Scottish Connection...

After an extraordinary week, when over 20 ring sightings were reported to me, this week has seen very little activity.  I have not included all sightings in this post, as some sightings were made in the Republic of Ireland, which concerned gulls that had previously been recorded in Northern Ireland.

Derek Polley, who is a volunteer warden at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast, has sent me numerous Black-tailed Godwit sightings, for birds which were actually ringed on the reserve, on the 21st April 2021.  Derek, like several other observers, report their sightings to me, where in turn, I submit their sightings to the BTO.  There has been some issues regarding the Godwits, as the ringing data had not been submitted to the BTO by the ringers themselves.  Recoveries have began to flow, so obviously the BTO had pressed for the ringing data.

During the earlier part of this week, I discovered that the hyperlinks for BTO Recoveries, was not working, so I refrained from sending in sighting submissions.  Whatever the reason for this, I'm glad to see that it up and running again.  With the winter season at Antrim Marina having ended, I've have began to submit sightings of the Black-headed Gulls, by the last sighting for each month throughout the winter (August to March).  It would be too much to submit every weekly sighting for each individual.

I'm still no further forward in obtaining permissions to visit Big Copeland Island in County Down.  Here, I am trying to further Shane Wolsey's former Common Gull Project, by reading rings and ringing new chicks.  At the minute, it's not looking good, whether I can get to the island this summer.  If anyone has a contact number or email address for Ryan McCulla, please email me at plattgareth@yahoo.co.uk.

_________________________________________________________________________________

From Graham McElwaine

On Tuesday 5th April 2022, an email arrived with me from Graham McElwaine.  Earlier in the day, Graham travelled up from County Down to Toomebridge in County Antrim, to conduct which he thinks will be his final Whooper Swan count of the winter.  As he passes through the town of Antrim, he called by my study site at Antrim Marina for a quick visit to check on the gulls there.

Graham recorded six colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, five of which belonged to my project, with the sixth turning out to be a first sighting in Northern Ireland.

My birds were :-

 2FHX  - Ringed on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina, as an un-sexed 2nd calendar year bird.

 2AAB  - Ringed on the 11th December 2012, at Antrim Marina, as an un-sexed adult.

 2ABK  - Ringed on the 23rd January 2013, at Antrim Marina, as an adult female.

 2FDK  - Ringed on the 18th November 2019, at Antrim Marina, as an un-sexed adult.

 2FFL  - Ringed on the 14th December 2020, at Antrim Marina, as a 1st winter bird.

 2AAB  and  2ABK , are known to be year round residents at Antrim Marina, though -  2ABK  was once recorded at Kinnego Marina (27 kms / 16 miles (SSW)) in March 2020, but was subsequently recorded back at Antrim Marina by May 2020.

I am still building profiles for the three with blue Darvics, but it is looking ever more likely, that -   2FDK  is also going to be a year round resident as well.

As for Graham's sighting of -  2005 , I checked out the cr-birding website, to find that the gull belonged to a Gillian Dinsmore, and duly sent an email to her concerning Graham's sighting.  After a while, it dawned on me, that Adam published a post on his blog concerning Gillian, and her ringing projects in south-west Scotland (read here).  This was back in 2015, and I had not heard of Gillian since then.  I checked Gillian's Facebook Account (read), and found that no further entries were posted since May 2015.  I therefore assumed for whatever reason, Gillian's projects never went any further, so I then submitted Graham's sighting of -  2005  to the BTO, by the birds colour-marks only, and kept my fingers crossed that Gillian had submitted her ringing data before disappearing off the scene.

To my relief, and I'm sure, Graham's as well, we both received a ringing recovery from the BTO.  With a metal number reading -  EY94851 ,  2005  was ringed as an un-sexed adult, on the 15th March 2015, at Stranraer Harbour in Dumfries & Galloway, in south-west Scotland.  The distance from Stranraer to Antrim Marina, was given as 80 kms / 49 miles (WSW), and the duration since being ringed, was now 7 years, and 21 days.  The BTO never releases the full re-sighting histories for birds reported to them, except, should they appear on the ' BTO's Online Ringing Reports'.

Having said that, recently, I have been in touch with a Brian Henderson, who has reported the sightings of two Northern Ireland Black-headed Gulls, which he has been watching on the East Pier at Stranraer Harbour - these being -  2CBL  &  2BRS  (see my previous post).  I sent an email to Brian, enquiring if he had ever spotted -  2005  at Stranraer.  In his reply, he has recorded the gull over 100 times in Stranraer, and had given up on sending his sightings to Gillian, as he received no replies.  Brian has also recorded -  2005  nesting in the past at nearby Cairnryan, and thought it was strange that the gull had suddenly crossed the Irish Sea to appear here in Northern Ireland.

My thanks to Graham McElwaine for these sighting reports at Antrim Marina, and to Brian Henderson for furnishing me with the extra info.  Although the distance between Dumfries & Galloway to Northern Ireland, is but a mere 'flap of the wings', as far as I'm aware, this is the first Black-headed Gull or even Common Gull, from either of Gillian's former projects, to have ever been recorded here. 

Black-headed Gull  -   2005   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (05 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 15th March 2015, at Stranraer Harbour, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland)

(Photo Courtesy of Graham McElwaine)

*******************************************************

From Suzanne Belshaw

A couple of emails have arrived with me recently from Suzanne Belshaw, containing a list of her latest ring sightings.  On the 2nd April 2022, Suzanne stopped by the Islandhill car park, situated on the northern edge of Strangford Lough, and here she re-sighted a colour-ringed Herring Gull which is well known here.   0P:W , was ringed as an un-sexed adult, on the 23rd May 2014, on Big Copeland Island in County Down.  Islandhill, lies 17 kms / 10 miles (SW) from Big Copeland Island, but the gull has yet to be recorded back at the ringing site.

This latest sighting by Suzanne, is now the 15th record for the bird on my Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet, with all sightings, bar the first two having been made here at Islandhill.  On the 25th October 2015, Graham McElwaine recorded -  0P:W , at Knockinelder Bay on the County Down coast, and on the 7th February 2016, I spotted the gull at Whitehouse Lagoon, on the northern fringes of Belfast.  The duration since being ringed, is now 7 years, 7 months and 10 days.

