one of those 21 chicks to have been re-sighted.  Suzanne's sighting, is actually the fourth sighting of the young gull since it was ringed.  It's first re-sighting was made by Jonathan Clark on the 29th August 2021, at Ballyholme Beach in County Down.  John O'Boyle, along with Dermot Hughes, spotted -  2HBK , at Luke's Point at Ballyholme on the 1st October 2021.  On the 22nd October 2021, the young gull had moved slightly around the County Down coast, when it was recorded at Groomsport Harbour by George Gordon.

Suzanne's latest sighting, takes the duration since being ringed, to 8 months and 27 days.  Big Copeland Island is visible from Groomsport.

Juvenile Common Gull  -   2HBK   -  Groomsport Harbour, Groomsport, Co. Down  (12 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 13th June 2021, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A colour-ringed Black-headed Gull -  TRX9 , from Poland, has remained at Luke's Point at Ballyholme throughout the winter, this being the first time it had been recorded in Northern Ireland.  With four previous re-sightings here, I had hoped for another sighting before it departed for home, and Suzanne has got it.

The gull was first recorded on the 12th September 2021, followed by further sightings on the 3rd October 2021, 25th December 2021, and the 17th February 2022.  The gull is due to head back to Poland, and hopefully it will return to the County Down coast next winter.

 TRX9 , was ringed as a chick, on the 5th June 2019, on Ptasia Wyspa Island, on Lake Rynskie in Northern Poland.  The only other re-sighting record before it appeared in Northern Ireland, was made on the 4th August 2019, when spotted at Ringstone Edge Reservoir, in West Yorkshire, England.

The distance from Poland to Groomsport Harbour, is 1,760 kms / 1,093 miles (W), and the duration since being ringed, is 2 years, 9 months and 12 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   TRX9   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (17 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 5th June 2019, on Ptasia Wyspa Island, Lake Rynskie, Northern Poland)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A visit by Suzanne to Kinnego Marina on the 18th March 2022, resulted in three ring sightings.  The first of these was one of four colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls belonging to Adam McClure's former NI Study, which were ringed at the Marina.  I had noted, that there was a distinct lack of records for these four birds in recent times, possibly effected by the 'Covid Lockdowns'.  More recent visits, had seen the re-sightings of -  2BPN  and  2BPT , but until today,  2BPS , was last recorded on the 30th April 2021.  The only one now missing is -  2BPV , last recorded at Kinnego Marina, on the 30th December 2019.

None of these four gulls have ever been recorded away from Kinnego Marina, and this latest sighting record for -  2BPS , is now the 64th record at the site.   2BPS , was ringed as an adult female, on the 31st October 2014.  The duration since being ringed is now 7 years, 4 months and 18 days.  As always, it is great to add more time onto longevities.

Black-headed Gull  -    2BPS   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (18 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 31st October 2014, at Kinnego Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The metal ring of an adult Black-headed Gull, was next to be read.  Ringed -  EN52966 , this bird has been a regular winter visitor to Kinnego Marina.  The gull was ringed as a chick, on the 3rd June 2009, on Blacker's Rock Island, just off the County Tyrone shore of Lough Neagh, whereas Kinnego Marina, is situated on the southern shore of the Lough.

I first recorded -  EN52966 , at Kinnego Marina on the 31st October 2015.  Between Suzanne and myself, we have recorded the bird every winter since.  This latest sighting by Suzanne, is now the 18th record overall on my Ring Reading Spreadsheet.  Good to know that the gull is still going strong, with the duration since being ringed, is now 12 years, 9 months and 15 days.  Kinnego Marina, lies 17 kms / 10 miles (SE), from Blacker's Rock.

Black-headed Gull  -   EN52966   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (18 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 3rd June 2009, on Blacker's Rock Island, Lough Neagh, Co. Tyrone)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

I'm sure that the metal ring read on a juvenile Black-headed Gull, would have given Suzanne quite a thrill.  Having successfully photographed the ring, the bird -  HA56.034 , was from Lithuania.  I supplied Suzanne with an email address, so she could report her sighting directly to Lithuania, and duly received a reply.

 HA56.034 , was ringed as a chick, on the 5th June 2021, on an island on Lake Kretuonas, in Eastern Lithuania.  The duration, as of Suzanne's sighting, was 9 months and 13 days, and the distance from Lake Kretuonas, is a whopping 2,076 kms / 1,289 miles (W).

