Antrim Marina - (Monday 25th September 2023)

Antrim Marina - Monday 25th September 2023

Today saw me undertaking my ninth weekly visit to Antrim Marina to record the wintering Black-headed Gulls, some of which are colour-ringed.  On my arrival at 10:50, the sky was fairly dark with cloud, a very strong wind was blowing in from the west, and the temperature gauge in my car was reading 15°C.  During my visit there were a couple of short but heavy showers of rain, but by 1pm, the wing had calmed down slightly and the sun broke through the cloud. 

With the return of -  2ABN  during last Monday's visit, the overall total of colour-rings recorded so far had risen to 22.  The first ring to be read today, was that of -  2AVC  at 10:52, and just under an hour later at 11:49, the arrival of -  2AAN  took the total to 17 rings read.  I thought I was doing well, but at that time, I did not know that no further rings were to be read over the next two and a half hours, except for those already read.  The ring of the Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 , which has been here since the 8th of August, was read at 11:31.  Last Monday also saw the arrival of another Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  527948 .  This bird was a very wary gull, and was clearly not used to being in close proximity to people, therefore it's absence today did not surprise me.

On arrival, 47 Black-headed Gull were present, with counts at midday, 1pm, 1:30pm and 2:15pm, giving 46, 70, 83 and 95 birds altogether.  The gulls were clearly coming and going, and later on many gulls were returning with grass plastered around their legs.  The council were cutting the grass areas, much to the delight of the birds, as it meant easier foraging in the lawn areas.

With no further returnees, my total of colour-rings recorded so far during this autumn/winter season remains at 22.  Another couple of attempts to catch new birds to be ringed failed, but it will be fairly soon before the birds are hungry enough where they can be caught.  A lack of juvenile Black-headed Gulls remains a big feature, with just three present today.

Seeing as many of my colour-ringed gulls have failed to return, and the lack of juveniles present, once again points to a very poor breeding season where 'Bird Flu' seems to have taken it's toll.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Monday 25th September 2023

2ACV	2FFA	2AAB	2FIA	2CSR	2BRA	2CSK	2FIL	2FIF
2ABN	2CJT	2FHV	2FIK	2FHC	2FJA	2FIP	2AAN

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

2BRD	2FDK	2FHT	2FFX	2FIJ

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

The Mute Swan family, along with their four cygnets did not appear at all today.  On my arrival, 5 adult Mute Swans were present.  Four of them remained throughout my visit, the fifth flying out towards the Lough about 30 minutes after my arrival.  None of the five were ringed.

Around 30 Mallards were counted on my arrival, and the overall total dropped to 22 birds just before my departure at 2:30.  This was a big drop in numbers from previous weeks, and still no rings recorded on these birds.

No Herring or Common Gulls today, and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was present throughout.  A second adult Lesser Black-backed arrived at 13:04, and was constantly being hassled by the first bird.  Despite this, it was also present by the time of my departure.

Four Jackdaws were the only other species to be recorded.  I reckon cemeteries are far busier than the Marina is today.  When I first started coming here back in September 2013, you would have been tripping over the birdlife here.  Just goes to show how things have changed over the years since.

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