Herring Gull  -    0P:W   -  Islandhill, Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (02 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 23rd May 2014, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 4th April 2022, Suzanne was at the Sprucefield Shopping Centre in County Down, where, in one of the car parks, she spotted  juvenile Black-headed Gull -  2HPL .  I submitted Suzanne's sighting via my DemOn Ringing Account, and we both received the recovery details.  The gull had been ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2021, at Marsh Lane Nature Reserve, in the West Midlands area of England.  This was the first re-sighting for the bird since being ringed, having travelled 371 kms / 230 miles (NW), to reach the Sprucefield Shopping Centre which has a McDonalds Outlet. These outlets acts like a 'magnet' for young gulls looking an easy meal.  The duration since ringing, was 9 months and 20 days.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -   2HPL   -  Sprucefield Shopping Centre, Co. Down  (04 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2021, at Marsh Lane Nature Reserve, West Midlands, England)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 5th April 2020, Suzanne visited Kinnego Marina on the southern edge of Lough Neagh, before moving on to the lake at nearby Lurgan Park.  At Kinnego Marina, three Black-headed Gulls from Adam's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study were recorded, which in the past were regularly recorded at the site.  A fourth regular -  2BPV , has not been recorded here since the 30th December 2019, and it now looks increasingly likely, that this gull has now perished.

The three remaining gulls are -  2BPN ,  2BPS  &  2BPT , none of which have ever been recorded elsewhere.  If nothing else, these sightings add a whole lot more days onto the longevities of these birds.

 2BPN , was ringed here as an adult female, on the 29th October 2014.  Suzanne's latest sighting, is the 75th record for the bird, the duration since being ringed, is now 7 years, 5 months and 7 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2BPN   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (05 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 29th October 2014, at Kinnego Marina)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The photo that Suzanne took of -  2BPS , did not show the ring too clearly, so was not added here.  The bird was ringed at Kinnego, as an adult female, on the 31st October 2014.  This latest sighting record, is the 65th for the gull, and takes the duration, to 7 years, 5 months and 5 days.

 2BPT , was also ringed here as an adult female, on the 31st October 2014.  This is it's 75th sighting record as well, and the duration since being ringed, is now 7 years, 5 months and 5 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2BPT   -  Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh  (05 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 31st October 2014, at Kinnego Marina)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

During Suzanne's previous visit to Kinnego Marina, on the 18th March 2022, she recorded a metal-rung juvenile Black-headed Gull from Lithuania.  There was no mention of the youngster during Suzanne's latest visit, so the bird looks to have moved on.

On leaving Kinnego Marina, Suzanne drove the short distance to Lurgan Park Lake.  Quite high numbers of Black-headed Gulls frequent the park and it's lake, along with smaller numbers of other gull species.  This in turn, provides several ring sightings which include colour-rings and metals only, and includes a small number of fairly regular re-sightings at the lake.

None of those gulls were spotted today, but Suzanne discovered a new juvenile Black-headed Gull -  2Y52 .  The youngster belonged to the North West Black-headed Gull Study, based in England, and Suzanne submitted her sighting onto their new website for reporting ring sightings.  Once submitted, Suzanne was furnished with the birds ringing and re-sighting history, and as it turned out, this was a first re-sighting since being ringed.

 2Y52 , was ringed as a chick, on the 21st June 2021, at Martin Mere, in Lancashire, England.  Unfortunately, the website did not include the birds metal number, nor the distance and direction of travel.  I went onto Google Maps, and worked out the distance as being roughly 244 kms / 151 miles (NW), from Martin Mere.

According to the project leads, they then submit sightings to the BTO, but as far as I know, Suzanne has yet to receive an official recovery from the BTO, which tells me that her sighting did not include her name as the finder, nor the finders email address.

On a personal note, I quickly moved away from the official website, as I was not happy with the lack of details, though small.  For the purposes of my Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet, the inclusion of the metal number helps to keep Northern Ireland sightings of birds from other projects indexed together, and the inclusion of distances are also of value.

Luckily, through other photos that Suzanne sent of -  2Y52 , the metal number appears to read -  EA68165 .  I entered that metal number onto my BTO DemOn Ringing Account, which clearly shows that a Black-headed Gull chick with that number, had been ringed on the 21st June 2021, but no sightings have yet to be submitted.  

I fell 'foul' of the project leads, when I decided to submit another one of their gulls directly to the BTO.  Having submitted David Nixon's sighting of -  2Y35  directly to the BTO, I then received an email from the project leads, complaining about the sighting not being reported to them directly on their new website.  I gave my reasons, and suggested that they should amend their website to include the metal number and distance/direction.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -   2Y52   -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (05 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 12th June 2021, at WWT Martin Mere, Lancashire, England)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 7th April 2022, Suzanne visited Sandy Bay, at Larne in County Antrim.  Here she recorded Black-headed Gull -  2ABT .   2ABT , was one of the earliest Black-headed Gulls to be ringed belonging to Adam's form Northern Ireland Study.  The gull was ringed as an adult male, on the 24th January 2013, at Luke's Point in Ballyholme, County Down.

This latest sighting by Suzanne, is the bird's 26th sighting report to go onto my spreadsheet.  Over the years since being ringed, we know know that -  2ABT  winters at Ballyholme, and during the breeding season, is often recorded here at Sandy Bay.  Not very far from Sandy Bay, a large Black-headed Gull breeding colony is situated on Larne Lough, this being the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Reserve, so it seems likely that -  2ABT  nests on the island.

The last sighting of -  2ABT , was made at Luke's Point by George Gordon, on the 3rd October 2021.  It's great to know the bird is still going strong.  The distance from Luke's Point to Sandy Bay, is a mere 23 kms / 14 miles (NNW), and the duration, is now 9 years, 2 months and 14 days.

My thanks goes to Suzanne once more, for these sighting reports, along with the photos.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ABT   -  Sandy Bay, Larne, Co. Antrim  (07 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 24th January 2013, at Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

*******************************************************

From David Nixon

On the 6th April 2022, David Nixon visited the high tide roost at the South Inner Bay of Dundrum in County Down.  The roost is situated beside the main road between Dundrum and Newcastle, and can easily be viewed from the hard shoulder beside the sea wall.  The site is favoured by several species of gulls and waders.

Whilst checking through the birds, he spotted an immature Herring Gull -  B01:D , but when he went to take a photo of the bird, and having taken a few photos, he suddenly realised that he was taking pictures of another Herring Gull, a juvenile rung -  J22:M .  Despite searching through the gulls again, he could not relocate -  B01:D .