As always, my thanks goes to Suzanne for these sighting records, along with the photos.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -  Lithuania   HA56.034   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (18 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 5th June 2021, at Lake Kretuonas, Lithuania)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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      From Steven Fyffe       
Steven Fyffe was out at Copeland Bird Observatory on the 18th March 2022, where he noticed two colour-ringed Common Gulls.  As Steven edged closer to read the rings, the gulls would rise and then land again a little further away.  After some persistence, Steven eventually captured the codes on both rings.

The first of them was -  2ACJ , a bird belonging to Shane Wolsey's former Common Gull Study on Big Copeland Island, the largest of the three islands that make up the Copeland Islands.  The bird observatory is situated on Lighthouse Island, and the much smaller Mew Island is the third.

 2ACJ , was ringed as a breeding adult, on the 14th May 2010, on Big Copeland.  This sighting by Steven, is the first time that the gull has been recorded on any of the islands since the day it was ringed.  The gull is very familiar to myself, as all previous sighting records bar one, have been made by me.  It's very first re-sighting occurred on the 22nd December 2016, on Kinnegar Beach, on the County Down shoreline of Belfast Lough, some 22 kms / 13 miles (W), of Big Copeland.  Other sightings are :-

14th July 2017, on the seafront at Donaghadee Harbour - 2 kms / 1 miles (S), from Big Copeland.
30th July 2017, on the seafront at Donaghadee Harbour.
18th November 2018, back on Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough.
22nd April 2019, on the seafront at Donaghadee Harbour - by Suzanne Belshaw.
12th October 2019, Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough.
18th April 2021, on the Millisle seafront, County Down - 8 kms / 5 miles (S), from Big Copeland.
3rd October 2021, Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough.
17th October 2021, Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough.

I visited Big Copeland Island in 2020 and 2021, and had hoped to record -  2ACJ  among the breeding population there without success.  This latest sighting by Steven on the Observatory (Lighthouse) Island, may possibly be an indication that the gull actually breeds on that island.  It would be fantastic, if this could be confirmed during the coming breeding season.

Lighthouse Island, lies within 2 kms / 1 mile (N), of Big Copeland Island, and the duration since being ringed, is now 11 years, 10 months and 4 days.

Common Gull  -   2ACJ   -  Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Island, Co. Down  (18 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Breeding Adult, on the 14th May 2010, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)
(Photo Courtesy of Steven Fyffe)

The second gull to be recorded was -  2HHJ .  I now hold the colour-rings which were used by Shane Wolsey, and I have supplied a small number of these to the Copeland Bird Observatory, including -  2HHJ .  It was caught and ringed at it's nest, via the use of a 'Lobster Trap', on the 19th May 2018, on the Observatory Island.  The gull was re-sighted a year later (20th May 2019), back at the same nest-site, where the code was successfully read.  Reports reached me last summer, that a colour-ringed Common Gull was seen at the site again, but the code could not be read in order to confirm the birds return.

This latest sighting however, proves that -  2HHJ  is still alive and well, and I'm hoping that someone will record the gull at it's nest this summer.  It has now been 3 years, 9 months and 27 days, since being ringed.

My thanks goes to Steven, for both sighting reports.  I'm glad his efforts to capture the codes paid off.

Common Gull  -   2HHJ   -  Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down  (18 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Breeding Adult, on the 19th May 2018, on Lighthouse Island)
(Photo Courtesy of Steven Fyffe)

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      From David Nixon       
I mentioned above in Suzanne's sightings report, about a juvenile Common Gull, which until now, had been the only one of 21 chicks ringed last summer on Big Copeland Island, that had since been re-sighted.  On the 19th March 2022, David Nixon reported on the sighting of -  2HCH , on the beach at Kinnegar, on the County Down shore of Belfast Lough.  This is the second of those 21 chicks which have so far been re-sighted.  On the 24th March 2022, David returned to Kinnegar Beach, where he spotted -  2HCH  for the second time in five days.  This time, the gull was on the small pond, which lies just across an access road from the beach itself.

Ringed as a chick, on the 13th June 2021, the duration as of the 24th March 2022, is now 9 months and 11 days.  Kinnegar is situated 22 kms / 13 miles (W), from Big Copeland Island.

David also recorded three other colour-ringed birds on the 24th March 2022, at Kinnegar, but I will hold back on reporting these until my next post, by which time, I hope to have the ringing details for all three.  The birds concerned, are all new sightings in Northern Ireland, belonging to an Icelandic Oystercatcher, a Norwegian Common Gull, and an English Black-headed Gull.

For now, my thanks goes to David, for his two sightings of juvenile Common Gull -  2HCH .

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Friday 18 March 2022

Locations Disaster...

