Request Granted...

Antrim Marina - Monday 29th August 2022

Today saw my fifth weekly visit to Antrim Marina to record colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls which winter on the site, with all having been ringed here.  With it being 'Bank Holiday Monday', there was plenty of blue sky and sunshine, with just a light breeze.  I arrived on the stroke of 9am, and there were no Black-headed Gulls to be seen.  Two arrived at 09:10, along with two adult Common Gulls, but a couple of minutes later they were gone.  10am came and went, but still no Black-headed's.  10:06 saw the arrival of 8 birds including the first colour-ring -  2FFA .  By this time, many people were on the go, including a few paddleboarders, and a couple of kids which chased the gulls away thinking it was great fun.

Small groups of gulls were appearing and definitely took a dislike to all of the activity around the Marina and they decided to land on the roof of the 'Gateway Centre'.  I managed to coax some birds down for a feed of bread and from 10:34 to 10:41 managed to read another four rings, before they too flew off.  from 11pm onwards, it was hectic - more paddleboarders and even the arrival of two men who spent the best part of an hour setting up a yacht before launching it onto the river.  This was fast becoming one of the worst visits that I have ever had here.

A further three rings were read from 11:35 to 11:39, and after that, all but a couple of gulls remained.  My departure time was supposed to be at 1pm, but by 12:15, I had had enough and left for home.  All eight of today's ring sightings have been recorded over the previous four weeks.  Of a total of 33 colour-rings recorded here so far this winter, today's total of absentees were 25.

The only good news that I can report concerning Antrim Marina, is that I have been granted an exemption from the suspension in Northern Ireland to ring seabirds.  Due to 'Bird Flu' in Northern Ireland, all ringing of seabirds was suspended from late July onwards.  Last week, I applied for an exemption, to the DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) based around my study of wintering Black-headed Gulls at Antrim Marina.  From Thursday 1st September, I will now be able to catch and ring new birds for my project, pending on no outbreaks of Bird Flu at the Marina over the coming months.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 29th August 2022

2FFA	2ABS	2FFX	2FHJ	2FFF	2FHV	2FIH	2AAN

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

2AAA	2AAB	2AAK	2ABA	2ABL	2ABN	2ACV	2BRA	2CJT
2CSA	2CSB	2CSK	2CSL	2CSX	2CTC	2FDK	2FFC	2FFP
2FHA	2FHC	2FHP	2FHX	2FIA	2FIF	2FIJ

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On my arrival at 9am, there was a single adult Herring Gull, plus 13 Mallards.  There was no sign of the Herring Gull with the injured wing, that had remained on the long wooden jetty for several weeks.  I wonder if it has been taken into care, or has since died.  Mallard numbers reached the 60 mark by 11am, but most of then remained on the river because of the paddleboarders around the slipway, which included several children of varying ages.

The two adult Common Gulls which appeared briefly at 09:10, were probably the same two birds which flew around on several occasions throughout my visit.  A juvenile arrived with the last batch of Black-headed Gulls at 11:35, but was gone again moments later.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull landed on the slipway at 10:16.  It took a quick drink then flew off.

The Mute Swan family, with their four cygnets were spotted at the breakwater at 09:55, and came ashore onto the small sandy beach around 10:20.  They were still present on my departure.  Another three Mute Swans were seen at the breakwater just after 11am, but failed to swim in to the Marina.

A Hooded Crow, and five Jackdaws, were the only other species noted today.

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

From Suzanne Belshaw

Suzanne Belshaw has been in touch again with her latest ring sightings.  Three of the four rings that have been reported, are all updates on gulls recorded over the last two months, plus one new sighting.  On the 16th August 2022, Black-headed Gull -  250B , was recorded for the fourth time within two months at Sprucefield Shopping Centre in County Down.

Ringed as a chick in June 2008, at Lough Mask in County Mayo,  250B  uses Sprucefield as a staging post before moving on to it's wintering site, which remains unknown as yet.  Over the years, that -   250B  stops by Sprucefield, it has never been recorded there in the month of September.  An account for -  250B , can be read on my blog post dated (31st July 2022).

