Great To Be Back...

Antrim Marina - Monday 20th February 2023

Having missed seven weekly visits to Antrim Marina, I finally returned to resume these weekly visits.  I have been studying a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls at the Marina, through the use of colour-coded rings since September 2013, when I became involved with Adam McClure's Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.

Adam, sadly had to give up on his former project which began in November 2012, ending in June 2018, but I decided to continue with my Study at Antrim Marina.  During my study, I retrained as a ringer, and as a result, I now colour-ring Black-headed Gulls at Antrim Marina, and also began a colour-ringing project on Rathlin Island in 2017, ringing Common Gull chicks there.

Over the years, we have discovered that the wintering population of Black-headed Gulls at Antrim Marina, consists of a mix of resident gulls, as well as birds from Europe, Scandinavia and Iceland.  For many of the gulls, their summer destinations are so far unknown.

I begin my winter visits on the first weekend in August, finishing on the last weekend in March.  Each winter, sees the start of a new winter list, where I record returning birds, as well as catching and ringing new birds to add to my project.  At the time when my previous car broke down on Christmas Day, I had recorded 39 Black-headed Gulls from previous winters, plus catching 9 new birds giving me an overall total of 48 colour-ringed birds.  Suzanne Belshaw's sighting of -  2FDT  on the 2nd January 2023, added another returnee to the list, taking the total to 49 birds altogether this winter.

A few Black-headed Gulls, caught and ringed during last winter (2021/2022), have failed to return this winter, plus a few ringed in earlier years.  Having just missed on seven weekly visits does not help, as some of these gulls may well have returned, though not recorded as yet.  One gull in particular, that was ringed here at Antrim Marina, was spotted in Antrim's town centre, but has not been recorded at the Marina so far.  That bird is -  2AFD , who we know goes to Latvia each summer.

For today's visit to the Marina, I decided to arrive at the later time of 11am, aiming to depart at 3pm.  On arrival, I noted that dredging operations had been in operation, though there was no work in progress today.  Loads of Black-headed Gulls were in the area, with many perched on the fencing forming the compound.  Once parked at my usual spot beside the slipway, I estimated there were easily 80 to 100 plus gulls present altogether.

With 49 colour-rings to look for, I recorded 24 inside my first hour, with that of -  2FIK  being read at 11:53.  My final total before departing was a disappointing 27, with the final three rings being read at 12:51 -  2FFC , 1:52 -  2FIH , and 2:35 -  2FDK .  This meant I had 22 absentees during today's visit, and no new returnees.

Among the 27 re-sightings, were four birds, where their summer destinations are known, which includes the 'Star Bird' at Antrim Marina -  2FDJ , who has been spotted in the past in Eastern Estonia.  The other three, are -  2ACV  (RSPB Leighton Moss, Lancashire),  2FDL  (Sweden), and -  2CSL  (Poland).

Black-headed Gull  -   2FDJ   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (20 Feb 2023)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 2nd Calendar Year Bird, on the 18th November 2019, at Antrim Marina)

During my visit, I had conversations with a number of people, including one man who would regularly stop by to talk with me.  He had noted my absence, thinking that I must not have been well.  He informed me, that there were far more gulls here yesterday, possibly double the number here today.  Apparently, loads of folk arrived to feed the ducks, with the gulls taking full advantage to the bread being thrown out.

Today, also saw a number of feeds, so much so, later in the morning, the birds became less interested and my attempts at catching one or two were futile.  Today, also saw me recording -  2FJC  for the first time, having been ringed on the Monday (19th December) the week prior to my car breaking down.  This gave me the opportunity to take my first photo of the gull. 

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJC   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (20 Feb 2023)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 2nd Calendar Year Bird, on the 19th December 2022, at Antrim Marina)

The weather conditions during today's visit, were very mild, with sunny spells early on in the morning.  The temperature gauge in my car was reading 12°C, which must have been good enough for flying flies or other insects.  A good number of gulls flew high over the Marina, especially over the conifers, 'hawking' the bounty.  In the last hour before I departed, the cloud thickened and a light drizzle started to fall.  The number of gulls present began to fall slightly, as did the temperature by one degree.  I was really pleased to be back again, and hopefully a few of today's absentees will be recorded next Monday.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 20th February 2023

2AAK	2BRA	2FIP	2FIA	2FDJ	2AAB	2CTC	2FIN	2FIF
2ACV	2CSK	2CSR	2FDT	2FJC	2FFA	2FIL	2CJT	2ABL
2AAA	2FFX	2AAN	2FDL	2CSL	2FIK	2FFC	2FIH	2FDK

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

2ABA	2ABN	2ABS	2CSA	2CSB	2CSX	2FDX	2FFF
2FFL	2FFP	2FFT	2FHA	2FHC	2FHJ	2FHP	2FHV
2FHX	2FIJ	2FIT	2FIV	2FIX	2FJA

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On parking my car beside the slipway, I saw a very large number of Mute Swans, but my first priority was to begin reading the colour-rings on the Black-headed Gulls.  After a while, my attention returned to the swans, with a count of 23 birds altogether.  Eventually, I was fairly certain that all of the swans came ashore at some point, and one metal-ring was read.   Z78580 , was regularly recorded here at the Marina last winter.  This winter, it was first recorded on the 28th November 2022, and was spotted for a second time by Suzanne Belshaw on the 2nd January 2023.  The swan was ringed as a juvenile here at the Marina, on the 15th November 2020, which takes the duration to, 2 years, 3 months and 5 days, since being ringed.