Last weekend, saw very pleasant conditions weather wise on Saturday, so I managed to get out for a few hours during the afternoon.  Sunday morning began with quite heavy rain and fairly strong winds, but the forecast was for calmer conditions in the afternoon.  To kill a few hours, I set about adding photos and blog entries via hyperlinks onto my main Ring Sightings Spreadsheet.  At the same time, I also edited some of the locations where there were slight differences for the entries for particular sighting locations.

I used the filter for locations to isolate these same sites, and amended those that had two or three slight variations so as they would all read the same.  All was going well, but, as I was about to finish off, with the weather fast improving, disaster struck.  For some reason, having isolated Duncannon Strand, where there was three slight differences, having edited these, somehow for reasons I could not explain, they edited entries also ended up going through all of the ringing and re-sighting entries through most of my spreadsheet despite these not being filtered.

The spreadsheet is in species, metal and darvic order for indexing, and begins with Barnacle Geese through to Whooper Swans.  From half way through the Common Gulls to half way through Sandwich Terns, all ringing and re-sighting locations now read Duncannon Strand, Co. Wexford, Republic of Ireland.

I'm now left with several thousands of entries that have to be corrected.  I'm fairly confident that everything can be restored, as I have BTO Recoveries and PDF Files hyperlinked into the spreadsheet, as well as using my blog entries, and even individual spreadsheets copied from my main Ring Reading spreadsheet, which were added onto emails when replying to other observers.

Because of this, I began reworking the spreadsheet straight away on Sunday and throughout the week, and at a guess, I reckon that half of those locations have now been reinstated.  I could have 'died' at the time, as the spreadsheet is now close to 17,000 entries altogether, but I'm getting there.

As my car failed it's MOT last Thursday due to a couple of minors, my mechanic could not take the car back in to this Thursday.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that I will get it back by Saturday morning, otherwise I'm going to be grounded for another weekend.
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      Antrim Marina - Monday 14th March 2022       
Last Monday (7th March), I was unable to get to Antrim Marina for my weekly visit, as I did not get my car back from my mechanic, until nearly 2pm.  I had left the car in, for the fluids to be checked, as well as the filter on my washer bottle having to be cleaned.  The water was hardly touching the windscreen, which I think would be a fail.  I then put the car through it's MOT on Thursday 10th March, where it failed on a pitted brake pipe running past the fuel tank, and a Link of some sort.

Although I managed to get to Antrim Marina on Monday the 14th, Graham McElwaine had visited the Marina on Saturday the 12th, and recorded four of my colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.  Graham's visit was late in the afternoon, and he said the Marina was very busy, though I expect this was people and not gulls, seeing as it was a good sunny day.

O the four gulls that he recorded, only -  2FHC , was not spotted during my visit on Monday.  Graham sent photos for his four sightings, but at present, there is an issue with Yahoo emails, as the photos are not showing and therefore cannot be downloaded.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Spotted by Graham McElwaine on Saturday 12th March 2022
 2FIA   2FHC   2AAK   2FHL 

With my wife off work today, I elected to begin my visit to Antrim Marina to start at a later time, which meant that I could have a lie in, instead of returning home for a couple of hours sleep before starting the evening shift at work.  Arriving at 10:45, early morning rain had cleared, leaving  50/50 cloud cover, with a slight breeze coming in from Lough Neagh.  Around 50 Black-headed Gulls were present, with several pairs in full courtship display, including -  2ABK , the first colour-ring spotted straight away.

As the morning wore on, gulls were obviously coming and going, judging by the colour-ringed birds which were being recorded as the gulls trickled in.  Overall numbers of colour-rings spotted, built up at a very slow pace, with the final bird -  2ABL , taking the total up to 20 sightings by the time of my departure at 2:45.  This winter, a total of 40 gulls ringed over previous winters were recorded altogether, plus 15 new birds were caught and ringed, taking the overall total to 55.

Among the 20 colour-rings recorded today, was that of -  2FHX , at 12:18.  This gull was caught and ringed here, on the 8th November 2021, and was re-sighted for three weeks in a row, and then disappeared until now.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FHX   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 2nd Winter bird, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina)

Another re-sighting of interest is that of the juvenile -  2FHJ .  It was ringed as a 1st winter bird here, on the 6th September 2021, but since the turn of the year, had only been re-sighted at the Marina on two occasions - 3rd January 2022, and on the 7th February 2022.  It was pleasing to record this young gull again, and having survived the winter, it's chances to progress in life should be quite good.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -   2FHJ   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a 1st Winter Bird, on the 6th September 2021, at Antrim Marina)

None of my gulls which we know travels to other countries to breed over the summer months were recorded today, so it wouldn't surprise me if they are all on their way back home.