Black-headed Gull  -   250B   -  Sprucefield Shopping Centre, Co. Down  (16 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 6th June 2008, at Lough Mask, Co. Mayo, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A Portuguese metal-rung Lesser Black-backed Gull, which Suzanne discovered near her home in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, has now been recorded there for the third time.   LV19833 , was first discovered on the 3rd July 2022, followed by a second sighting on the 31st July 2022.   LV19833 , was ringed as an unsexed third calendar year bird on the 22nd January 2020, at Sítio das Hortas, Santarém, Portugal.  The distance to Lisburn, is 1,764 kms / 1,096 miles (N), and the duration since being ringed, is now 2 years, 6 months and 30 days.

Lesser Black-backed Gull  -   LV19833   -  Lisburn, Co. Antrim  (21 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 3rd Calendar Year Bird, on the 22nd January 2020, at Sítio das Hortas, Santarém, Portugal)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 23rd August, Suzanne recorded two colour-ringed gulls on Whiteabbey Beach in County Antrim.  Common Gull -  2AIP  was ringed as a chick, on the 11th June 2012, on Big Copeland Island in County Down.  All 24 re-sightings have been recorded here on Whiteabbey Beach, with the first having been made on the 10th October 2015.  The duration since being ringed, is now 10 years, 2 months and 12 days.  Whiteabbey lies 23 kms / 14 miles (W) from Big Copeland Island.  The full re-sighting history for -  2AIP  can be read here (PDF). 

Common Gull  -   2AIP   -  Whiteabbey Shore, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (23 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2012, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The sighting of a Black-headed Gull with a White Darvic - 2150, turned out to be a first re-sighting of another bird from the Lough Ree Gull Project in County Longford, Republic of Ireland.  A small, but ever increasing number of these Lough Ree Black-headed Gulls are being recorded in Northern Ireland, though they do not seem to 'stick' to a particular wintering site.

(White) 2150, was ringed as a chick, on the 10th June 2019, on Clawinch Island on Lough Ree, with the duration being 3 years, 2 months and 13 days since being ringed.  The distance to Whiteabbey is 183 kms / 113 miles (NE).  According to Brian Burke, the ringing coordinator for the project, Clawinch is rarely used by the gulls pending on the water levels.  Our thanks goes to Brian for supplying the info for this bird.

Black-headed Gull  -  White  2150  -  Whiteabbey Shore, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (23 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 10th June 2019, on Clawinch Island, Lough Ree, Co. Longford, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Another email arrived from Suzanne on Wednesday 31st August 2022, with two ring sightings that she made at Ballyholme on Saturday 27th August.  I visited Ballyholme on Sunday the 28th August unaware that Suzanne had been there the day before.  Although we both recorded ringed gulls, the only one which we both recorded was Common Gull -  2HBK .

An account for this gull can be read in my sightings for Sunday 28th August (below).

Common Gull  -   2HBK   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (27 Aug 2022)

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

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Suzanne's second sighting was that of a second calendar year Herring Gull rung -  GY32567 .  The ringing details for this gull was easily sorted, as Suzanne had previously recorded -  GY32569  on the 10th September 2021, at the former Belfast Waterworks.  Checking the BTO's Live DemOn Ringing Database, this sighting of -  GY32567 , was the first since the gull was ringed as a chick, on the 10th July 2021, at Lighthouse Island which is the home of the Copeland Bird Observatory.  The duration since being ringed, is 1 year, 1 month and 17 days, and the distance to Ballyholme, is 8 kms / 5 miles (SW).

Herring Gull  -   GY32567   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (27 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 10th July 2021, on Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Whilst I was at work on Thursday evening, another email arrived from Suzanne, which stated that she had found a 'Potentially exciting bird' in the form of Black-headed Gull -  2ALR , wondering if this could be a 'First Re-sighting'.  I imagine that Suzanne made a check for the code in the search box on my blog, and found no results.

 2ALR , belongs to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland project which I now respond to, as I hold all of the ringing and re-sighting records.  Suzanne was correct,  2ALR  was a first re-sighting, having been ringed as a chick, on the 18th June 2013, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Nature Reserve on Larne Lough in County Antrim.  Suzanne's sighting was made on Thursday 1st September, at Whitehouse Lagoon on the northern outskirts of Belfast.  The distance from Blue Circle Island, is 20 kms / 12 miles (SSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now (for a first re-sighting) an impressive 9 years, 2 months and 14 days.

From 2013 to 2017, a total of 264 Black-headed Gull chicks were colour-ringed on Blue Circle Island, plus a small number that were ringed with metals only.  To date 201 of those birds have not been recorded since being ringed, make that 200 now.  During each winter a number of juveniles will not survive through to the spring.  On reaching adulthood, a few of the surviving gulls will die each and every year that passes by, but that still leaves enough un-recorded birds out there to be found.

