Antrim Marina - Sunday 22nd June 2025...

Antrim Marina - Sunday 22nd June 2025

Today, I undertook my fourth random summer visit to Antrim Marina to record the presence of colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.  The aim is to record the resident gulls which are nesting in the area, especially on the nearby 'Torpedo Platform'.

Arriving just after midday, I departed at 3:30pm.  Over the course of my visit, I recorded 8 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, all of which have been seen during most of my three previous random visits.  I had hoped to get another sighting (plus photo) of -  2FDK , which appeared on my previous visit.  Although this gull was a proven all year round resident, it didn't appear at the Marina at all last winter during my weekly visits from August through to March.  On my Antrim Marina Spreadsheet, I had struck it off a 'Dead', and had to 'Un-Kill' it again.

It was last seen on the 13th July 2024, at the McDonalds Outlet at the Junction One Shopping Centre at the northern edge of Antrim Town.  I'm now wondering, if this bird is frequenting the Shopping Centre more often now.  I must investigate this, as there was a small breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls nesting on derelict building behind the Asda Supermarket there.  I think these buildings were demolished a couple of years ago, but it will do no harm to check.

Over the course of today's visit, Black-headed Gull numbers ranged from around 20 and up to 60, with quite a number of these (up to a third), being juveniles which hatched out last summer.  With no additions to the summer list, I'm becoming more concerned about -  2AAB .  A year round resident, ringed here in December 2012, it is/was the oldest surviving bird belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study.  I last saw it here on the 3rd March 2025.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 22nd June 2025

2BRA	2FFA	2FIF	2FJN	2FIL	2CSR	2CJT	2CSK

With the breeding season well into it's latter stages, I'm still waiting on sightings from other countries.  The way things are looking, the gulls might start arriving back to the Marina having escaped the attention of a multitude of bird-watchers.

Before leaving my home in Ballymena, I took a look online at the 'Torpedo Platform' near Antrim Marina where a 'Live Camera' shows a limited view of the nesting Black-headed Gulls.  I was curious to see if there were any large chicks about since I last looked at the site.  Viewing for around ten minutes, not a single youngster was seen.  This was a bit odd, as at this time of the summer, there should be numerous chicks close to fledging.  Are the gulls having problems out there?  Even birds that appeared to be sitting on nests fairly close to the camera have gone, and the nests are empty.

However, shortly before I departed from the Marina, I spotted a juvenile on the river by the opposite edge.  It appeared to be on it's own with no parents in attendance.  It just watched what was going on, on my side of the river, probably wondering what all of the commotion was all about as folk fed the ducks and swans.

Before publishing this post (Friday 27th June 2025), I had another look at the 'Torpedo Platform', finally, I could see a few large Black-headed Gull chicks on the move.

Below, I have added a link to the camera.  At times, there are 'streaming' problems, but keep trying or follow the onscreen links to previous days viewing.

Torpedo Platform

Juvenile Black-headed Gull  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (22 Jun 2025)

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On arriving at Antrim Marina, I drove over to my usual parking spot beside the small concrete jetty.  On the slipway beside the jetty, the adult pair of Mute Swans along with their 6 cygnets were present.  They first appeared on the river just as I was about to leave on my previous visit, though they remained on the river.  Once parked, I noticed that one of the adults had a metal ring.  Grabbing my camera, I had to walk around the bird to capture it's ring number, and surprise, surprise, it was -  X4707 .

This bird was ringed as an adult male, on the 5th April 2024, at Bartins Bay further south on the eastern shore of Lough Neagh, from the Marina.  It first appeared here on the 21st May 2024, and has remained here since.  At one point, it's then partner disappeared and the bird went missing for a while before returning on it's own.  Since then, it gained a new mate and this was the pair I was told about nesting a short distance upriver from the Marina.  Although I had always suspected the bird to be a female rather than a male, seeing the pair together today, clarifies that it is a female.  It is now 1 year, 2 months and 17 days since being ringed, and Antrim Marina is situated 21 kms / 13 miles (NNE) from Bartins Bay.  No other swans appeared today, but, if any had approached, they would have been chased off. 

Mute Swan  -   X4707  with 6 Cygnets  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (22 Jun 2025)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 5th April 2024, at Bartins Bay, Lough Neagh, Co. Antrim)

An unusually large number of Mallards were present today, and a count revealed a total of 61 birds, most of which were lying down behind the fenced off area enclosing the short concrete jetty.  This fence has been in place since last autumn, as there is a plank missing on the wooden part beside the concrete jetty, and would pose a safety risk.  Gulls and ducks are offered a bit of peace and quite behind the fence which is great for me when sitting in the car. 

There was a very strong westerly wind blowing in from the Lough today, with a few light showers of rain.  Whilst sorting out my Mute Swan, I noticed three young Mallard chicks keeping tight to the wall of the concrete jetty.  By the look of them, they hatched out earlier today or perhaps yesterday.  With their mother present, it looks as if she was keeping them safe by sheltering them beside the wall.

At one point, I feared for their survival as four Lesser Black-backed Gulls landed on the water close by.  They had been attracted to a large crusty loaf floating on the river, but the mother and her three chicks took shelter underneath the jetty until the danger had passed.

The three ducklings swam beside the jetty the whole time during my visit.  I wondered how long they could do this before coming ashore to take a rest. 

Mallard with 3 Chicks  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (22 Jun 2025)

The resident male Herring Gull was present throughout my visit, and his mate made several brief visits.  This is telling me, that she has hatched chicks, most likely on the 'Torpedo Platform'.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls came and went, and the highest total at any one time, was seven birds.

A juvenile Common Gull was also present throughout today's visit.  I'm convinced that it is the same bird that was here previously, as it is very comfortable being around people.  A single adult made brief appearances, but there was no sign of the colour-ringed -  2AJP .

Common Terns frequently flew up and down river searching for fish.  Conditions would be much calmer than out on the Lough with the rolling waves.

Sand Martins are still present, though less obvious than on my previous visit.

Three Jackdaws, were the only other species to be recorded otherwise.

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