Recently, I sent out an updated copy of a Big Gull Sightings Spreadsheet, which was produced from my Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet, and contains all Northern Ireland sightings for Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls.  On returning home, and checking the spreadsheet, David discovered that -  B01:D  was a re-sighting, whereas,  J22:M  was a new sighting here in Northern Ireland. 

Mark Fitzpatrick from the Isle of Man, responded to David's email to say that -  J22:M , had been ringed as a chick, on the 26th June 2021, and this was the first sighting of the youngster since being ringed.  The distance from the Calf of Man, to the South Inner Bay at Dundrum, is 71 kms / 44 miles (WNW), and the duration since being ringed, was 9 months and 11 days.

Juvenile Herring Gull  -   J22:M   -  Dundrum Inner Bay (South), Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (06 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 26th June 2021, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

David's sighting of -  B01:D , is the fourth record of the Herring Gull in Northern Ireland, with all sightings having been made at the high tide roost here at the South Inner Bay of Dundrum.  The bird was ringed as a chick, on the 4th July 2019, on Ireland's Eye Island in County Dublin.  The three previous sightings at this roost, were made in September 2020, March 2021 and July 2021.  The distance from Ireland's Eye Island to Dundrum, is 96 kms / 59 miles (N), and the duration since being ringed, is now 2 years, 9 months and 2 days.

My thanks as always goes to David for the sighting reports and photo.  It can be difficult at times to zoom into a large number of gulls looking for a particular ringed bird, though it is a bit of a bonus when another one is picked up.

*******************************************************

From Ric Else

Up until last year, Ric Else and Hazel Watson, had worked for the RSPB on Rathlin Island, and through their birdwatching efforts, had produced a series of Rathlin Island Bird Reports.  Last summer, they worked at a posting in England, but have now returned to Rathlin Island.  Ric has confirmed, that they will remain on the island this summer, which is good news for me.

During the summer of 2017, I began a Common Gull colour-ring project on the island.  With around 100 pairs nesting on the east coast and south point on the island, I have been colour-ringing chicks.  I am aiming to record the survival rates of birds which return to the island, and integrate into the overall breeding population.  Outside of the breeding season, I am relying on other birdwatchers to locate the gulls at their wintering grounds, wherever they may be.

With Ric and Hazel living on the island, they are both well aware of my project, and often send sightings of my birds.  With this years breeding season about to start, Ric has reported returning gulls to their colonies.  Although we are still in mid April, I will begin my visits to the island fairly soon, as nest building will now be in full swing.

This summer, I'm expecting a number of first re-sightings, as chicks ringed in 2019, should now return to either prospect for nest-sites or possibly to breed.  2019 was a good breeding year with many chicks having been ringed.  During 2020 and 2021, the gulls have had very poor breeding seasons, the reasons for which are unknown.

So far this year, Ric has recorded the return of five gulls, to which I've added their PDF Files :-

 2BBC  - recorded on the 12th March 2022 - (PDF).

 2APT  - recorded on the 12th March 2022 - (PDF).

 2BBK  - recorded on the 8th April 2022 - (PDF).

 2BKJ  - recorded on the 9th April 2022 - (PDF).

 2BAX  - recorded on the 12th April 2022 - (PDF).

The re-sighting of Common Gull -  2BBK , was really pleasing to receive.  On the 2nd May 2021, I was on one of my Ring Reading trips on Rathlin and eventually got to the Rue Point Lighthouse.  On scoping through the gulls looking for rings, I spotted one of my birds in the distance near the shore, which was clearly struggling to free itself from fishing line.

Having taken a few photos first, I walked to the gull which tried to fly off, but was truly trapped.  It looked as if the gull -  2BBK , had possibly swallowed a baited fish hook, with the remainder of the fishing line entangled around a large heavy lump of seaweed.  Having caught the gull, I could not free the line from it's beak, and being a smoker, I burnt the line as close to the beak as possible with my lighter.  On releasing the bird, it flew off towards the Smugglers Cottages and landed on a rock.  After this, I never saw the gull again on the island, and thought it may have died.

Common Gull  -   2BBK   -  Caught on Fishing Line at Rue Point, Rathlin Island  (02 May 2021)

However, on the 20th June 2021, having arrived back at Ballycastle Harbour, after a day of ringing chicks on the island, I spotted a number of gulls on the roof of the Ferry Terminal.  Zooming in with my camera, I couldn't believe it when I photographed -  2BBK , alive and well.  Having been freed, it seems likely that the gull later managed to regurgitate what it had eaten, thus managing to discard the line.

Common Gull  -   2BBK   -  Rathlin Island Ferry Terminal (roof), Ballycastle, Co. Antrim  (20 Jun 2021)

My thanks to Ric and Hazel for their help and sighting reports.

*******************************************************

Distant Sightings...

After publishing my blog post last Sunday (3rd April 2022), I stated that my weekly visits to Antrim Marina had now ended, with posts during the summer months being published whenever enough material has been gathered.  No sooner was the post published, when an email arrived from Latvia. This was the beginning of an 'avalanche' of sightings being reported to me during the following days - so much so, I'm now forced to spread these over two posts.

I had hoped to publish this post yesterday, but after several hours typing on Friday morning, we had a power cut, and on losing my internet connection, everything that I had entered during the morning was lost.  Today, Saturday, I have decided to stay at home, not only to finish this post, but to begin the next one.  I have loads of photos to edit, but one good thing, is that I have most recovery details from the BTO, which concern several new sightings.  All this at a time, when I thought things were going to quieten down for a while.  A busy time lies ahead of me.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Sighting Report from Latvia

On Sunday evening of the 3rd April 2022, not long after publishing my latest post, an email arrived with me which was sent by Juris Vigulis from the Latvia.  On the 27th March 2022, Juris spotted Black-headed Gull -  2AFD , at an area called Kengarags on the southern outskirts of the Latvian capital of Riga.  The site is situated beside the River Daugava, which flows through Riga towards the nearby Baltic Sea, and according to Juris, is a favourite spot for Black-headed Gulls on their Spring Migration.

 2AFD , belongs to my Black-headed Gull Study at Antrim Marina, where I focus on a wintering population of these gulls.  When you look at the Black-headed Gulls at any wintering site, it is impossible to know where these birds have come from, until they are caught and ringed, and then the wait begins to see where the birds are spotted on their travels.  However,  2AFD  is no Stranger to Riga.  

