(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 3rd December 2023, at Antrim Marina)

Black-headed Gull� -� �2FJL� �-� Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim� (10 Dec 2023)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 3rd December 2023, at Antrim Marina)

My visit today only lasted for two and a half hours, when the sky began to darken down again as the next front approached.� Of the 33 colour-rings I was looking out for, 23 were recorded today, meaning I had 10 absentees.� Taking a closer look at these absentees, three birds -��2FDK�,��2FFT�,��2FHT�, have had just a single sighting each so far this winter, while -��2FIJ��has had two.� Of these,��2FDK��really stands out, as in previous winters, this gull would be recorded on a regular basis during most weeks and is regarded as a year round resident.� Have I lost this one as well now?� I am convinced that the other three are using the Marina as a 'staging post' before moving on to their wintering sites wherever they may be.��

Another gull that has disappeared of late is -��2FHV�.� Last winter,��2FHV��returned to the Marina on the 8th August 2022, having been spotted for a second time during the summer in Iceland, on the 8th July 2022.� Having returned, it was recorded regularly until the 10th October 2022, before disappearing until February 2023.� This winter,��2FHV��was recorded back, on the 31st July 2023, with regular weekly sightings until the 22nd October 2023.� Judging by my records, it may be possible that I will not see this one again until next spring.

No further returnees were recorded today, so the Swedish -��2FDL��is now well overdue.� Last winter, this gull returned on the 28th November 2022.� The Icelandic meal-rung Black-headed Gull -��543335�, which has been here since the 8th August 2023, was spotted again today at 12:35.

By 2pm, numbers had risen to around the 80 mark, which is still very low when compared to previous winters.� From time to time, an elderly man would arrive with a carrier bag full of bread to feed the ducks and swans, and he hates the gulls as he says they are too greedy.� Unlike the ducks and swans which can feed on grass and weed, there is little in the way of natural food for the gulls around the Marina.� That elderly gent arrived today, and the gulls of course managed to get their share of his bread.� I thought catching new birds to be ringed would be very difficult.� On trying, the gulls came fairly close, but not close enough.� I was fortunate, that a swan stood on the wing of one adult Black-headed Gull, which I duly rescued and this one is now ringed -��2FJT�.

With the addition of -��2FJT�, I will be on the lookout for 34 colour-rings on my next visit, and hopefully a returnee or two.� I still having many Blue Darvic-rung gulls missing from last winter.� Along with -��2FJT�, I will hope to obtain my first photos of -��2FJK��and��2FJP��which did not show up today.

Among today's sightings, was that of the recently returned -��2CTA�, which I had to resurrect from the 'dead list', and -��2BRD�, which is a rare visitor to the Marina these days.� This is now my third sighting for -��2BRD��this winter, though I am convinced that it remains in the area of Antrim Town throughout the winter.� This same gull would appear at Lurgan Park Lake in County Armagh, just before the onset of the new breeding season.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 10th December 2023

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina This Autumn/Winter but Absent Today

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On my arrival, 13 (White) Mute Swans and 6 cygnets were present.� I say (White) swans, as usually one or two are immatures judging by their beak colour.� Among these swans,��Z78580��was recorded again at 12:27.� At 12:25, a further two swans arrived from the direction of Lough Neagh, with a 16th swan having slipped in un-noticed by 2pm.

Around 12:45, chaos erupted around the slipway, when four canoeists came paddling down river at speed towards the swans and ducks.� The birds went crazy as the canoeists, four abreast travelled directly towards them.� Oblivious to the panic that they were causing, the birds started to fly out towards the Lough before landing a short distance away, only to be disturbed again by these 'idiots'.� Fair enough, one man realised what was happening, and he broke away to the far side of the river and showed a bit of common sense.� If only I had a shotgun!!!

Eventually, all of the ducks and swans returned to the slipway.

"Idiots"

Mallard numbers were at last slightly up this week, with around 40 to 50 birds at all times.� As usual, most legs were checked for rings.

Two adult Herring Gulls were present throughout my visit, one being the resident male, the second, which stayed close to him, was a bird that I have not seen before judging by it's size and markings.� The first three Common Gulls arrived together just before 12:40, with a further two adults appearing just after 1pm.� So far this winter, 10 adults have been the highest number to be counted at any one time, and once again, there is still no sign of the small Scottish metal-rung female.

It has been a long time since I saw a Moorhen here, but this one, who quite happily walked about within feet of people, happily strutted about for about an hour before returning onto the river.� The Robin, was seen again skulking around the bushes beside the small sandy beach.

Repeated visits by two Jackdaws, were the only other species noted today.