Common Gull - 2CCL...

From Pete and Ann Wilson

A recent email from Pete and Ann Wilson, was of great interest to me.  On the 16th July, they were visiting Ballycastle on the north coast of County Antrim, when they spotted a colour-ringed Common Gull.  Taking a photo, the code on the ring read -  2CCL .

 2CCL , was ringed as a chick, on the 14th June 2022, at the Arkill Bay colony on nearby Rathlin Island and this was that bird's first resighting.   2022, saw a record number of 84 Common Gull chicks being colour-ringed on Rathlin Island.  From that batch of 84,  2CCL  is only the third to be spotted this year.  The other two are -  2CCT  recorded on Kinnegar Beach on Belfast Lough on the 9th April 2023, and -  2CFH , spotted on the 20th June 2023 at Rue Point on Rathlin Island.  It is rare for 2nd calendar year birds to return to the island, as most surviving birds normally return in their 3rd year to prospect nest sites for when they reach breeding age in their 4th year.

At a rough estimate, around two thirds of chicks fail to survive through their first winter, therefore, there should be around 28 surviving birds from the batch of 84 colour-ringed in 2022.

Ballycastle is just 10 kms / 6 miles (SSW) from Arkill Bay, and though not a spectacular distance, it is great to know of a survivor.  The duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 1 month and 2 days.

My thanks goes to Pete and Ann for their sighting record, and for allowing me to post the sighting along with their photo.

Common Gull  -   2CCL   -  Ballycastle, Co. Antrim  (16 Jul 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 14th June 2022, at Arkill Bay, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim)

(Photo Courtesy of Pete and Ann Wilson)

The 2023 breeding for the Common Gulls on Rathlin has been very poor, compared to the record breaking 2022 season.  All of the colonies saw a slight reduction in nesting pairs, except for the small rocky islet on Ushet Lough.  Around hatching time, there appeared to be many nest failures, and island resident Ric Else and myself suggested that the extended period of heat and dry weather may have been a factor.  Being on the southern edge of their range, Common Gulls can easily cope with cooler, wetter conditions.

Only 20 Common Gull chicks were colour-ringed this summer.  Another ringer is operating on the island, and once I began finding chicks that were already metal-rung, I stopped ringing altogether.  My problem was time.  When ringing in colonies, time is of the essence, as some of the gulls are still on eggs or small chicks and pending on the weather conditions, these birds need to get back on their nests as soon as possible.  I could have still colour-ringed the metal-rung chicks, but every metal ring would have to be recorded before a colour-ring is fitted, thus greatly reducing the time spent at each colony.  By rights, I needed a second person with me to write down the details which would speed up the process.  I'm hoping that the other ringer and myself can be better coordinated in 2024.

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