The gull was ringed by Adam McClure as an adult male, at Antrim Marina, on the 12th February 2014, and belonged to his former Northern Ireland Study of these birds.  The first re-sighting was made by me, on the 13th November 2014, at the Wakehurst Playing fields in my home town of Ballymena, situated around 10 miles north from Antrim.  Where -  2AFD  had been over the summer months was unknown, but two days later, on the 15th November 2014, the gull was spotted by Paul Lynas back at Antrim Marina.  It was then recorded on numerous occasions at the Marina throughout the 2014/2015, and was last seen there on the 22nd March 2015.

A flurry of three sightings was then made on the 4th, 5th & 11th April 2015, when -  2AFD  was spotted at Getlini Eko Landfill Site on the outskirts of Riga - (Richard Bonser (twice) and by Eddie Fritze).  Richard is from England, but happened to be on a Ring Reading holiday in Riga - now how cool was that!!

Whether the gull bred in Latvia is not known, but until we hear otherwise, we can presume it did so.  On the 1st November 2015, I recorded the return of -  2AFD  to Antrim Marina and last saw it there on the 6th March 2016.  Next, on the 26th & 27th April 2016. Eddie Fritze reported that -  2AFD  was back on the Getlini Eko Landfill site, this being the last Latvian sighting until now.

After returning to Antrim Marina on the 13th November 2016, sightings there began to become less frequent, although the gull was recorded back every winter.  During the winter of 2018/2019, there had been no sightings at all, and I had feared for the worse.  However, on the 10th March 20219, I fell in with -  2AFD  quite by accident.  On driving through the town of Antrim, I spotted a large number of gulls on a rooftop beside the Castle Way car park, and I have since discovered, this is where I can now find -  2AFD .

This past winter, I looked for -  2AFD  on several occasions at Castle Way, as I knew he was due to return, but he announced his arrival by visiting me at Antrim Marina on the 22nd November 2021, exactly a year to the day since I last saw him.  The gull was recorded on just six occasions during this winter, with the final sighting having been made at Antrim Marina on the 21st February 2022, as if to say I'm leaving now.

The distance from Antrim Marina to Kengarags in Riga, is 1915 kms / 1189 miles (E), and the duration since being ringed, was 8 years, 1 month and 15 days.

My thanks goes to Juris for his sighting report, it was really great to receive another sighting from Latvia.

*******************************************************

Sighting Report from Sweden

On Monday 4th April 2022, I received an email from Sweden, just as I was about to leave home to go to work.  I was thrilled to read that another of my Antrim Marina Black-headed Gulls -  2FDL , had been spotted in Stockholm.

Claes-Göran Magnusson, had spotted -  2FDL  on the 3rd April 2022, at Råstasjön Nature Reserve in the north-west suburbs of Stockholm, a distance of 1551 kms / 963 miles (ENE), from Antrim Marina.

I caught and ringed the gull as an un-sexed adult bird at Antrim Marina on the 18th November 2019.  After being ringed,  2FDL  was recorded on five occasions at the Marina, and was last seen that winter, on the 20th January 2020.  During the following winter of 2020/2021, there were no sightings at the Marina, though this was not helped by the second 'Covid Lockdown', having started after the 4th January 2021, ending in early April 2021.

This winter -  2FDL , returned to Antrim Marina on the 31st January 2022.  I can remember this sighting very well.  The bird was standing amongst other Black-headed Gulls in the car park adjacent to the low wooden jetty, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had not seen this bird over my previous weekly visits.  I rushed back to my car to get my camera, and as I was zooming in for photo the gull took off and was heading towards Lough Neagh.  I frantically began throwing out bits of bread, and the commotion brought the gull back again, and I got my photo.  On the following Monday, 7th February 2022, I recorded -  2FDL  again at the Marina, and this was the last time that I saw the gull.

There could be a good possibility that this bird winters elsewhere, and is using Antrim Marina as a staging post on it's travels.  Only future sightings here can answer that question.

I was really delighted to receive this sighting, as this has added another country, among the gulls that have been caught and colour-ringed at Antrim Marina.  Claes, added in his email, that a colony of around 500 pairs of Black-headed Gulls nests on the Råstasjön Nature Reserve, and I am now hoping for further re-sightings there over the course of the breeding season.

My thanks goes to Claes, for his sighting report and info, along with a photo that he has allowed me to use.  The duration since being ringed, is 2 years, 4 months and 16 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FDL   -  Råstasjön NR, Sunbyberg, Stockholm, Sweden  (03 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 18th November 2019, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Claes-Göran Magnusson)

*******************************************************

From David Nixon

On the 2nd April 2022, David Nixon visited the high tide roost at Dundrum South Inner Bay, on Strangford Lough, Co. Down, where he recorded three colour-ringed gulls.

The first of these, and by far the oldest, was a Great Black-backed Gull -  1NR , which belongs to Chris Honan's former colour-ringing project, where Graham Prole of the Irish Midlands Ringing Group, now responds to sightings from Chris's former project.

 1NR , was ringed as a chick, on the 30th June 2012, on Ireland's Eye Island in County Dublin.  There is apparently no sighting records for this gull until 2020, but sightings may have been submitted to Chris which we know nothing about.

Since 2020, there has been a steady stream of sightings of  1NR , all made by various observers in County Down :-

20th June 2020, at sea just off the coast from Coney Island - John Smyth

30th June 2020, Ballyhornan Beach - Declan Clarke

27th July 2020, Millquarter Bay - Graham McElwaine

2nd September 2020, Dundrum South Inner Bay - Graham McElwaine

11th February 2021, Dundrum South Inner Bay - David Nixon

22nd May 2021, at sea just off the coast from Coney Island - John Smyth

7th February 2022, Dundrum South Inner Bay - Graham McElwaine

2nd April 2022 - latest sighting by David

The two sightings by John Smyth, were made when the gull landed on his fishing boat.

The distance from Ireland's Eye Island to Dundrum, is 76 kms / 47 miles (NNE), and the duration since being ringed, is now 9 years, 9 months and 3 days.

Great Black-backed Gull  -   1NR   -  Dundrum Inner Bay (South), Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (02 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 30th June 2012, on Ireland's Eye Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

 U59:M , is a recently rung Herring Gull, having been ringed as an un-sexed 3rd calendar year bird, on the 1st November 2021, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man.  Today's sighting of  U59:M , is now the second for the bird, as David also recorded it here at the South Inner Bay, on the 17th February 2022.  The distance from the Calf of Man, is 72 kms / 44 miles (WNW), and the duration from ringing, is a mere 5 months and 1 day, though the gull is much older of course.