Many of the gulls are now sporting their Chocolate Brown Hoods, which they adorn during the breeding season.  I've added five of today's sightings, which have just about fully developed hoods.  The first of these is -  2CJT , which is a year round resident to Antrim Marina.  Having said that, for some reason,  2CJT  popped over to Scotland in February 2021, where it was spotted at Lochwinnoch, before returning to Antrim Marina in April 2021.  It appears to behaving itself, which no exterritorial  expeditions this spring.  

Black-headed Gull  -   2CJT   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a 1st Winter Bird, on the 4th December 2016, at Antrim Marina)

Black-headed Gull  -   2CSK   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 17th December 2017, at Antrim Marina)

Black-headed Gull  -   2FFX   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a 1st Winter bird, on the 21st December 2020, at Antrim Marina)

Black-headed Gull  -   2FHA  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 28th December 2020, at Antrim Marina)

Black-headed Gull  -   2FIF   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 29th November 2021, at Antrim Marina)

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 14th March 2022
 2ABK   2FHA   2AAA   2CSR   2FDT   2FIF   2CSK   2AAB   2CJT   2AAK 
 2FFX   2BRA   2FIA   2FHX   2FHJ   2FHP   2CSB   2ABS   2FHL   2ABL 

All winter, I have been complaining about the lack of ring sightings belonging to other projects, but today, I had two ringed Black-headed Gulls at the Marina.  The first of these, was what I thought was one of my own gulls, until I scoped a very dirty looking ring which read -  2K48 .  Having contacted Kane Brides, I learnt that -  2K48 , had been ringed as an un-sexed adult bird, on the seafront at Southport on Merseyside England, on the 25th January 2022.

With a duration since being ringed, just 1 month and 17 days, could it be possible, that -  2K48  breeds here on Lough Neagh, and winter's in Southport.  It will be interesting to see whether this bird is recorded here during the breeding season.  The distance from Southport, is 241 kms / 149 miles (WNW).  My thanks goes to Kane for supplying the ringing info, despite getting our 'wires' crossed at one point.  I forgot to remove my sighting off from my BTO DemOn account, as Kane' Ringing Group, now has an automated system for reporting their ring sightings :- Report Sighting.

Black-headed Gull  -   2K48   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 25th January 2022, at Southport, Merseyside, England)

As mentioned several times over the winter, one bird especially, presents me with a 'headache' at times. This Black-headed Gull -  2ABL , managed to loose it's colour ring some time back, and now has to be identified by it's metal number.  Should -  2ABL  appear early during my visits, I have to repeatedly read it's metal number, just in case it is another gull.

When I spotted a metal-rung Black-headed Gull today, I instantly knew it was not -  2ABL , as this bird had a taller metal ring, than those belonging to the BTO.  Perched on the low wooden jetty, I had problems trying to find angles in which I could photograph the ring.  Once I saw the word Iceland on the 'ring butts', I knew I was looking for six numbers and no letters.  Without scaring the gull off, I tempted the gulls to move about by flicking bits of bread onto the jetty.  This did the trick, and I managed to get all six numbers -  527908 , which on site, I had no recollection of.

On returning home, I ran the number through my main Ring Reading Spreadsheet, and I was in for a surprise.  I had recorded this very same gull here at the Marina, on the 4th January 2021, which had been my last visit, before the second 'Covid Lockdown'.

 527908 , had been ringed as a chick, on the 21st June 2013, at a colony in the Stokkseyri area, on the south-west coast of Iceland.  The first re-sighting of -  527908 , occurred on the 7th January 2017, when the gull was recorded at Victoria Park in Glasgow, Scotland.  My sighting last year, was the second sighting, and having reported my latest sighting to Iceland, this is now the third record for the gull.

If the gull had wintered around Antrim Town, I would have spotted it at some point over the winter, so I now think the gull is using the Marina as a staging post on it's return home.  The duration since being ringed, is now 8 years, 8 months and 21 days, and the distance from Stokkseyri to Antrim Marina, is 1,314 kms / 816 miles (SE).  

Black-headed Gull  -   527908   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (14 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 21st June 2013, at StokkseyriÁrnessýsla, Iceland)

Other Birds at Antrim Marina
A large number of Mute swans were either on or just off the slipway when I arrived this morning.  A headcount gave a total of 16 adult/white birds, along with 6 cygnets.  There were no further arrivals, and later during the morning, a couple of pairs swam out towards the Lough.  I'm fairly sure, that all legs were checked, with the usual two ringed birds being recorded again -  Z78574  and  Z78580 .  I'm still hoping for the return of -  W34156 , who I last recorded here on the 23rd March 2020.  The second 'Covid Lockdown' prevented visits at this time last year, so I have no idea whether the bird returned last spring.