As an example, a few Black-headed Gulls from Lough Mask in County Mayo, turned up in County Antrim as first re-sightings over 10 years after being ringed.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ALR   -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (01 Sep 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 18th June 2013, at RSPB Blue Circle Island NR, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

My thanks as always, goes to Suzanne for her sightings and photos.

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

Saturday 27th August 2022

Today I decided to start the afternoon at Whiteabbey, timing my arrival for the tide beginning to recede.  I had intended to visit the shore at Whiteabbey last weekend, but with an incoming tide, my arrival was too late.  On Tuesday 23rd August, Suzanne Belshaw visited the shore at Whiteabbey, where she recorded two colour-ringed gulls - Common Gull -  2AIP  and Black-headed Gull - (White) 2150 (read above comments).

Having spent the best part of an hour scoping through loads of gulls, not a single ring was spotted.  Deciding not to waste anymore time, I walked back towards my car.  On reaching the car park, I noticed a Black-headed Gull with the tell-tale lump on it's leg standing on a wall overlooking a couple who were sitting having a bite to eat.  On taking a couple of photos, this bird was from my Antrim Marina Study and was ringed -  2FFN .

Back at home, I checked the birds history, which was practicably non existent.   2FFN , was caught and ringed at Antrim Marina as an unsexed adult, on the 14th December 2020.  After ringing, the gull was not recorded at the Marina throughout the remainder of the 2020/2021 winter.  Having resumed my weekly visits to the Marina during the 2021/2022 winter,  2FFN  turned up on the 11th October 2021, it's only sighting there over the whole of the winter.

This turned out to be a nice re-sighting, and knowing that the gull is still alive and well, will it put in an appearance at Antrim this winter?  The duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 8 months and 13 days, and Whiteabbey is situated 23 kms / 14 miles (ESE) from Antrim Marina.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FFN   -  Whiteabbey Shore, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (27 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 14th December 2020, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

I now drove the short distance to Whitehouse Lagoon, where there were lots of gulls but few waders.  Again, I spent a lengthy amount of time scoping for rings, with more and more gulls arriving all the time.  Eventually, an Orange Darvic was spotted, which turned out to be my second sighting of late of Black-headed Gull -  2BHB , having also spotted it here on the 14th August 2022.

 2BHB , was ringed as a chick, on the 2nd June 2014, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Reserve on Larne Lough, Co. Antrim, which lies 22 kms / 13 miles (NE) from Whitehouse Lagoon.  The duration is now 8 years, 2 months and 25 days since being ringed.

The gull winters around Belfast Lough, having been recorded on the North Shore (Hazelbank Park), Whiteabbey Beach, Kinnegar Beach and here on Whitehouse Lagoon.  It has been known to breed at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve (2017, 2018 & 2020), which is on Belfast's Harbour Industrial Estate.  In 2021,  2BHB  was not recorded anywhere at all, though this was likely to be caused by the 'Covid Lockdowns' which severely hampered ring reading efforts.

Black-headed Gull  -   2BHB   -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (27 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 2nd June 2014, at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island NR, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim)

On leaving Whitehouse Lagoon, it was another short drive, to get to the Dargan Mudflats.  By now, the tide was well out, though there were loads of gulls and waders within scoping distance.  Black-headed Gulls were by far the most numerous species, followed by Black-tailed Godwits.  I was really surprised that none of the Black-headed's were ringed - not even a metal.

A colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit, was spotted, which turned out to be my third different bird recorded here in recent weeks.  This one was ringed Lime over Blue on it's left leg, and Orange (=) on it's right leg (solid ring with two black bars).  LB-O(=), is from a local catch made on the 21st April 2021, at the nearby RSPB Window on Wildlife Reserve.  Today's sighting of LB-O(=), is now my second for this bird, having previously recorded it on these same mudflats on the 5th September 2021.  Suzanne Belshaw, also recorded this Godwit here at Dargan, on the 2nd November 2021.

The duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 4 months and 6 days, and the mudflats at Dargan, are just 2 kms / 1 mile (W), from the RSPB's WoW Reserve.

Black-tailed Godwit  -  LB-O(=)  -  Dargan Mudflats, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (27 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 21st April 2021, at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife NR, Belfast)

By the time I left Dargan, the afternoon had quickly disappeared.  A more lengthy drive took me to the Connswater Mudflats and Victoria Park.  Within seconds of scoping through Black-headed Gulls, I spotted a distant 'dark coloured' Darvic, which was covered with mud.  I followed the gull with my camera, and after wading through a pool of water the code could be read - 2FXC (White Characters).  

