From Suzanne Belshaw...

From Suzanne Belshaw

A few ring sightings have been reported to me by Suzanne Belshaw.  The first of these was that of a Danish-rung Black-headed Gull -  VA5454 , spotted on the 10th November 2023, at Rhanbouy Park in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.  Suzanne was actually sitting in her car beside the seawall and was on the phone, when the gull landed on the wall beside the car and peered in.  By the time Suzanne had finished the call, the gull had flown off.  To try and photograph the bird, Suzanne threw out some food, but the gull did not appear again.

This was Suzanne's second sighting of -  VA5454  this winter, having first recorded the gull at nearby Carrickfergus Harbour on the 19th August 2023.   VA5454 , was ringed as a chick, on the 25th May 2020, on Hirsholm Island, which lies just off the coast of northern Denmark.  Two earlier sightings of -  VA5454 , were made by Cameron Moore, on the 4th January 2021 and on the 4th November 2021.  Rhanbouy Park is situated 1,064 kms / 661 miles (WSW) from Hirsholm Island, and the duration as of Suzanne's latest sighting, is now 3 years, 5 months and 16 days since being ringed.

Another Danish Black-headed Gull was also recorded for the second time this winter, on the 14th November 2023, at Lurgan Park Lake in County Armagh.  It's return to Lurgan Park Lake this winter was first recorded by Suzanne on the 11th October 2023.   VA7547 , also came from Hirsholm Island, having been ringed as a chick, on the 27th May 2022.  The then juvenile, was first recorded at Lurgan Park Lake on the 31st January 2023, with a further three sightings in March 2023, the final one being on the 29th March.  The distance from Hirsholm, is 1,106 kms / 687 miles (WSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 5 months and 18 days.

Black-headed Gull  -  Denmark   VA7547   -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (14 Nov 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 27th May 2022, on Hirsholm Island, Denmark)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Whilst at Lurgan Park Lake, Suzanne also came across a Norwegian-rung Black-headed Gull which was a first sighting within Northern Ireland.  Colour-ringed - (White) J2234, Suzanne submitted her sighting onto the 'Live' Norwegian Ringing Database, which instantly gave her the birds history.  (White) J2234, was ringed as a chick, on the 11th June 2022, at Lake Lyseren which lies 24 kms (SE) from the capital Oslo.  Two previous sightings were made by Kevin Leighton at Thetford in Norfolk, England, when the then juvenile was recorded on the 2nd and 16th February 2023.

This makes Suzanne's sighting interesting, as juveniles would usually return to their original wintering site.  Perhaps (White) J2234 is returning to Thetford in a roundabout way.  The distance from Lyseren to Lurgan Park, is 1,200 kms / 745 miles (WSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 5 months and 3 days.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  J2234  -  Lurgan Park Lake, Lurgan, Co. Armagh  (14 Nov 2023)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 11th June 2022, at Lake Lyseren, Oslo, Norway)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

On the 15th November 2023, Suzanne surveyed the gulls on the Dargan Mudflats on the edge of Belfast Lough.  Whilst there, she spotted an old friend of mine - Herring Gull -  2N:W .  This bird was ringed as an unsexed adult, on the 5th May 2015, on Big Copeland Island in County Down.  The two previous sightings which I had recorded, were on the 18th March 2018 on the beach at Kinnegar, which lies on the County Down side of Belfast Lough, and on the 7th March 2020, on the Whiteabbey Shore, situated on the County Antrim side of Belfast Lough.  It still amazes me how these big gulls with their larger colour-rings travel about unnoticed by other birdwatchers, and Northern Ireland is full birdwatchers.

The Dargan Mudflats, lies 23 kms / 14 miles (W) from Big Copeland Island, and the duration since being ringed, is now 8 years, 6 months and 10 days.  My thanks once again goes to Suzanne for the sighting reports, along with the photos.

Herring Gull  -   2N:W   -  Dargan Mudflats, Belfast Lough  (15 Nov 2023)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult. on the 5th May 2015, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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