Mallards numbered around 30 on my arrival, and another count shortly before I departed, gave a total of around 65 to 70 birds.  As usual, most legs were checked, but still no rings.

A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present throughout my latest visit.  My resident Herring Gull did not appear until midday, but a second Herring Gull which arrived with him, is not the same female he has been with over past weeks.  That bird, had a very slender head and neck, nothing like today's bird.  Has 'an old flame' turned up?, and he has dumped the other bird.

Just two Commons Gulls were recorded today, an adult at 13:55, and a juvenile at 14:15.  The numbers for these gulls have remained extremely low all winter.  I doubt very much if I'll record the small metal-rung female from Scotland, until next autumn.  Having returned early this winter, on the 16th August 2021, she was only recorded on five occasions in total, and has not been seen since the 3rd January 2022.  The latest ever spring sighting of -  EY64036  , was recorded on the 15th March 2015.

10 Jackdaws, a male Grey Wagtail, and a male Pied Wagtail, were the only other species noted.

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      Saturday 12th March 2022       
After doing a few chores down town today, I finally set off in the early afternoon.  With an incoming tide, I was not too sure in what direction to travel, but as time was limited, I set off towards Larne Lough.  On reaching the railway platform of Glynn Station, the tide was still a long way off, and gull and wader numbers were extremely low.  I stayed for at least an hour scoping through everything, but the only rings spotted were on Brent Geese.  I don't even bother trying to record rings on these birds now, as I've still received no feed back on the last birds that I reported.

I was tempted to move on to the coastal town of Whitehead, but changed my mind, as I reckoned I'd be better off heading northwards to Cushendall, seeing as time was limited.  My target at Whitehead, would be to obtain a second sighting of a Danish colour-ringed Black-headed Gull.  This bird returns to Whitehead every winter, but I've only had the single sighting report this winter.  Having changed my mind, an email from Ian Enlander proved very useful (read below).

After leaving Glynn, I checked all of the usual sites up towards Cushendall, including a Peregrine Falcon site near Glenarm.  Gull numbers all along the coast were very poor, and the only ring recorded during the whole afternoon, was got at Carnlough Bay.

This belonged to an Oystercatcher, rung Orange over Orange on the left leg, with a White Darvic reading 'AA' on the right leg - OO-W(AA).  The bird was ringed as a breeding adult in the summer of 2016, and first appeared at Carnlough Bay, on the 10th August 2016, and has returned every winter since.  This winter, I recorded the bird back at Carnlough, on the 4th September 2021, and I reckon that I was lucky the bird was still here today, as according to Boddi in Iceland, some of their Oystercatchers have already begun to arrive back in the country.  The duration since OO-W(AA) was ringed, is now 5 years, 10 months and 2 days, and the distance from Brautarholt, is 1,356 kms / 842 miles (SE).

Oystercatcher  -  OO-W(AA)  -  Carnlough Bay, Carnlough, Co. Antrim  (12 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Breeding Adult, on the 10th May 2016, in the Brautarholt area of SW Iceland)

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      From Ric Else       
Ric Else emailed me on Saturday 12th March 2022, to say that two of my Common Gulls have arrived back on Rathlin Island, situated just off the north coast of County Antrim.  I began my own project on the island back in 2017, ringing Common Gull chicks, to see how many survive to integrate into the overall breeding population over future years.  I reckon the overall population on the island exceeds 100 pairs, though the RSPB warden Liam McFaul gave a total of 70 occupied nests in 2019 (Rathlin Bird Report 2019).

The two gulls reported by Ric, were -  2APT  at Rue Point, and -  2BBC  at Doon Bay.   2APT , was ringed as a chick, on the 17th June 2017, at the Rue Point colony on Rathlin Island.  The gull was not seen again until the 13th April 2019, when it returned to it's natal colony.  At this point, I reckoned the bird had arrived back to prospect a nest site, as I doubt it was fully mature to breed.  In 2020, it was recorded several times at Rue Point during the breeding season, but last year, the gull was not recorded at all on the island.  The duration for this latest sighting is 4 years, 8 months and 23 days.  Good to know the bird is still with us.

 2BBC , was ringed as a chick, on the 24th June 2017, at the Arkill Bay colony on Rathlin.  It's first re-sighting was made by David Nixon, on the 22nd May 2018, when the then juvenile, was spotted at the South Inner Bay at Dundrum in County Down.  The gull returned to Rathlin Island in 2020, and likely prospected nest sites at the Doon Bay colony, where I also recorded it again in 2021.  On the 20th November 2021, Graham McElwaine spotted -  2BBC , back at the South Inner Bay at Dundrum, so it seems likely that the gull is wintering around Strangford Lough.  The duration since being ringed, is now 4 years, 8 months and 16 days.