Normally at that distance, there would be some debate as to the colour of the Darvic - was it Black or Blue?  Here, it had to be Black, as I myself hold the Blue -  2F**  series of colour-rings, and I knew that -  2FXC  had not been used, as currently I'm on -  2FI** , and I use these rings in alphabetical order.

Blue 2FXC Still in the Packet

I emailed ringing coordinator Ben Dolan to report my sighting of -  2FXC , but did not receive a reply, therefore I submitted the bird to the BTO by it's colour-marks only.  Around teatime on Friday, the recovery details came through.   2FXC , was ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2021, at Marsh Lane Nature Reserve in the West Midlands area of England.  I checked the metal number on the DemOn Ringing Database, and this is the first reported sighting since the gull was ringed, the duration being 1 year, 2 months and 12 days.  The distance from Marsh Lane Nature Reserve to Belfast, is 370 kms / 229 miles (NW).

Black-headed Gull  -   2FXC   -  Connswater Mudflats, Belfast Harbour Industrial Estate  (27 Aug 2022)

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

Continuing to scope through the distant gulls on the mudflats, I then spotted a Black-headed Gull with an Orange Darvic.  Zooming in with my camera, it was a bird which regularly winter's here, or can be found at nearby Victoria Park -  2AJV .

 2AJV , was ringed as a chick, on the 19th June 2014, at the Castle Espie Wetland Centre in County Down.  This latest sighting is the 13th record on my spreadsheet, with all but one sighting having been recorded during the winter months (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020 & 2021).  In May 2019, I recorded -  2AJV  back at it's natal colony, which remains to be the only breeding season sighting so far.  The duration since being ringed, is now 8 years, 2 months and 8 days.  The distance from Castle Espie to the Connswater mudflats is 16 kms / 9 miles (NW).

Black-headed Gull  -   2AJV   -  Connswater Mudflats, Belfast Harbour Industrial Estate  (27 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 19th June 2014, at the WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co. Down)

Belfast's Victoria Park, is just around the corner from the Connswater Mudflats, and here I spotted Black-headed Gull -  2AKJ , on the island on the parks lake.  One of the pair of Mute Swans that were also on the island bore a metal-ring which was just outside of the range of my camera.

 2AKJ , was ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2015, also at Castle Espie, and appears to be another regular winter visitor to the Connswater Mudflats and Victoria Park.  It was recorded back at it's natal colony during the breeding seasons of 2021 and 2022, but more than likely, had gone unrecorded at Castle Espie before then.  Wintering at either Victoria Park or Connswater has been recorded in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Despite several visits to the area last winter, somehow the gull evaded me.  The duration since being ringed, is now 7 years, 2 months and 12 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2AKJ   -  Victoria Park, Belfast  (27 Aug 20220

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2015, at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co. Down)

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

Sunday 28th August 2022

My aim today, was to get to Millisle in County Down in search of ringed Common Gulls.  On my way, I stopped at Antrim Town, Kinnegar Beach, Ballyholme and Donaghadee on my way down.

At Antrim Town, I stopped at the Castle Way car park, in the hope that a German metal-rung Black-headed Gull has returned.  With three October sightings (2020 (x2), and 2021), I'm leaning on the idea, that this bird is using Antrim as a staging post, before moving on to it's wintering site wherever that may be.  I'm determined to undertake regular visits to this car park, so as to be sure I do not miss it's return.

No sign of this gull today, but I did get Black-headed Gull -  2ANS .   2ANS , is one of my Antrim Marina Study birds, but had gone AWOL for a time.  My last sighting at Antrim Marina was made on the 11th November 2019, but I then fell in with the gull on the shore at Glynn on Larne Lough, on the 22nd March 2020, which suggests that it could well have nested on nearby Blue Circle Island.  This was my last sighting until two weeks ago, when -  2ANS  was spotted here at the Castle Way car park.  With this second sighting of late, I'm now hoping it will return to Antrim Marina this winter.

