From Sandy and Lindsay...

From Sandy McWilliams

An email arrived with me on Wednesday 20th September 2023, from Sandy McWilliams who was one of my two original Ringing Trainers back in the mid 80's.  Earlier that day, Sandy was visiting the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve on the Belfast Harbour Industrial Estate, when he spotted a Cormorant with an Orange Darvic.  On scoping the bird, Sandy was able to read the ring -  222 , and he then took a couple of photos.

On Sandy's behalf, I checked the online cr-birding site, and duly sent an email to the project lead, Kieran Foster.

The next morning, Kieran replied, to say that the Cormorant had been ringed as a chick, on the 2nd June 2023, at Burnt Hill in the Halton area of Cheshire, England.  I submitted the details to the BTO, and the recovery gave an official distance as being 249 kms / 154 miles (NW).  The duration since being ringed was 3 months and 18 days.  Kieran said the Cormorants at Burnt Hill, are tree nesters, and this sighting was their first Cormorant to be reported from anywhere in Ireland.

My thanks goes to Sandy for the sighting report, and to Kieran for his speedy reply.

Cormorant  -   222   -  RSPB Window on Wildlife Nature Reserve, Belfast  (20 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 2nd June 2023, at Burnt Hill, Halton, Cheshire, England)

(Photo Courtesy of Sandy McWilliams)

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From Lindsay Hodges

Lindsay Hodges was in touch with me on Tuesday 26th September 2023, to report the return of Black-headed Gull -  2ABT , spotted at Ballyholme a short time earlier that day.   2ABT , was ringed as an adult male on the 24th January 2013 at Ballyholme, and is one of the earliest birds to be ringed belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.

This latest sighting by Lindsay, is the 24th sighting record since the gull was ringed.  It is well known that -  2ABT  spends every winter in the Ballyholme area.  Summer breeding season sightings at Sandy Bay in Larne, Co. Antrim, led to a suspicion that it could be nesting at the RSPB's Blue Circle Island Nature Reserve, situated on nearby Larne Lough.

With no near access to Blue Circle Island, a sighting that I made at the Glynn foreshore on Larne Lough in July 2022, meant that -  2ABT  was just a 'stones throw' away from the island.  The duration since being ringed, is now 10 years, 8 months and 2 days, and the full re-sighting history can be read (here).

My thanks goes to Lindsay for this latest sighting, along with the photo.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ABT   -  Luke's Point, Ballyholme, Co. Down  (26 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 24th January 2013, at Ballyholme)

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Hodges)

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