2025 Mute Swan RAS (Census)

 Mute Swan RAS

Each year I do a Re-trapping Adults for Survival (RAS) project on the Swans of Dublin, East Kildare and North Wicklow.  The project boundaries are the same as the Richard Collins extensive research in the 1980's.  Instread of re catching Swans to identify them, they are fitted with coloured rings so they are all easily identified at a distance.

As part of the project nesting and cygnet numbers (Productivity) is recorded.  2024 was a really poor year, hopefully 2025 will be better.

Parkwest.  Nesting

09/03/2025 Poppintree Park.  Male on nest

16/03/2025 Ballycragh Firhouse D24.  Building nest.  Male & Female identified CCXC & CBLL

16/03/2025  Tymon North D24.  Territorial Pair.  Not yet nesting. CFCC, CDNZ

17/03/2025 Parkwest, Guinness Filters. Female on nest.  Male identified CFHS

22/03/2025 Bush Park.  At Lease 1 egg in the nest.  Male identified CBTL

22/03/2025 Tymon Spa Weel end (Wellington Road).  Nesting Male identified CDKI

23/03/2025 War Memorial, Island Bridge.  Seven swan present, no nesting taking place to date.

24/03/2025 Castleknock Train Station CCFL & CDXD.  Pair. (JR)

24/03/2025 Lakeside Newbridge.  Building nest CDIS + Probably CATL but not confirmed (DdP)

24/03/2025 Fr Collins Park.  CCLK & CDSV prospecting for nesting site.

2025 Great Black-backed Gull census (RAS)

 17/03/2025 St Patrick's Day

The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest Gull in the world and privileged to have them nesting in Dublin.  Their survival strategy involves dispersal and all though winter, sightings from as far away as Spain, but mainly within 300km have been coming in, March they start returning to Dublin for the nesting season.  My thanks to all the observers, mainly recorded in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and all around the Irish coast, But observers in Spain and other locations have added to our understanding of this species.  

The project dates means that St Patrick's weekend is the start.  Finding & recording all the coloured rings is a massive task but it provides accurate survival data.  Bird Flu has had a recent impact.  Being an apex predator as well as a scavenger leaves them very susceptible by eating sick or dying birds.

These Gulls are massive.  This is S18:D with a Herring Gull for comparison. 

The first weekend of the project has been a success with 20 recorded.  The objective is always to get over 100 individuals who have returned to Dublin identified, but it becomes the rule of diminishing returns.  Ferrys to the Islands start in April but 20 rings in a weekend will probably not happen again this year.   We aim to again ring 100 pulli, but this species takes 5 years to become a breeding adult!

429:D winters in North West Spain and already has returned to Dublin

1PH was ringed by as part of a previous project in 2012.  No winter sightings have ever been received so we still don't know where this one goes!

3CN is an anomaly! It never goes far.  Recorded all year round close to where it nests

Reading metal rings is a skill but all ringed before 2009 are metal only.  This one was ringed in 2004 making it 20 years old. 

First weekend - 20 recorded - Great start

2024 Cygnet News, Dublin, Kildare

Season end - TOTAL NESTS HATCHED = 24      CYGNET TOTAL = 116

24. Grand Canal Basin, D2.  Apparently they used a new nest site.  I only know as the mature cygnets were taken to the Vet in Kildare as both had fishing hooks - one embedded in the bill.  Both cygnets ringed

23. Ardclough. CFDN & CDSL found with 1 mature cygnet.  Don't know where they nested or how many that has so can only record 1.

22. Poppintree Park 02/06/2024 7 Cygnets.  CCVT CBFI 7 Cygnets

21. Newbridge, Lakeside, Kildare.  CDIS & metal ring have still 8 cygnets.  Great that so many of them have survived the first 12 weeks. 

27/07/2024

20. At Naas Canal Harbour, in Co Kildare, CDPP & CDSN with 4 large cygnets.  They nested in the Harbour this year but just didn't get reports on the hatching.  (Thanks Lisa D. for the report)

04/07/2024

19. Luttrellstown Golf Course, Dublin 15

Received photo of one advanced cygnet (circa 5 Weeks old?) and CDAD

28/06/2024 

18. War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin 8. 4 Cygnets.  I'd given up on this pair nesting so nice that they've hatched.  Thanks Ian for report & Photos.

27/06/2024 

Skerries Mill nest has failed.  It takes many years after a swan is killed for a new pairing to establish themselves and produce and keep cygnets.  Any owner whose dog kills swan is responsible for years of no cygnets at that location.  

09/06/2024

17. Blessington Street Basin.  Received news that 5 Cygnets hatched 3 days ago.  It will be a while before I confirm the ring codes.

01/06/2024  

16. Waterville Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

CCLX (M) & CCLV (F) Have 5 cygnets today.

27/05/2024

15. Newbridge, Lakeside, Kildare.  CDIS & metal ring with 9 Cygnets

27/05/2024

14. Corkagh Park Fishing Lakes.  Photo of 9 cygnets sent to me.  I couldn't find them yesterday!  They have moved to a small secluded pond - wise move.  

26/05/2024

13. Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, Dublin 18.  Cabinteely Open Forum have announced that the Kilbogget Pair have now 5 Cygnets

26/05/2024

12. Corkagh Park.  CCTF and 5 cygnets.   Male has lost his colour  (CCXN).

25/05/2024

11. Ballymount Park, Dublin 24.  CFBC & CFDF have 4 cygnets.  Despite being attacked by resident male daily, this is a great success for them.  Hopefully they can protect them.