 2ANS , was ringed as a juvenile/1st winter bird at Antrim Marina, on the 12th November 2015, which takes it's duration to 6 years, 9 months and 16 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ANS   -  Castle Way Car Park, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (28 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as Juvenile/1st Winter Bird, on the 12th November 2015, at Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim)

Reaching the beach at Kinnegar on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, the tide was well on it's way out, and was awash with gulls and waders.  I spent a long time here scoping through everything, with just one metal-rung Black-headed Gull having been spotted.  I was about to give up, when I saw a colour-ringed Oystercatcher.  Rung, Yellow over Lime on the left leg, this bird sported a White Darvic on it's right leg, which was in very poor condition.  I instantly knew that this was a bird that has been recorded here in the past, and the letters on the White Darvic should have read 'UA'.

YL-W(UA), was ringed as an unsexed breeding adult, on the 23rd May 2018, at  Stokkseyri in southern Iceland.  It was first spotted here on Kinnegar Beach, on the 26th August 2018, and has been recorded back at Kinnegar at least once every winter since.  Having informed Boddi Þórisson, of the birds return to Kinnegar for another season, apparently, there have been no further re-sightings since my last sighting at Kinnegar Beach on the 13th February 2022.  The bird was spotted at Stokkseyri in May 2019, which remains as it's only sighting back in Iceland.

The duration since being ringed, is now 4 years, 3 months and 5 days, and the distance to Kinnegar Beach, is 1,335 kms / 829 miles (SE).

Oystercatcher  -  YL-W(UA)  -  Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Breeding Adult, on the 23rd May 2018, at Stokkseyri, Arnes, Árnessýsla, S. Iceland)

No sooner had I spotted one colour-ringed Oystercatcher, a second was also spotted.  This one spent most of it's time in the water, and I could not read the code on the White Darvic on it's right leg.  Colour-rings Green over Red, was just about captured with my camera.  On my spreadsheet, I made a search for GR-W(, and found a match - GR-W(JK), a bird spotted on this beach last winter.  It is very likely, that this is that same bird, but this sighting cannot be excepted until the coded ring is confirmed.

GR-W(JK), was ringed as an un-sexed breeding adult in May 2021, at Réttarholt in south-west Iceland. Last winter, I recorded the bird at Kinnegar on the 5th December 2021 and on the 13th February 2022.  David Nixon, also spotted the bird on the 19th March 2022.

Oystercatcher  -  GR-W(??)  -  Kinnegar Beach, Belfast Lough, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2022)

On my way to Ballyholme, I drove through the town of Bangor.  Passing by the marina and harbour, I saw lots of gulls flying about, but could not find anywhere to park the car.  I then took the coast road to reach Ballyholme.  On reaching the car park at Luke's Point, I fell in with my first sighting of Polish Black-headed Gull -  TRX9 , which was well known to me, through observations made by other ring readers.

Ringed as a chick in June 2019, the gull first appeared here in September 2021, when spotted by John O'Boyle.  The gull remained at Ballyholme throughout the 2021/2022 winter, and was last seen by Suzanne Belshaw on the 17th March 2022.  The return of -  TRX9 , was recorded on the exceptionally early date of the 19th July 2022, and Suzanne Belshaw then spotted the gull on the 6th August 2022.

The distance from the ringing site at Lake Rynskie in Poland, is 1,760 kms / 1,093 miles (W), and the duration since being ringed, is now 3 years, 2 months and 23 days.  Outside of Northern Ireland, the gull was recorded at Ringstone Edge Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, on the 4th August 2019, and has yet to be re-sighted back in Poland.

Black-headed Gull  -   TRX9   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 5th June 2019, at Jezioro Rynskie, Ptasia Wyspa, Ryn, Poland)

From Luke's Point, I drove along the Esplanade to the fresh water river which flows over Ballyholme Beach.  There were lots of gulls either on the sea or on the edge of the shore.  It was obvious that they had been frequently disturbed by the many dog walkers working their way along the beach.  Wherever possible I scoped the gulls, though initially, no rings were spotted except a metal on a Black-headed Gull.

At one point, there was a very large break in distance between the walkers, so I went back to my car to grab a loaf.  Picking a nice clear sandy area, I began crumbling up a few slices, which attracted a number of gulls to me.  A Common Gull with a Blue Darvic, practically landed beside me, and seconds later photos revealed the code -  2HBK .  On site, I reckoned that I had just gained my first sighting for this gull, though if I was correct, it has been recorded here before.

