Ooops - Mis ID...

Bann Estuary - 30th August 2023

On checking photos on my camera on the 10th September, I found a couple taken on the 30th August, which I had completely forgotten about.  On the 29th August, I visited the Bann Estuary at Castlerock in County Londonderry to search and photograph a colour-ringed Osprey which had been present in the area since mid August.  Before I found the Osprey, I fell in with a large flock of Sandwich Terns at rest on the shore.  Working my way through the flock at distance with the camera, I took photos of nine colour-ringed 'Sannies', with three eventually being dismissed, as the codes looked too 'iffy'.

I decided to go back on the following day, but this time, the majority of the terns were on the opposite side of the river.  To get to the opposite side, would involve a long drive, followed by a long walk, so I parked myself at the same spot where I was the day before.  Eventually, a small group of Sandwich Terns landed near me, with just one colour-ring being read -  4F7 .

The day before, one of the Tern's that I had recorded was -  3A5 , which belonged to Roisin Kearney's project on Blue Circle Island on Larne Lough, so with number, letter, number, I thought -  4F7 , was another one of Roisin's birds.  Roisin replied to my email, to say her rings all start with the number three, whereas those starting with the number four, belongs to Hugh Thurgate who rings on Strangford Lough in County Down.

Apologizing for my error, I then sent an email to Hugh.  The reply came two days later, to say that -  4F7  was ringed as a chick, on the 11th June 2021, on Swan Island.  Swan Island is situated directly beside the ferry terminal at Strangford village on Strangford Lough.  Just two previous sightings were made on the 30th July 2023, and again on the 11th August 2023, at the Dee Estuary which borders the coast of England and Wales.

The distance from Swan Island to the Bann Estuary, is 117 kms / 72 miles (NW), and the duration since being ringed, is 2 years, 2 months and 19 days.  My thanks goes to Hugh for the details.

Sandwich Tern  -   4F7   -  Bann Estuary, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry  (30 Aug 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2021, on Swan Island, Strangford Lough, Co. Down)

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From Suzanne Belshaw

It seems as if a Herring Gull sighting made by Suzanne has settled a case of mistaken identity.  The Herring Gull -  S15:M , was ringed on Kitterland Island (Isle of Man), on the 23rd June 2018, apparently as a Great Black-backed Gull chick.  One previous re-sighting was made on the 22nd September 2021, at the high tide roost at Dundrum Inner Bay (South).  From what I can gather reading between the lines, on that occasion, there was some unsurety concerning the species involved, though Mark Fitzpatrick asked me to submit the sighting as a Great Black-backed Gull.

Suzanne's photo, settles any lingering doubt as to what species is involved.   S15:M , was spotted by Suzanne at the eastern end of Tyrella Beach in County Down, which is situated roughly 64 kms / 39 miles (NW) from Kitterland Island.  The duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 2 months and 15 days.

My thanks again goes to Suzanne for the sighting and photo.

Herring Gull  -   S15:M   -  Tyrella Beach, Co. Down  (07 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 23rd June 2018, on Kitterland Island, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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From Declan Clarke

Declan Clarke has managed to photograph another two Herring Gulls at Ardglass Harbour using his phone.  The first bird -  G55:M , was ringed as a chick, on the 4th July 2022, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man.  One previous sighting, was also made at Ardglass Harbour, by David Stirling, on the 4th March 2023.  The duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 2 months and 4 days.

Herring Gull  -   G55:M   -  Ardglass Harbour, Ardglass, Co. Down  (08 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 4th July 2022, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of Declan Clarke)

As with -  G55:M  above,  G58:M , was also ringed as a chick, on the 4th July 2022, on the Calf of Man.  Declan's sighting was a first for this bird, coming 1 year, 2 months and 4 days since being ringed.  The distance from the Calf of Man, to Ardglass Harbour, is 57 kms / 35 miles (WNW).

My thanks to Declan for both sightings along with the photos, and to Mark Fitzpatrick for supplying the ringing histories for both gulls.

Herring Gull  -   G58:M   -  Ardglass Harbour, Ardglass, Co. Down  (08 Sep 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 4th July 2022, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of Declan Clarke)

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From Cameron Moore

An email from Cameron Moore arrived with me on the evening of the 12th September 2023.  Earlier that day, Cameron spotted a Black-headed Gull rung (White) 2503, on the seafront at Rhanbouy Park in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.  The email was pretty brief, so I'm not sure whether Cameron realised that he has recorded this bird in the past.

(White) 2503, was ringed as a chick, on the 17th June 2021, on Lough Ree in County Longford in the Republic of Ireland.  I made the first re-sighting of the then juvenile, on the 29th August 2021, at the ponds at Carrickfergus Leisure Centre.  By the 20th October 2021, (White) 2503, had flown south-west and was recorded by David Morrow at Dungannon Park Lake in County Tyrone.  With this sighting, the ringing coordinator for the Lough Ree Gull Project, Brian Burke, though this young could be making it's way back to County Longford.

Almost a month later, on the 18th November 2021, that idea had been 'blown out of the water', when Cameron Moore made his first sighting of this young bird at Rhanbouy Park in Carrickfergus.  Cameron recorded the gull again at Rhanbouy Park on the 14th February 2022.  By the 27th April 2022, (White) 2503 was still in Carrickfergus, having been recorded back at the Ponds of the Leisure Centre, having been recorded by Paul McCullough.

Last winter, the gull was recorded on just one occasion, this being at Rhanbouy Park on the 2nd January 2023, having been recorded by Cameron for a third time.  This latest sighting, takes the duration since being ringed, to 2 years, 2 months and 19 days.  The distance from Lough Ree to Carrickfergus, is 188 kms / 116 miles (NE).

Having sent an email to Brian Burke, who is the ringing coordinator for the Lough Ree Gull Project, a reply eventually arrived with me this evening (Sunday 17th August).  Apparently, no sightings have been reported since Cameron's sighting in January 2023.  Thanks Brian, and to Cameron for his sighting report.  Normally, Cameron would send a photo, but this time, none have come through.

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