From David Nixon and Suzanne Belshaw...

From David Nixon

David Nixon was at Millquarter Bay (Strangford Lough, Co. Down) on the 27th September 2024, when he spotted a Herring Gull - rung  T1VC .  This gull was last recorded in Northern Ireland back on the 25th October 2021 when spotted by David at this very same site.  Having reported his latest sighting to Mark Fitzpatrick who is the ringing coordinator for the gulls ringed on the Calf of Man (Isle of Man), there has been a further three sightings since October 2021. two at Strandhall on the mainland of the Isle of Man (both in December 2021), and on the Calf of Man in April 2023.

 T1VC , was ringed as a chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man.  The first two re-sightings were made at Millquarter Bay in June and July 2020 by Graham McElwaine, followed by two sightings back on the Isle of Man - Strandhall (October 2020), Calf of Man (July 2021).  Two sightings in September 2021 by Graham McElwaine saw the gull back at Millquarter Bay, followed by David's sighting there in October 2021 as mentioned above.

The duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 2 months and 24 days, and Millquarter Bay is situated 56 kms / 34 miles (WNW) from the Calf of Man.  My thanks goes to David for the sighting report and photo, and to Mark Fitzpatrick for the updated history for this gull.

Herring Gull  -   T1VC   -  Millquarter Bay, Strangford Lough, Co. Down  (27 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

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From Suzanne Belshaw

Suzanne Belshaw visited Kilkeel Harbour in County Down on the 13th September 2024.  Whilst there, she spotted two colour-ringed Herring Gulls.  The first turned out to be a first sighting of -  110:D .  Having contacted Graham Prole who is the ringing coordinator for the Irish Midland Ringing Group, we learnt that the gull was ringed as a chick, on the 1st July 2017, on Ireland's Eye Island, in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

An impressive 7 years, 2 months and 12 days, had slipped past before this first sighting.  The distance from Ireland's Eye Island, to Kilkeel Harbour, is 72 kms / 44 miles (N).  Our thanks goes to Graham for the ringing details.

Herring Gull  -   110:D   -  Kilkeel Harbour, Kilkeel, Co. Down  (13 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 1st July 2017, at Ireland's Eye Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The second Herring Gull -  4X:W , was ringed as a chick, on the 6th May 2015, on Big Copeland Island just off the coast from Donaghadee in County Down.  I recorded the first re-sighting for this gull on the 19th January 2020, on the seafront at Donaghadee.  

On the 16th June 2020, I visited Big Copeland Island to read colour-rings on adult Common Gulls, as well as colour-ringing their chicks.  Walking between colonies, I passed a small Herring Gull colony, where I had my second sighting of -  4X:W .

The next sighting, was made on the 16th August 2020, when spotted by Graham McElwaine at Mill Bay (East), on Carlingford Lough in southern Co. Down - some 77 kms / 47 miles (SSW) from Big Copeland Island.  The extensive tidal mudflats there draw in lots of gulls and waders during the autumn and winter months.

This was the last sighting until this one made by Suzanne at Kilkeel.  The distance from Big Copeland to the harbour at Kilkeel, is 75 kms / 46 miles (SSW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 9 years, 4 months and 7 days.

It is very likely that -  4X:W  still breeds at the same spot on Big Copeland Island, but access to the island has not been possible under the new ownership.  Makes you wonder, when a gamekeeper is employed on the island!!!

Herring Gull  -   4X:W   -  Kilkeel Harbour, Kilkeel, Co. Down  (13 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 6th May 2015, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A metal-rung Herring Gull spotted by Suzanne near her home in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, meant the camera was called into action.  Taking many photos of the ring, the bird turned out to be the same gull recorded at this site on two previous occasions.  You can never assume that you are seeing a bird recorded previously, so the metal always has to be re-read.

 GJ31081 , was ringed as an unsexed 2nd calendar year+ bird, on the 27th November 2023, at the former Belfast Waterworks in Cliftonville, Belfast.  It may have been possible that this gull had come to 'grief' in one way or another, and may have been ringed before release by Debbie 'Doolittle' Nelson who runs a sanctuary for sick an injured wildlife.

Suzanne's previous sightings were made on the 16th and 30th June 2024.  The site in Lisburn, is 15 kms / 9 miles (SSW) from the Waterworks, and the duration since being ringed, is now 9 months and 19 days.

Herring Gull  -   GJ31081  -  Lisburn, Co. Antrim  (15 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed 2nd Year Plus Bird, on the 27th November 2023, at Belfast Waterworks, Cliftonville, Belfast)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Suzanne's visit to Whitehouse Lagoon just north from Belfast, produced two ring sightings - one old and one new.  The old one, was that of an Icelandic Oystercatcher which has been recorded on the Lagoon every winter since it's first sighting there on the 6th September 2015.

Originally, the Oystercatcher was ringed with a Green Ring over a White Ring on the left leg, with a Green Flag over a Black Ring on the Right Leg - GW-GfN.  Somehow, the bird managed to discard the Green Flag on the right leg, whilst the Green Ring on the left leg slipped underneath the White Ring.

GW-GfN, was ringed as an unsexed breeding adult, on the 5th June 2015, in the Mjóanef area of southern Iceland.  As mentioned above, the bird has been recorded here every winter, with the only sighting last winter, having been recorded by Suzanne on the 1st September 2023.  The lack of sightings was due to less coverage, and there is no doubting that the bird spent the whole winter at the Lagoon.

Over the years, the Oystercatcher has been recorded back on it's breeding grounds in Iceland.  The ringer - Boddi, stated that they tried to re-catch the bird this past summer, to give it a new set of colour-rings, however, Boddi said that the bird was too cute to be caught for a second time.

The duration since being ringed, is now 9 years, 3 months and 19 days, and the distance from Mjóanef to Whitehouse Lagoon, is 1,294 kms / 804 miles (SE).

Oystercatcher  -  GW-GfN  -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough  (25 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Breeding Adult, on the 5th June 2015, at Mjóanef, Eystri Rangá, S. Iceland)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

The new sighting was that of a Norwegian Black-headed Gull.  Although the bird was quite distant from Suzanne, she just about managed to capture the code as being - (White) J2154.  Although the code looked a bit 'iffy', Suzanne sent me photos for my opinion.  I ran these through a photo editor to try and sharpen the colour and brightness and the code looked good for - (White) J2154.

I suggested that Suzanne should go ahead and submit her sighting onto the 'Live' Norwegian Ringing Database and to upload the re-sized photo that I sent to her.  Having done that, Suzanne was able to obtain the bird's history, although it might take a few days before the sighting is verified.

J2154, was ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2023 on Leirbergholmen Island, on Hafrsfjorden (Fforde), just south-west of Stavanger, Norway.  One previous sighting was made on the 19th May 2024 at Revtangen, 19 kms / 11 miles (SW) from where it was ringed.

Suzanne's sighting at Whitehouse Lagoon is 846 kms / 525 miles (SW) from Leirbergholmen Island, and the duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 3 months and 10 days.

As always, my thanks goes to Suzanne for her sighting reports, along with the photos.

Black-headed Gull  -  (White)  J2154  -  Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough  (27 Sep 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2023, at Leirbergholmen, Hafrsfjorden, Sola, Rogaland, Norway)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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