On checking my 'Ring Reading Spreadsheet', I had ringed -  2HBK  as a chick on the 13th June 2021, on Big Copeland Island situated 8 kms / 4 miles to the east from Ballyholme.  It's first re-sighting was made by Jonathan Clark on the 29th August 2021, here on Ballyholme Beach.  On the 1st October 2021, John O'Boyle along with Dermot Hughes, spotted the gull at nearby Luke's Point.  By the 22nd October 2021,  2HBK  had moved 2 kms to the east, where it was recorded at Groomsport Harbour by George Gordon.  On the 12th March 2022, Suzanne Belshaw reported that -  2HBK  was still at Groomsport Harbour, it's last sighting until today.

My latest sighting, takes the duration since being ringed, to 1 year, 2 months and 15 days.  Really nice to see the bird so close, especially having ringed it as a chick.  Unbeknown to me at the time, Suzanne Belshaw was also at Ballyholme the day before my visit (Saturday 27th August).  She also spotted -  2HBK , at nearby Luke's Point (email received on Wednesday 31st August).

Common Gull  -   2HBK   -  Ballyholme Beach, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2022)

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

Leaving Ballyholme, my next stop was at the coastal town of Donaghadee.  Although there were plenty of gulls along the seafront, I could not find a parking spot.  I drove to the large car park by the Community Centre, and began throwing out bread.  Lots of Herring Gulls quickly surrounded my car, with a few Common and Black-headed's keeping their distance.  No rings, so it was on to Millisle.

Within seconds of parking along the Millisle seafront, my bread offering soon attracted a Common Gull with a Blue Darvic -  2ANJ .  This is now the 17th sighting record for this gull, with all but one, having been made here on the Millisle seafront.  The exception, was the birds previous sighting, where I recorded it back at it's natal colony on Big Copeland Island during the 2021 breeding season.   2ANJ  was ringed as a chick, on the 11th June 2012, which takes the duration since being ringed to 10 years, 2 months and 17 days.  Millisle lies 8 kms / 5 miles (S) from Big Copeland Island.  The full re-sighting history can be read (here).

Common Gull  -   2ANJ   -  Millisle Seafront, Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2022)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2012, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

In the main car park on the Millisle seafront, I also came across Common Gull -  2BBC .   2BBC , was among the first Common Gulls to have been colour-ringed belonging to Shane Wolsey's former Copeland Common Gull Project which began in 2009, ending in 2014.  I now respond to sightings of these gulls, and -  2BBC  has the longest re-sighting history of all.  It was ringed as a chick, on the 23rd June 2009, which takes the duration as of today's sighting, to 13 years, 2 months and 5 days.  My sighting today, is the gulls 46th re-sighting record, with all but it's very first sighting, having been recorded along the Millisle seafront.  As a juvenile/1st winter bird, it was spotted on Gormanstown Strand in County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland.  During my rare visits to Big Copeland Island, I had hoped to find -  2BBC  as a breeding adult, but that never happened.  Millisle is situated 8 kms / 5 miles (S) from Big Copeland Island, and the complete re-sighting history can be read (here).

Common Gull  -   2BBC   -  Millisle Seafront, Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (28 Aug 20220

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 23rd June 2009, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

Quite often, there would be a few metal-rung Common Gulls knocking about the car park along the Millisle seafront.  On most occasions, it would be hard to single out one particular bird to photograph the ring, as people passing by would scatter the birds before I can capture the full number.

Today, there was just one Common Gull with a metal ring, so I had a go at this one.  With the bird standing on the sea wall, it was difficult to find angles to photograph the ring, as the 'ring butts' were facing me.  I tried to coax the gull into moving slightly, and had some success, before it flew off towards the beach.  Looking at my photos, I had one which read -  64808 , but I was missing the two letters that preceded the number.

On returning home, I made a search for -  64808  on my Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet, and found a match -  EG64808 , having recorded that gull here on two previous occasions.  There was no doubting in my mind, that I had recorded the same gull again, even though I had not captured the two letters.  Further strength towards the re-sighting, is that the metal-ring is upside-down, which tallies with the photos taken during the previous two sighting.

 EG64808 , was ringed as a chick, on the 13th June 2004, on Lighthouse Island which is home to the Copeland Islands Bird Observatory here in County Down.  My previous two sightings here at Millisle, were made on the 1st September 2018 and on the 15th August 2021.  The duration since being ringed, is now 18 years, 2 months and 15 days.

Common Gull  -   EG64808   -  Millisle Seafront, Drumfad Bay, Co. Down  (28 Aug 20220

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 13th June 2004, on Lighthouse Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

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