Herring Gull  -   U59:M   -  Dundrum Inner Bay (South), Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (02 Apr 20220

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 3rd Calendar Year Bird, on the 1st November 2021, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

The third gull was an immature Herring Gull which presented David with a problem.  Initially, David could only see the top of the Darvic, which read ' VE ', but the remainder of the code was hidden by vegetation.  When eventually, the gull decided to scratch it's head, David then managed to read the whole code -  T6VE .

 T6VE , had been ringed as a chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man, and since then has been growing a steady list of re-sightings.  The first of these, was made by Graham McElwaine, when he spotted the gull at Millquarter Bay in County Down, on the 27th July 2020.  Since then, all nine sightings including today's, have been made here at the South Inner Bay :- August 2020, September 2020, May 2021, August 2021, twice in September 2021, twice in October 2021, and now today's sighting.

The distance from the Calf of Man, to the South Inner Bay, is 71 kms / 44 miles (WNW).  The Calf of Man, is split by two 1km squares, which results in a slight difference to the distances given.  The duration since being ringed, is now 2 years, 8 months and 30 days.

My thanks to David for these three sightings, along with the photos.

Herring Gull  -   T6VE   -  Dundrum Inner Bay (South), Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (02 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man, Calf of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

*******************************************************

From Graham McElwaine

On the 3rd April, I received an email from Graham McElwaine concerning two gull sightings that he made earlier that day.  The first of these was made at Ardglass Harbour in County Down, where he recorded a juvenile Herring Gull -  L38:D , which was a first sighting for Graham personally, though it was the fifth sighting overall.   L38:D , was ringed as a chick, on the 21st June 2021, on Lambay Island in County Dublin.  It's first two re-sightings were reported at Bullock Harbour in Dalkey, County Dublin in August and September 2021.  By the 26th October 2021, the youngster had moved it's way northwards and was spotted by Declan Clarke at Ardglass Harbour, where he also recorded the bird on the 27th March 2022.  The distance from Lambay Island to Ardglass, is 92 kms / 57 miles (NNE), and the duration as of Graham's latest sighting, is now 9 months and 13 days since being ringed.  There were no photos to go along with Graham's sightings, so I have added one taken by Declan on the 6th October 2021.

Juvenile Herring Gull  -   L38:D   -  Ardglass Harbour, Ardglass, Co. Down

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 21st June 2021, at Lambay Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Declan Clarke, taken on the 26th October 2021)

Graham's second gull sighting was that of a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, ringed (White) 6C7:C, at Killough Harbour, also in County Down.  (White) 6C7:C, had been ringed as a chick, on the 28th June 2021, on Pladda Island, situated just off the southern coast of the Isle of Arran in Scotland.  This was the birds second sighting since being ringed, as Graham first recorded the young gull, on the 5th October 2021, having been spotted in Mill Bay, on Carlingford Lough, Co. Down.  The distance from Pladda to Killough, is 134 kms / 83 miles (SSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 9 months and 6 days.  My thanks goes to Graham for both of these sighting reports.

*******************************************************

From Declan Clarke

On the 3rd April 2022, Declan Clarke was at Ardglass Harbour in County Down, when he spotted a colour-ringed juvenile Herring Gull.  He was able to read the ring, which happened to be a second sighting of - J81:M.  The gull was ringed as a chick, on the 27th June 2021, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man.  The distance to Ardglass harbour is 57 kms / 35 miles (WNW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 9 months and 7 days.  Declan first spotted the gull here on the 27th February 2022, and so far, these have been the only sightings for this youngster.  My thanks goes to Declan for his sighting report.

*******************************************************

Sightings from Scotland

Over recent days, I have received two emails from Brian Henderson in Scotland, both concerning Black-headed Gulls which belonged to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Study.  The gulls were spotted on the East Pier in Stranraer, which used to be the home for Stena Line Ferry Service, which has now moved to the nearby port of Cairnryan which has deeper water.  I have a long list of sightings which have been reported to me of late, but I could not resist in adding these two onto this post.

On the 5th and 6th April 2022,  2CBL  was recorded on the East Pier, which now has a breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls nesting on the now disused ferry terminal.  However, Brian cannot confirm that -  2CBL  is nesting there, as the gulls are just beginning their breeding season.

 2CBL , was ringed as a chick, on the 24th June 2016, at the Castle Espie Wetland Centre in County Down.  Until now, there had only been one re-sighting, which was made by myself, on the 12th May 2019, when I came across -  2CBL  at a breeding colony, at the RSPB's Portmore Lough Nature Reserve in County Antrim (Photo).

I was really delighted to hear that this gull is still alive and well.  Brian is going to keep a check on the colony on the East Pier over the coming weeks, to determine if either of the two Black-headed Gulls are actually nesting there.

The distance from Castle Espie to Stranraer is 62 kms / 38 miles (NE), and the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 9 months and 13 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CBL   -  East Pier, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland  (06 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 24th June 2016, at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Brian Henderson)

All of the re-sightings of the second Black-headed Gull -  2BRS , belong to Brian.  The gull was ringed as a chick, on the 22nd June 2016, at Inch Island Lake in County Donegal.  Although the site is in the Republic of Ireland, Adam could not refuse the chance to ring Black-headed Gulls there when invited to, by the Causeway Ringing Group, with approval from the Irish Parks & National Wildlife Service.  A total of three visits were made at the colony to colour-ring chicks, with a total of 122 birds being ringed altogether.  Some of the chicks were too young to take a colour-ring, and the visits enabled me to retrain as a ringer.

The main focus on the island, are the Sandwich Terns which nest in quite high numbers, and their chicks are ringed by members of the Causeway Coast Ringing Group.  Despite the high total of Black-headed Gull chicks ringed, very few of them were ever re-sighted.

 2BRS , was first recorded by Brian, on the 5th March 2020, and again on the 8th March 2020, at Bishop Burn, which is only a short distance away from Stranraer.  Brian's latest sighting was made on the East Pier in Stranraer, on the 7th April 2022, but again, he is not sure whether the bird is breeding there.  The distance from Inch to Stranraer, is roughly 156 kms / 97 miles (E), and the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 9 months and 16 days.

On the 8th April 2022, on receiving a long list of recoveries from the BTO, I discovered that a Black-headed Gull -  2005 , which Graham McElwaine had spotted at my Antrim Marina Study site, had actually been ringed in Stranraer.  I then sent an email to Brian, asking if he had ever encountered this gull at Stranraer, and I then received a positive reply.  Brian, also stated that he had seen -  2BRS  again that day on the East Pier.  More on the story of  2005 , will appear in my next post.

