Numbers On The Up!

Update On Last Sunday's Visit

It was my second weekly visit to the Marina and despite a lack of BHGs present, I did record 6 of Adam's study birds, 3 of which I recorded the previous Sunday.  Adam sent me updated files for the 3 new sightings and again no other birdwatchers had seen any of them except myself.    2AAD   is the most interesting gull of the three.  I last saw it on the 3rd March 2014, and it had not been seen again until now, suggesting it may have left the area to breed elsewhere.    2AAF   and   2AAH   on the other hand, were recorded by me, on random visits during the breeding season, and may well have nested in the area.

Today's Visit (13°C / Heavy Showers / Breezy)

Checking my emails at breakfast, before leaving for Antrim, I had one from fellow 'Raptor Study Group Member' - Jim Wells.  He paid a visit to the Marina yesterday (Saturday 16th) and recorded 7 of Adam's study birds, which included   2AAK   and   2AAN  .  The former of these two, has not been seen since the 9th Mar 2014, again indicating that it had moved away from the area to nest.  On the other hand the later bird presents a problem.    2AAN   was last seen on my weekly visits on 16th February 2014, but was also seen by me on a random visit on the 11th July - hard to tell weather it moved away to breed or remained in the area.  I also recorded all seven of these among the 13 of Adam's BHGs at the Marina today.  When I arrived, there was around 150 BHGs present, similar to the first week.  Perhaps Jim will take up gull watching over the winter months, bound to be plenty around Lurgan. Thanks for the email Jim.

Black-headed Gull -    2AAN   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (17 Aug 2014)

(Ringed as an Un-Sexed Adult, on the 6th September 2012, at Antrim Marina)

Of the 13 BHGs recorded today, 9 of them were seen over the previous two weeks and these are :-

 

2AAT	2AAC	2AAD	2ADJ	2ABA	2AAL	2AAF	2ABF	2AAS

The 4 new sightings today brings the total of Adam's BHGs to 15 in the first three weeks of my weekly visits :- 

  2AAK    -   EY37308  was originally ringed at Antrim Marina on 21/Dec/2012 as an adult male.  1st observed by me on 22/Sep/2013 and last seen on 09/Mar/2014 during my weekly visits and not recorded anywhere until yesterday (16th August), when recorded by Jim Wells and again today on my visit.

  2AAN     -   EY37310  was originally ringed at Antrim Marina on 21/Dec/2012 as an adult female.  1st observed by me on 25/Sep/2013 and last seen on 16/Feb/2014 during my weekly visits.  I also saw this bird on a random summer visit on 11/Jul/2014.  Not recorded by any other observer until yesterday (16th August), when recorded by Jim Wells and again today on my visit.

  2AAV     -   EY37315  was originally ringed at Antrim Marina on 28/Dec/2012 as an unsexed adult.  1st observed by me on 06/Oct/2013 and last seen on 23/Mar/2014 during my weekly visits.  I also saw this bird on 4 random summer visits - 18th & 22nd April, 8th June and 11th July - strongly suggesting it bred locally.

  2ABK     -   EY37325  was originally ringed at Antrim Marina on 23/Jan/2013 as an adult female.  1st observed by me on 22/Sep/2013 and last seen on 23/Mar/2014 during my weekly visits.  I also saw this bird on 4 random summer visits - 18th & 22nd April, 8th June and 11th July - strongly suggesting it bred locally.

 
Two other BHGs noted over the last two weeks were not present today :-

 

2AAA	2AAH

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Other Birds at Antrim Marina

A single Common Gull and a pair of Herring Gulls.  About 200 Sand Martins around the Marina and nearby playing fields, busy feeding on flies - probably about to migrate to Africa.  Usual crows - Hooded Crows, Jackdaws and Magpies.  Swallows and House Martins.  Pair of Wood Pigeons - darting in and out of the trees - must have youngsters about.  Quite a number of Mallard and 7 Mute Swans.  Two of these were ringed,   EZ91984  seen on the previous two visits, and a large male   EZ91983  ringed on 6th September 2012, by Ken Perry while supervising trainee ringers.  Its age code was given as '4' which means it had hatched the previous year.  This was the best photo I could get of the ring, as the swans were not being very co-operative.

 

Mute Swan  -    Z91983   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (17 Aug 2014)

(Ringed as an Un-sexed 2nd Year Bird, on the 6th September 2012, at Antrim Marina)

 

I set the telescope onto the nearby disused 'Torpedo Platform' and counted 13 Cormorants standing drying their wings.  Numerous Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns were resting and flying about, including numerous juveniles of both species.

The Disused Torpedo Platform, as seen from the break-water at Antrim Marina

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Thanks

I received an email from Robert McElhinney on Tuesday.  'Bob' was one of two Kayakers, who took a paddle over to Shanes Castle from the Marina last Sunday.  We had a chat about my weekly visits and the object of the visits, also the creation of this Blog.  He said "the blog looked good and to keep up the good work".  Bob and his mate have nothing to do with the trainee canoeists who again appeared about 11.30 today - meaning the gulls wouldn't settle, at least I now know to look for them behind the cafe.  Thank you Bob.

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Also Of Interest

On Wednesday afternoon (13th August), while checking on Black-headed Gulls feeding on the grassy areas of Lettercreeve Housing Estate and on the adjacent Wakehurst playing fields, in my home town of Ballymena, I spotted a BHG with a white Darvic.  With much patience and difficulty, due to the height of the grass, I eventually read the ring inscription (White) 21L6.  I took about 30 photos, and was able to select these two for this post.

 Black-headed Gull - (White) 21L6  -  Leetercreeve, Ballymena, Co. Antrim  (13 Aug 2014)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2013, at Hosehill Lake NR, Reading, England)

 

I checked the CR-Birding Site and learnt that this bird was ringed by the Cotswold Water Park Ringing Group in England.  After emailing my sighting, a Tim Ball sent me a file for this gull, and it appears to be a bit of a traveller. Of note, is its presence in Ireland towards the end of last winter.  It is then seen back at its natal colony over the summer, and now with the winter months coming in, it is once again back on Irish soil.  My thanks goes to Tim, for supplying this birds ringing and re-sighting history.

 

Date	Details	Location
15 Jun 2013	Ringed as a Chick	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
26 Jun 2013	Ring Read by an Observer	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
04 Jul 2013	Ring Read by an Observer	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
02 Feb 2014	Ring Read by an Observer	Navan, Co. Meath, Republic of Ireland.
28 May 2014	Ring Read by an Observer	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
30 May 2014	Ring Read by an Observer	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
03 Jun 2014	Ring Read by an Observer	Burnthouse Lane Gravel Pits, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
09 Jun 2014	Ring Read by an Observer	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading, West Berkshire, England.
13 Aug 2014	Ring Read by Gareth D.A. Platt	Lettercreeve Est., Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.

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Just To Finish

I am starting to get used to this blogger business now.  I find it awkward, when composing blogs, that word-processor functions such as tabs are not available.  The creation of tables using HTML code, does the trick, but my problem is trying to find time to learn these sort of things.  As time goes by, I'll find ways of doing this, but it does add to the appearance though, don't you think?

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