Millisle - Xmas Day 2025...

Millisle - Xmas Day 2025

Over recent weeks, sightings of a metal-rung hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull have appeared on the Northern Ireland Birdwatchers Association Website (NIBA).  This bird is a regular winter visitor on the Millisle seafront in County Down.  Having read an article about this gull (link provided by Jeff Higgot), I checked the metal number ( EG55164 ) on the BTO's DemOn Ringing Database, noting that the ring had no further submissions since 2008.  Therefore, I set off to Millisle on Christmas Day 2024, with the aim of photographing that gull and it's metal ring.  The mission was accomplished with the ring being confirmed for the first time since 2008 - Read Blog Post (here).

Due to the recent sightings, I also headed off to Millisle on Christmas Day this year.  On my arrival, the hybrid was present, perched on the rail of the tidal pool.  I quickly took a photo of the bird and zoomed into the metal ring where I captured the digits ' 5516 '.  The gull then flew off and despite several attempts to complete the number when it reappeared, I was unable to complete the task.

The tidal pool appears to be it's favoured resting spot, especially when no other gulls are present.  There was a very strong wind blowing in off the sea and a large number of Herring Gulls of all ages began to land alongside the pool.  Whenever the hybrid returned, it seemed to be unhappy with the situation and would fly off again.  Three Black-headed Gulls and five Common Gulls also rested on the ground along with the Herring Gulls.

Although I did not complete the number, comparing the photos I took last Christmas, this had to be -  EG55164 .  The gull was ringed as a chick on Big Copeland Island, on the 19th June 2004, the duration now being 21 years, 6 months and 6 days. 

Ring-billed x Common Gull  -   EG55164   -  Millisle Seafront, Co. Down  (25 Dec 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 19th June 2004, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

A Head Shot of the Ring-billed x Common Gull

Around 50 to 60 Herring Gulls of varying ages (juveniles to adults) were present, but no rings were spotted on these or the three Black-headed Gulls.  Two of the five Common Gulls were ringed.  First was the colour-ringed -  2BBC , a very well known gull on the Millisle Seafront.  I also recorded it here last Christmas Day, and a further sighting was reported in January 2025 by Graham McElwaine.  The colour-ring is in very poor condition now, but the characters can still be read at present.  Ringed as a chick on Big Copeland Island on the 23rd June 2009, the duration since being ringed, is now 16 years, 6 months and 2 days.  The extensive resighting history for this gull can be read here (PDF).

Common Gull  -   2BBC   -  Millisle Seafront, Co. Down  (25 Dec 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 23rd June 2009, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

The second Common Gull had an upside-down metal ring.  Having initially capturing the digits ' EG5 ' whilst the gull was perched on a top rail beside the tidal pool, the gull then settled down on the ground.  Each time I zoomed in with the camera, I kept on getting the same digits.  Disturbed on many occasions by dog walkers, the gull kept returning.  With the gull facing into the wind, I made an attempt to walk around the gull in a wide circle trying not to disturb it.  Again, zooming in with the camera, it was extremely difficult to hold it steady due to the wind strength.  Persistence paid off, as I was able to complete the number -  EG55352 . 

On returning home, I checked the number on my Main Ring Reading Spreadsheet and found a previous sighting of this gull which I made here back on the 18th April 2021, this being a first resighting since it was ringed.  It was ringed as a chick, on Big Copeland Island on the 22nd June 2005, which takes the duration to 20 years, 6 months and 3 days since being ringed.

Common Gull  -   EG55352   -  Millisle Seafront, Co. Down  (25 Dec 20250

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 22nd June 2005, on Big Copeland Island, Co. Down)

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