Black-headed Gull -   2BRS   -  East Pier, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland  (07 Apr 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 22nd June 2016, at Inch Island Lake, Co. Donegal, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Brian Henderson)

*******************************************************

Final Post...

We are now into early April, and with most gulls having now departed to their breeding sites, this is my final weekly blog post for the winter.  Throughout the summer months, posts will be published occasionally, and depends on the amount of material which comes my way.  For the next couple of weeks, I shall spend much time submitting sightings of Black-headed Gulls at Antrim Marina to the BTO.  For each colour-ringed gull recorded, I will only submit the final sighting for each month of the winter season, otherwise the BTO would be inundated with sightings.

Towards the end of April, I will begin my visits to Rathlin Island, as my colour-ringed Common Gulls will have returned to their nest sites.  I expect to record several first re-sightings for birds that were ringed there in the past as chicks, and will now return to integrate into the overall breeding population.  Colonies around the coast of County Antrim will be checked as well, just in case any of my Rathlin birds decide to nest elsewhere.

At present, it seems as if I will not get onto Big Copeland Island to record the colour-ringed Common Gulls at their nests.  In ran into problems last summer, as permissions to visit the island, had unknown to myself, changed hands from father to son.  Without the permission of Ryan McCulla, I cannot visit the island.  If anyone reading this, could supply me with a phone number for Ryan, I would be extremely grateful.  Over the last two summers, I have recorded several first re-sightings of Common Gulls belonging to Shane Wolsey's former project on the island, which ran from 2009 until 2014.  The best place to record such birds, are on their nesting grounds.

Throughout May and June, I will make repeated visits to the Black-headed Gull nesting colonies at both the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast, and the WWT Castle Espie Reserve in County Down - a number of colour-rings should be recorded at both sites.  I have not been to the Black-headed Gull breeding colony at Inch Island in County Donegal, because of the Republic of Ireland's 'Covid Restrictions, but I hope to get there this summer.  A small number of chicks have been colour-ringed at this site, so there is every chance to obtain a few first re-sightings here.  If all goes well, I am hoping to be invited back onto the island to ring chicks this summer.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Antrim Marina - Monday 28th March 2022

Today saw the conclusion of my weekly visits to Antrim Marina for another winter, having began back on the 9th August 2021.  Last Monday, Suzanne Belshaw stepped in to cover my visit, as my car was with the mechanics having failed the MOT test with a couple of minor faults.  I got the car back on Tuesday and it has now been re-booked for a re-test on Friday 8th April.  During Suzanne's visit, the number of Black-headed Gulls present, never exceeded the 35 mark, and just 12 colour-rings were recorded.

Over the course of this winter, a total of 40 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls were recorded at the Marina having been ringed over the winters from November 2012 until December 2020.  A total of 15 new gulls were added to that total this winter, from September to early January, these being a mix of juveniles, 2nd year birds and full adults, taking the overall total to 55 colour-ringed gulls.

Having taken my wife to work first, I left Ballymena and arrived at Antrim Marina at 9:15.  The weather conditions were excellent, being calm and sunny.  Just seven Black-headed Gulls were present on my arrival, and over the course of my visit, which lasted until 12:45, the highest count made, was just 22 Black-headed Gulls.  Only six colour-rings were recorded, which included the first bird to be ringed here -  2AAA .

At one point, I walked up to the breakwater and looked over to the former 'Torpedo Platform' which sits just offshore on Lough Neagh.  It was a hive of activity, with the gulls there clearly trying to claim spots on which to nest, and there were several hundreds of gulls on the platform.

Some of my colour-ringed gulls are year round residents and will nest on the platform, whilst others will be heading back to their nests sites in other countries.  I will not return to the Marina until the end of April, and will then undertake random visits over May and June to record the resident birds, some of which may be birds that were ringed here this winter.

One gull which I had expected to return in March, was -  2CSX , which was last recorded at the Marina, on the 19th September 2021.  This had been it's third sighting for this winter, though we know from the past, that it can be found at the former Waterworks in Belfast.  Whether -  2CSX  is still alive or dead is now uncertain, especially as the Waterworks was closed to the public for a while due to a severe outbreak of 'Bird Flu' there.

Two Black-headed Gulls that returned to Antrim Marina this winter, were considered as having died by their sudden absence.  The first of these was -  2AAR , which we knew breeds in Poland.  Having arrived back on the 18th October 2021 as predicted, the gull was recorded weekly up until the 22nd November 2021.  Normally among the first to be recorded from week to week, I instantly knew the bird had died.   2AAR  had been ringed here as an adult male, on the 21st December 2012.

The second loss I found devastating.   2FDV , arrived at Antrim Marina on the 19th October 2020, being a metal-rung juvenile.  The gull had been ringed as a chick, on the 13th July 2020, at Marsh House Farm, on Stockton-on-Tees in England.  I managed to catch the youngster on the 9th November 2020, and fitted the colour-ring.   2FDV  remained at Antrim Marina until the 12th April 2021.  It's return for a second winter running, was recorded on the 11th October 2021.  Thereafter, it was recorded up until the 29th November 2021, when I found the bird lying on the low wooden jetty, having suffered a broken leg.  It looked very sorry for itself and was obviously in poor condition.  My efforts to catch it was in vain and this was the final sighting of it.  Such a shame, as I hoped that some day it would be recorded back at it's natal colony in England.

Another bird with a bad leg injury, was that of -  2FIC , a juvenile that I caught and ringed this winter, on the 22nd November 2021.  On the 21st February 2022,  2FIC  was limping very heavily, though it was still fairly mobile.  I thought the youngster would survive, but this was the final sighting for that gull.  I reckon we have lost this one as well, but I could be wrong.  Juveniles do tend to wander during their first winter, so it could be possible that it is still alive.

Two other noticeable absentees this winter, was that of Antrim resident -  2AAV , and summer visitor -  2ADD , both birds among the earliest to be ringed by Adam McClure, belonging to his former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.   2ADD , had been ringed at it's wintering site at Carrickfergus Harbour on the east coast of County Antrim.  This gull would come to Antrim Marina each year for the breeding season, before returning to Carrickfergus for the winter.  For a couple of weeks before reaching Antrim Marina, it would park itself at Antrim's KFC outlet, and after the breeding season, would stop by the KFC outlet again for a short time before going back to Carrick.  Ringed as an adult male, on the 29th November 2013, at Carrickfergus Harbour, it's final sighting was made here at Antrim Marina on the 12th April 2021.  Despite many efforts to record -  2ADD  at Carrickfergus this past winter, it seems likely that he died during the 2021 breeding season, where he probably nested on the nearby former 'Torpedo Platform'.