Mallards numbered around the 50 mark, which was constant throughout my visit.  Again, most legs were checked, but none were ringed.  The metal-rung Mallards that were recorded here in the past, were duck farm chicks that were purchased, reared in captivity and ringed before being released into the wild.  The birds belonged to a gun club in County Monahan, with the aim to replace ducks into the wild that were shot by the club's members.

A pair of Herring Gulls were also present throughout today's visit, with the male being easily recognised as being the same gull that has been here all winter.  I can tell by it's habit of close approach that it is the same bird.

At 11:40, 2 adult Common Gulls arrived, and a juvenile appeared at 11:45.  I missed the arrival of more Common Gulls, but at 12:21, there were 5 adults and 2 juveniles.  No sign of the small Scottish-rung female -  EY64036 .  Ringed in Hunterston, Ayrshire as a chick in 2013, this gull is a winter visitor to the Marina.  This winter, it has only been recorded on just the one occasion - 28th November 2022.

3 Rooks, 1 Hooded Crow, 1 Magpie and 3 Jackdaws were the only other species noted at the Marina during today's visit.

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From David Nixon and Paul Hilton

An email arrived from David Nixon, on the evening of Saturday 18th February 2023.  David was part of an RSPB Group out birdwatching earlier in the day covering the east coast of County Antrim.  Whilst on the platform of Glynn railway station which overlooks the foreshore of Larne Lough, a Black-headed Gull was spotted with a White Darvic.  Between David and Paul Hilton, the code on the ring was read as - (White) EE5R, and David left it in my hands to find the owner.

In my reply to David, I stated 'Good Job - One of My Old Friends'.  (White) EE5R, is a Dutch bird, having been ringed at Harlingen, Griend, as an unsexed 2nd calendar year bird, on the 21st May 2016.  Having been re-sighted at Harlingen in May 2017, and twice in April 2018, I recorded it's first sighting in Northern Ireland on the 19th December 2018, at Kinnegar Beach on the County Down side of Belfast Lough.

The next two sightings, were also made here in Northern Ireland.  On the 12th November 2019, Harry Byron spotted (White) EE5R, at Crawfordsburn Beach, also in Co. Down, whilst I recorded the gull back on Kinnegar Beach, on the 5th December 2021.

I reported David's and Paul's sighting to Date Lutterop, who replied to say, that the gull had not been seen since my 2021 sighting.  The duration since being ringed, is now 6 years, 8 months and 25 days, and the distance to Glynn, is 742 kms / 461 miles (WNW).

My thanks to David for the sighting report, and to Paul for allowing me to use his photo, as well as to Date for his reply.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  EE5R  -  Glynn, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim  (18 Feb 2023)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed 2nd Calendar Year Bird, on the 21st May 2016, at Harlingen, Griend, Holland)

(Photo Courtesy of Paul Hilton)

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From Suzanne Belshaw

I have lost count at the number of ringed Juvenile Black-headed Gulls that Suzanne Belshaw has recorded here this winter, and now she has spotted another one practically on her doorstep in Lisburn.  Suzanne reported her sighting of (White) 2963, to Brian Burke, who is the ringing co-ordinator for the Lough Ree Gull project in County Longford in the Republic of Ireland.

Brian replied to say that (White) 2963, was ringed as a chick, on the 14th June 2022, on Goat's Island on Lough Ree.  Suzanne's sighting was a first since being ringed, the duration now being 8 months and 5 days.  The distance from Lough Ree to Lisburn, was given by Brian, as being 161 kms / 100 miles (NE).  Thanks yet again to Suzanne for the sighting and photo, and to Brian for supplying the details.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  2963  -  Lisburn, Co. Antrim  (19 Feb 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 14th June 2022, at Lough Ree, Co. Longford, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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From David Stirling

David Stirling who is a more recent contributor for ring sightings, has reported another colour-ringed gull at Ardglass Harbour in County Down, this one being a Herring Gull -  F16:D .  I relayed David's email to Graham Prole, who is the Ringing Co-ordinator for the Irish Midlands Ringing Group.

Graham was very quick in his response, giving the ringing and re-sighting history for the bird.   F16:D , was ringed as a chick, on the 4th July 2020, on Dalkey Island in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.  The first re-sighting of the then juvenile, was made on the 24th August 2020, when spotted at Bray Harbour in County Wicklow, situated just south from Dalkey Island.

 F16:D , then went unrecorded until the 10th July 2022, when spotted by Declan Clarke here at Ardglass Harbour.  Somehow, this sighting passed me by, as it was not on my main Ring Reading Spreadsheet.

David's latest sighting takes the duration to, 2 years, 3 months and 5 days, since being ringed, and Ardglass Harbour is situated 116 kms / 72 miles (NNE) from Dalkey Island.

My thanks again to David for his sighting report, along with the photo, and also to Graham Prole for supplying the history for -  F16:D .

Herring Gull  -   F16:D   -  Ardglass Harbour, Ardglass, Co. Down  (20 Feb 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 4th July 2020, on Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of David Stirling)

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