Up until last year, Ric, along with Hazel Watson worked as wardens on Rathlin Island, but last summer worked on the British mainland.  I asked Ric if they were staying on the island this summer, and the reply cam back as a yes.  This is good news for me, as I'll have an extra couple of eyes watching out for my returning gulls.  I plan to begin my visits to Rathlin later in April.  The two breeding seasons of 2020 and 2021 have been very poor in the numbers of chicks raised.  However, 2019 was a good year, so hopefully many first re-sightings will be recorded this summer.

My thanks goes to Ric, for both the sightings and the good news that they are remaining on the island this summer.

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      From Ronan Owens       
On Tuesday 15th March 2022, Ronan Owens emailed me about one of my Antrim Marina Black-headed Gulls -  2ABN .  Earlier that afternoon,  2ABN , was spotted at Peatlands Park in County Armagh, which is situated between Lurgan in County Armagh and Dungannon in County Tyrone.

 2ABN , was ringed as an adult female at Antrim Marina, on the 23rd January 2021.  Over the years, the gull has amassed 221 sightings at Antrim Marina, and has never been recorded elsewhere until now.  I have always assumed that the gull is a winter visitor to the Marina, although on a couple of occasions it has arrived back fairly early, either having failed, or successfully completing it's nesting attempts.  The earliest return date was recorded on the 8th June 2017.

Peatlands Park lies 35 kms / 22 miles (SW), from Antrim Marina, but I do not know of any breeding colonies in that area, though the south-west corner of Lough Neagh, is not too far away.  Extending the line south-west, would take it towards Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, where Black-headed Gulls are bound to be nesting.  As always, I hope to receive breeding season sightings.

My thanks goes to Ronan for reporting -  2ABN .

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      From Ian Enlander       
As mentioned above, on Saturday 12th March 2022, whilst I was at Glynn on Larne Lough, I wondered about visiting Whitehead to look for a Danish rung Black-headed Gull, but changed my mind and headed northwards towards Cushendall.  However, on Saturday evening, I received an email from Ian Enlander.  He had visited Whitehead during Saturday afternoon, and recorded Black-headed Gull - (White) 5HA.  Normally every winter, (White) 5HA, would be spotted on several occasions, but this winter, it had only been recorded on two occasions at Whitehead, by Cameron Moore, on the 7th December 2021, and on the 14th December 2021, when recorded by David Nixon, along with Philip McHaffie.

With (White) 5HA, soon to depart, it was good news to get another sighting report.  (White) 5HA was ringed as an Adult Male, on the 28th March 2015, at Gentofte Sø, a lake just to the north of Copenhagen in Denmark.  It was first spotted wintering at Whitehead, in November 2016, and has returned every winter since.  In Denmark, the gull has only been recorded back at Gentofte Sø on one occasion - April 2018.  The duration since being ringed, is now 6 years, 11 months and 12 days, and the distance from Gentofte Sø, is 1,160 kms / 720 miles (W).

My thanks goes to Ian for the sighting which is very useful.  Ian also reported that the Peregrine Falcons are back in the disused quarry at Whitehead.  The birds are extremely used to people, as a public footpath runs past the quarry and is much walked by many folk.  This is probably the easiest site to observe Peregrines nesting here in Northern Ireland.

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Friday 11 March 2022

From Suzanne Belshaw...

Having left my car with my mechanic on Thursday last week, I did not get the car back until the early afternoon on the Monday, so I never got out at all over the weekend, and worst still, it was far too late to go to Antrim Marina for my weekly visit.  I had a problem with my windscreen washer, as the water barely reached the windscreen, the problem being a blocked filter inside the water bottle.  I also requested for the fluids to be checked, which also saw two litres of oil being added.  This was not surprising, as the engine oil was last topped up in January 2021.

Other than what was requested, my car went straight into it's MOT on Thursday this week, and failed.  I have a faulty drop link that needs replaced, and a 'pitted' brake pipe running past the fuel tank towards the back wheels.  These are minor defects, and my car is now booked in for next Thursday for the repairs to be made.

Having recorded nothing myself, this weeks post centres entirely by ring sightings made by Suzanne Belshaw, with an interesting couple of re-sightings among them.