As for the year round resident -  2AAV , if this gull was not recorded during the weekly visits to Antrim Marina, it could often be found at the Elim Church on Antrim's Parkhall Housing Estate.  This winter, it has not reappeared at Antrim Marina, and despite numerous visits to the Elim Church, it has not been seen there either.  Ringed at Antrim Marina as an un-sexed adult, on the 28th December 2012, it final sighting was made here on the 14th December 2020.  The bird may have survived at least into the breeding season of 2021, but the second 'Covid Lockdown' prevented visits until early April 2021.

Over the coming weeks, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for sightings of Antrim gulls in other countries.  My star bird at present is -  2FDJ , who should be well on it's way back to Estonia.  I'm also eager to hear of birds which I caught and ringed at the Marina this winter.  Of the 15 that were ringed, no doubt some will likely to be residents to the Antrim area, but surely some belong to other countries.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 28th March 2022

2ABS	2FHL	2CSK	2CJT	2AAA	2FHA

Below is the latest photo of -  2FHA , my final sighting for the 2021/2022 winter.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FHA   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (28 Mar 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 28th December 2020, at Antrim Marina)

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

Except for Black-headed Gulls, not a single gull of any other species appeared at the Marina today  I had hoped to see the adult Mediterranean Gull which Suzanne saw here last Monday.

On my arrival, there were 13 Mute Swans and 3 cygnets, but numbers quickly doubled to 26 Mute Swans and 6 cygnets.  Even more Mute Swans could be seen on the Lough just beyond the breakwater, but these birds decided to stay out there.  I would be fairly certain, that all of the swans at the Marina were checked for rings, as birds would constantly alight onto the slipway for a while before returning onto the river.  Two rings were recorded, these being the now two usual birds -  Z78574  and  Z78580 .

Just two Mallards were present on my arrival, both being drakes.  A further count just before I departed at 12:45, saw just 12 Mallards, two of which were females.  It's likely that females could be sitting on eggs in the woodland opposite the Marina.

4 Jackdaws, 1 Magpie and a male Chaffinch, were the only other species seen on today's visit.

*******************************************************

Saturday 26th March 2022

I only had a couple of hours to spare this afternoon, so I decided to head off to Belfast to check on the Black-headed Gull colony at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve.  During the summer of 2020, the hides were closed to the public due to the first 'Covid Lockdown', which prevented me from checking for colour-ringed birds from Adam's former project.  In April 2021, the second 'Covid Lockdown' ended, but the RSPB decided to keep their hides closed throughout the breeding season, so no ring sightings were made for a second year running.

The hides are now open, but there is a restriction in place, meaning only one family at a time can enter the hides.  I spent a long time in hide one, which overlooks nesting platform two, with plenty of Black-headed Gulls vying for nest sites.  A few pairs had substantial nests built, but most had yet to begin building.  On this platform, I'm especially on the lookout for three gulls in particular, all of which have nested on this platform in the past -  2BAL ,  2BHB  and  2CJF .

My last sighting of -  2BAL , was made on the 15th November 2020, at the seaside town of Donaghadee in County Down, where this gull is known to be a winter visitor.  Ringed as a chick in 2014,  2BAL  has nested on the WoW reserve in 2018, 2019, and was seen in March 2020 on the platform before the first 'Covid Lockdown'.  Despite a handful of visits to Donaghadee this winter, I have not recorded  -  2BAL , so whether it is still alive is unknown.

 2BHB , was also ringed as a chick in 2014, and has nested on platform two in 2017, 2018, and was seen on the platform on the 29th June 2020, after the first lockdown ended.  I last saw -  2BHB  in November 2020 at the nearby Whitehouse Lagoon, but David Nixon recorded the gull on Whiteabbey Beach on the 19th February 2022, so it should return to breed here soon.

 2CJF , was ringed as a chick in 2016, and nested on platform two in the breeding season of 2019, it was also seen at the same time as -  2BHB  above, on the 29th June 2020.  Until this winter, the wintering site of -  2CJF , was unknown, and then it was recorded on two occasions at a Business Park in the City of Dublin - 30th December 2021, and on the 19th January 2022.  On the 24th February 2022,  2CJF  returned to the area having been spotted by Ronnie Doggart on Kinnegar Beach.

None of the three birds that I was looking for, were spotted on the platform, so I made my way to the visitor centre which overlooks nesting platform One.  Back in April 2019, I spotted another one of Adam's Black-headed Gulls -  2AFF  on this platform, but subsequently could not prove whether it bred on the platform.  Previous to that sighting -  2AFF  had only been recorded on four occasions - May 2014 and September 2015 at the nearby Whitehouse Lagoon, November 2018 at Whitehead in County Antrim, and in February 2019 at Ballyholme in County Down.  It was ringed as a chick in June 2013, on the Copeland Islands in County Down, and may possibly breed on one of the three islands which make up the Copelands.

On platform one, the Black-headed Gulls appear to be further forward in their nest building with far more nests having been built.  No colour-rings were spotted, but a metal-rung Black-headed Gull standing on a post fairly close to the visitor centre, was just beyond reach of my camera.  A single adult Mediterranean Gull was on the platform, and I was informed that a pair of Med Gulls had been on the platform earlier.

Having had no luck at recording any rings, another visit in a couple of weeks time should produce something.  Before returning home, I had time to make a quick visit to nearby Kinnegar Beach.  Being such a good day, the beach was swarming with people, so very few birds were about.  I then checked the nearby pond, where I spotted a juvenile colour-ringed Common Gull.  I knew this was likely to be -  2HCH , which had been recorded on two occasions lately by David Nixon.

Conditions were not good for my camera, as the sun and slight heat haze meant I could not get a very good photo, but the bird was indeed -  2HCH .

Juvenile Common Gull  -   2HCH   -  Kinnegar Pond, Belfast Lough, Co. Down  (26 Mar 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 13th June 2021, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

*******************************************************

Sunday 27th March 2022

Today I covered the east coast of County Antrim, beginning at Larne, and making my way northwards to Cushendall.  Surprisingly few gulls or waders were encountered along the route, except for Carnlough Bay, where I recorded the only ring of the day.

With weather conditions being fairly calm and sunny, there were plenty of people walking along the beach at Carnlough.  In the centre of the beach, the Glencloy River flows out towards the sea, and it is here where many gulls and waders come to feed and bathe.  At least 100 to 120 gulls were present, with Common Gulls having the highest number, followed by Black-headed Gulls.  My attention was fully focused on the Common Gulls, where I was hoping to record any of my colour-ringed birds, belonging to my project on Rathlin Island, which lies just off the northern coast of County Antrim.

At this site, I know the birds are fairly 'jumpy', so I decided to scope them from a safe distance.  Although I had an incoming tide, all birds were still fairly far away and legs were not always viewable due to the stony foreshore.  I had a couple of near misses, where some folk were getting a bit to close, but for once, they turned back before the birds were scared off.

Although most Common Gull legs were checked, I did not record any of my birds, but I did record one with a Yellow Darvic.  Due to the distance, and a slight 'heat haze', I just about managed to capture the code -  2K27 , which I instantly recognised as being a Scottish bird, which would have been ringed by the Clyde Ringing Group.

On returning home, I emailed Iain Livingstone - the ringing co-ordinator, as well as submitting my sighting to the BTO via it's colour-marks only.  As yet, Iain still has not replied, but I have now received a recovery from the BTO.

 2K27 , was ringed as a chick, on the 23rd June 2021, at a site known as the 'Ringing Stone', on the Isle of Tiree, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.  The distance was given as 181 kms / 112 miles (SSE), from Tiree, and the duration since being ringed, was now 9 months and 4 days.

Juvenile Common Gull  -   2K27   -  Carnlough Bay, Carnlough, Co. Antrim  (27 Mar 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 23rd June 2021, on the Isle of Tiree, Argyll & Bute, Scotland)

I have no previous records of Common Gulls from Tiree, so I was well pleased with having a new site entered onto my main Ring Reading Spreadsheet.  Tiree, is where my wife's father lived and worked in the latter years of his life, and he is now buried on the island.  Curious about 'The Ringing Stone', I did a search on the internet and found this (Read), a piece of Geology to go along with the sighting.

As well as the gulls, I scoped quite a number of waders, which included upwards of 70+ Turnstones, a small number of Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers, and a single Sanderling.  A good bit of time was spent on the Turnstones, as I have yet to record a colour-ringed one, and for now, the wait continues.  There was no sign of the Icelandic Oystercatcher which winters here, but this colour-ringed bird is likely to be back in Iceland by now.

As already stated, very few gulls or waders were to be found along the coast, but on reaching Glenarm, I stopped by a nearby Peregrine site to see what was happening.  The was my second visit here of late, and no birds were seen on my first visit.  The pair often nests on the high cliffs directly above the Coast Road, but occasionally nest on the same stretch of cliffs that run slightly inland.  It was on this inland section of cliff where I spotted the male resting on a hillock directly below the cliff.  In the past, I have recorded the Peregrines nesting on two different ledges on this section cliff, but when scoped from the road, it is impossible to view directly onto these ledges.  Although there was no sign of a female, she could well be sitting on eggs.

I finished off the afternoon, checking the shoreline between Waterfoot and Cushendall Harbour.  Each year, a loose colony of Common Gulls nest along this stretch, with normally four to five pairs being present.  I did expect to see Common Gulls here today, as they should be returning to their nest sites, but not one gull was to be seen.  For the present, I wouldn't be too worried, as the gulls here tend to lay their eggs slightly later than their cousins elsewhere.  Last summer, the Common Gulls had a disastrous breeding season, and not a single chick was raised to the fledging stage.

*******************************************************

From David Nixon

In my previous post, I mentioned the email sent to me by David Nixon, reporting on four colour-ring sightings which he had made on the 24th March 2022, in the Kinnegar area (Beach/Pond), of Belfast Lough, Co. Down.  Three of those birds, were first re-sightings in Northern Ireland, plus the second sighting lately of the juvenile Common Gull -  2HCH  (first reported on the 19th March 2022).  Having reported on that bird, I decided to hold back on the other three until this post, as we were waiting on the ringing details, which have since arrived.

On Kinnegar Pond, which is situated just over a private access road from Kinnegar Beach, not only did David record  juvenile Common Gull -  2HCH , he also spotted a Black-headed Gull -  2Y35 .  Having submitted the gull to the BTO via it's colour-marks only, a recovery was received a couple of days later.

 2Y35 , had been ringed as a chick, on the 12th June 2021, at Martin Mere in Lancashire, England.  David did not state in his email, that this Black-headed Gull was a juvenile.  Having obtained the bird's metal number through the recovery, I entered it onto my DemOn Ringing Account to find that this was the youngsters first re-sighting since being ringed 9 months and 12 days earlier.  The distance from Martin Mere, was given as 225 kms / 139 miles (WNW).

On Kinnegar Beach, an adult Common Gull was spotted, colour-ringed -  J74R .  I entered David's sighting onto the 'Live' Norwegian Ringing Database and soon obtained the birds ringing and re-sighting history.  The gull was ringed as a chick, on the 24th June 2016, on Slottholmen Island in the south eastern area of Norway, slightly north of Kilsund.  The distance to Kinnegar Beach, is 1,005 kms / 624 miles (WSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 9 months.  David's sighting however was not the first for this gull.  Back in February 2017, the then juvenile bird was spotted on the south facing coast of Cornwall in England.

Back in April 2019, I recorded another Norwegian Common Gull -  J76R , on Kinnegar Beach, which had also been ringed on the same date and location as David's -  J74R .  I made a check for -  J76R  on the 'Live' Norwegian Database, but there has not been any further re-sightings since I recorded it in 2019.

The third new sighting made by David, was that of an Icelandic Oystercatcher, ringed Red over Yellow on it's left leg, with White (XE), on the right leg.  David reported his sighting to Boddi in Iceland, and a reply quickly followed.  RY-W(XE), was ringed as an un-sexed adult, on the 10th June 2021, at Svarfhólsvöllur Golf Course in south-west Iceland.  David's sighting was the first outside of Iceland, with the distance being 1,338 kms / 831 miles (SE).  The duration since being ringed, is now 9 months and 14 days.  Before leaving Iceland, RY-W(XE), was recorded on three occasions during June and July 2021, feeding two chicks at first, and latterly with just one chick.

My thanks goes to David for these sighting reports, just a pity there were no photos to go along with them.  It will be interesting to see if any of these birds make it back next winter.

*******************************************************