The weather for this coming weekend is looking quite poor, but I still hope to get out and about.  After a series of weekends, effected by storms or extremely high winds, last weekend saw calm and sunny conditions, and of course I had no car.  Antrim Marina on Monday coming is a must do, seeing as several of my study Black-headed Gulls are due to depart.
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Suzanne Belshaw has been in touch with me on a couple of occasions lately concerning her latest ring sightings.  In the first of two emails, the re-sightings of a Herring Gull and a Black-headed Gull were reported on.  A metal-rung Herring Gull near Suzanne's home in Lisburn, County Antrim, posed a slight problem as Suzanne tried to photograph the ring number.  Having seen the gull on the 24th & 27th February 2022, the full number was finally captured and read -  GY32513 .

As it turned out, this gull was also recorded by Suzanne, on the 16th May 2021 and on the 15th August 2021 at the same location.  Unlike colour-ringed birds whose colour-codes are relatively easy to capture, metal-rung birds pose a bit of a problem.  Although you may suspect that a metal-rung bird spotted at a specific location, may perhaps be the same bird spotted there previously, there's no way of knowing for sure unless you recapture the number again in the event that it is a different bird entirely.

I have this same problem at Antrim Marina during each of my weekly visits.  One Black-headed Gull at the site -  2ABL , managed to loose it's colour-ring some time ago now.  Every time I see a metal-rung Black-headed Gull at the Marina, I scope the ring to determine if the bird is indeed -  2ABL , or another gull.  This presents me with quite the headache sometimes, should -  2ABL  be on site at the beginning of my visit.  As time passes by, each time I see a metal, then I have to read the number again, which for  2ABL , is -  EY37326 .

Suzanne's Herring Gull -  GY32513 , was ringed as a chick, on the 12th July 2020, on Lighthouse Island, one of three islands that make up The Copeland Islands, situated just offshore from Donaghadee in Co. Down.  Lighthouse Island is also home to The Copeland Bird Observatory, whose members ringed the gull.

The distance from Lighthouse Island to Lisburn, is 40 kms / 24 miles (WSW), and the duration, as of Suzanne's sighting on the 27th February 2022, is now 1 year, 7 months and 15 days.

Herring Gull  -    GY32513   -  Drumbeg Drive, Lisburn, Co. Antrim  (24 Feb 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 12th July 2020, on Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 26th February 2022, Suzanne visited Kinnego Marina, which is situated on the southern shores of Lough Neagh.  Whilst there, she spotted Black-headed Gull -  2BPT  2BPT , was ringed at Kinnego Marina, as an adult female, on the 31st October 2014, and belongs to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.

A total of six Black-headed Gulls were caught and colour-ringed at Kinnego Marina in 2014, two of which have long since disappeared - these being a juvenile and the control (capture) of a metal-rung bird from Latvia.  The remaining four had been re-sighted at Kinnego Marina every winter since 2014, though over the past couple of winters, few visits have been undertaken, possibly due to the 'Covid Lockdowns'.  One of these four gulls, was last recorded in December 2019.  In my email discussion with Suzanne, I suggested that between us, we should make an effort to visit Kinnego Marina, so as to obtain the current status for the other three gulls.

Non of the four birds have ever been recorded elsewhere, so we have no idea where they breed at.  As wintering birds at Kinnego Marina, re-sightings are required to add more time onto their durations.  The duration of -  2BPT , as of the 27th February 2022, is now 7 years, 3 months and 26 days.

Black-headed Gull  -    2BPT   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (26 Feb 2022)
(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 31st October 2014, at Kinnego Marina)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Whilst I was at work on the evening of Tuesday 8th March, I received another email from Suzanne.  Earlier that afternoon, Suzanne visited the lake at Lurgan Park in Co. Armagh, and hit 'gold' as she recorded five ringed Black-headed Gulls.  This was Suzanne's fourth visit to the park since the beginning of 2022.

Among the five rings, were two birds from Denmark.  The first was a juvenile Black-headed Gull with a metal ring which read -  VA6587 .  These new type metals are far easier to read, as the digits are repeated twice on the ring.  On returning home, I emailed Kjeld Tommy Pedersen before I went to bed, and a reply was received before I woke on Wednesday morning.

 VA6587 , was ringed as a chick, on the 27th May 2021, on Hirsholm Island, which lies just offshore from the Danish north coast.  Suzanne's sighting was the first since the youngster was ringed, the duration being 9 months and 9 days.  I also submitted the sighting to the BTO, and their official recovery gave a distance of 1,106 kms / 687 miles (WSW), from Hirsholm.  My favourite ring sightings belong to birds ringed with 'metals only', so well done Suzanne for capturing this one.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -    VA6587   -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (08 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 27th May 2021, at Hirsholm Island, Denmark)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The second Danish Black-headed Gull was colour-ringed - (White) 9MT, a bird I instantly recognised, as I could remember seeing it for myself at Lurgan Park.  Back at home and checking my spreadsheet, I had recorded the gull at Lurgan Park, on the 17th March 2019.  (White) 9MT, had been ringed as an unsexed adult, on the 31st March 2018, in the Danish capital of Copenhagen.  The gulls first six re-sighting were all recorded at Bray Harbour in County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, between July and October 2018, followed by my sighting in March 2019.

Having also mentioned Suzanne's sighting to Kjeld, an updated PDF File was returned.  Despite no sightings back home in Denmark, (White) 9MT, returned to Bray Harbour in the winters of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.  This latest sighting by Suzanne, clearly shows that the gull is now making it's way northwards towards Denmark to breed this coming summer.  The distance from Copenhagen to Lurgan Park Lake, is 1,207 kms / 749 miles (W), and the duration since being ringed is now 3 years, 11 months and 5 days.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  9MT  -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (08 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 31st March 2018, at Copenhagen, Denmark)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A Polish Black-headed Gull -  T58T , is a regular winter visitor to Lurgan Park Lake.  The bird was ringed as an un-sexed adult, on the 16th July 2016, at Świnoujście, situated in the north-west corner of Poland, bordering Germany.  The very first re-sighting of -  T58T , was made by myself on the 15th December 2016, here at Lurgan Park.  The bird has returned to Lurgan Park every winter since 2016, and usually arrives back in December, though I have one record of the gull returning on the 26th November 2020, when recorded by Suzanne.

This winter, the first re-sighting of -  T58T , was made on the 12th January 2022, by Suzanne.  There's no doubt in my mind, that the gull had arrived before that date, but a lack of visits would be the reason for the bird not being spotted earlier.

During the summer months,  T58T , has been recorded back home at Świnoujście (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021), and in the summer of 2019, the gull also strayed over the border into Germany on a couple of occasions.

The duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 7 months and 20 days, as of the 8th March 2022, and the distance from Świnoujście, is 1,334 kms / 828 miles (WNW).

Black-headed Gull  -    T58T   -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (08 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 16th July 2016, at Świnoujście, Poland)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Suzanne's sighting of Black-headed Gull - (White) 2APK, was her second record for the bird at Lurgan Park, on the 8th March 2022, having previously recorded the gull there on the 26th June 2017.  (White) 2APK, was ringed as a chick, on the 14th June 2015, at a colony at Broad Law on the Moorfoot Hills, in the Borders Region of Scotland.  The gull went un-recorded until the 2nd January 2017, when spotted by a James O'Neill by the lake at Castlewellan Forest Park in County Down.  Since then, the gull has established itself as a winter visitor to Castlewellan, having been recorded there every winter since.  This winter, it's return was confirmed by Graham McElwaine, during his visit to the Forest Park, on the 22nd September 2021.

Although (White) 2APK was ringed in Scotland, whether it returns there to breed is not known.  A series of July sightings made at Castlewellan Park, and at nearby Dundrum Inner Bay (also in Co. Down), in 2019, 2020 and 2021, suggests that the bird may well be breeding in Northern Ireland.  It would be fantastic to 'nail down' the bird's breeding site, whether here or in Scotland.

Suzanne's sighting at Lurgan Park, on the 8th March 2022, suggests that the bird is moving northwards towards it's breeding site, and the duration since being ringed, is now 6 years, 8 months and 22 days.  The distance from Broad Law to Lurgan Park, is 254 kms / 157 miles (WSW).

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  2APK  -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (08 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as a Chick, on the 14th June 2015, at Broad Law, Moorfoot Hills, Borders Region, Scotland)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The last of the Black-headed Gulls recorded at Lurgan Park Lake, on the 8th March 2022, was that of -   2BRD , one of my study birds that was ringed at Antrim Marina, on the 1st February 2015.  Over the years at Antrim Marina, the gull has a very 'patchy' winter re-sighting history, but for a long time now, we know that it visits Lurgan Park prior to the onset of the new breeding season.  Normally,  2BRD  returns to Lurgan Park in March each year, though in 2018 it was recorded there on the 23rd February.  My last sighting of -  2BRD  this winter at Antrim Marina, was made on the 14th February 2022, and three days later on the 17th February, Suzanne spotted -  2BRD  here at Lurgan Park.

This latest sighting, takes the duration to 7 years, 1 month and 7 days, since being ringed, and the distance from Antrim Marina, is 28 kms / 17 miles (SSW).

Black-headed Gull  -    2BRD   -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (08 Mar 2022)
(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 1st February 2015, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)
(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

My thanks goes to Suzanne for these latest sighting records, along with the photos.  You have 'saved the day', otherwise, I would have had nothing for this weeks post.

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