22/05/2024

10.  Ballycragh Parklands, Firhouse, Dublin 24.  Reports on Facebook of 7 cygnets.  Going tomorrow to confirm.  CBLL(M) and CCXC (F)

16/05/2024

9. Tymon, Limekiln Big Lake.  CABF & Partner (Probably CABD) out with 8 Cygnets.  

Tymon Limekiln 8 Cygnets

14/05/2024

8. Bushy Park, Dublin 6W.  7 Cygnets made brief appearance.  CACC + CBTL (M)

13/05/2024

7. Tymon Park, Spawell.  CCFF & CDKI with 4 cygnets.  Another small brood.

Tymon Park, Spawell.  CCFF + CDKI with 4 Cygnets

11/05/2024

6. Tolka Valley Park, Finglas.  6 Cygnets out on the lake.  CCPN & Partner.

10/05/2024

5. Parkwest, Guinness Filters.  CFHP & yet to be identified female with 4 cygnets.  1 unhatched egg.  Small clutch.

Parkwest, 4 Cygnets.  1 unhatched egg.

01/05/2024

4. Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare

One cygnet showing but female still on the nest. More to follow?  Male W43528 (Colour ring missing CDBF)

01/05/2024

3. Fr Collins Park, Clongriffen, Dublin 13

Seven Cygnets on Twitter, thanks Paddy.  I know CCLK is the Male.  Female CDSV (Thanks Tom)

30/04/2024 

2. Sean Walsh Park, Dublin 24

Report with photo of Female CBKS & Male CFCF and 4 cygnets moving from big lake to hippo pond.  Small brood for a mature pair.  

27/03/2024

1. City West, Dublin 24

Well they got their nesting dates wrong!  City West pair with 6 cygnets.   Unfortunately the Pen CCSS was both lethargic and neck bent sideways and unable to lift it properly.  Taken with the 6 Cygnets into care.  No record of Males ring.  Must make a visit.

Notes:

21/05/2024 Ballymount still Hell.  The new pair are still on their nest but the dominent male is staying 2 feet away.  I can see egg shell, so don't know if hatched or destroyed in the continuous battle

 18/05/2024 Ballycragh Firshouse.  Female on nest.  Male not close to nest.  Another week away.

13/05/2024 12th Lock - Still on nest

13/05/2024 Grangecastle Canal.  CDLZ + CDJD - Have abandoned their rubbish attempt at a nest and returned to Grangecastle Lake

13/05/2024 Leixlip - Still on nest

13/05/2024 Maynooth.  Nest no longer visible.  Male patrolling.  No cygnets yet.

23/03/2024 Parkwest.  CFHP Building

28/03/2024 Naas Ponds CDIS + CATL Building nest

02/04/2024 Ponsonaby Bridge CG, Naas CFDN Nesting

03/04/2024 Turvey CAFV & CBFV Building

03/04/2024 Turvey CDKK & CDXZ Building

04/04/2024 Bushy Park.  CACC (M) Female on Nest

05/04/2024 Tymon Limekiln CABF (M) Female on nest

05/04/2024 Tymon Spawell.  Female on Nest.  CDKI (M)

07/04/2024 Ballycragh Park, Firhouse D24, CBLL(M) and CCXC (F) on Nest

10/04/2024 Leixlip Royal Canal CDDH (M) Female on nest

15/04/2024 Tolka Valley park.  CCPN (F) on Nest Male code unconfirmed

17/04/2024 12th Lock. CDNN & CDJC Nesting

17/04/2024 Grangecastle Grand Canal.  CDLZ + CDJD - Rubbish nest, but a nest.

25/04/2024 Liffey Farleigh CCBA (M) Female still on nest

29/04/2024 Skerrries.  Odd one! 2 Swans on nests.  Possibly male on old nest? 

29/04/2024 Naas Harbour CDSN (M) Female still on nest

01/05/2024 Bushy Park CBTL (M) Female still on nest

04/05/2024 Poppintree Park. CBFI (M) Female still on nest but mantling.

04/05/2024 Ballymount Park.  Still HELL!  A second pair have nested on the 2nd Island.  Dominant male keeps attacking.  I assume resident pair CBIB (F) is on the big Island usual nest now out of sight due to vegetation growth.  CDIB (M) is attacking new pairs nest on small Island.  CFBC(M) & CFDF (F) are the new pair.  Here is todays fight actually on the nest. 

Ballymount. Dominant male trying to destroy others nest.  

04/05/2024 Corkagh Park Wildfowl Lake.  Female still on nest.  Male (CCXN) has lost his colour.  Instead of trying to evict 3 juveniles, there are now 9 juveniles to contend with!

05/05/2024 Waterville Park, Blanchardstown, CCLX (M) and Female still on nest.

09/09/2024 Tymon Spawell - Female still on nest. 

17 June 2023

 

17/06/2023

Season now in full swing and really busy.  This is not my job but my hobby so mainly at weekends

Great Black-backed Gull chicks to be ringed

Herring Gull Chicks to be ringed

Lesser  Black-backed Gull chicks to be ringed.

And one of my favorite birds.  The European Shag.  

European Shag - Baby Dinosaurs

European Shag - Showing off new ring.

1st June 2023

Swan hatching has reached its peak.  Already in the survey area which is Dublin, North Wicklow and East Kildare there have been over 100 cygnets hatched.  I have more emails to go through (Can't keep up with replies, but I will catch up).

23 Nests hatched, but probably more.

Kildare

Dublin Southside

Dublin Northside

May 2023

 24 May 2023

What a busy month.  With Swans there are both hatchings and thankfully 100's of sightings of my project colour ringed individuals.  All to be added to database and entered into the BTO for my Adult Survival project.  I am way behind with all the correspondence but I do some catch each evening.  Apologies if you are left waiting for a report, I will get to them.  Likewise with hatchings, I have only 10 nests on my spread sheet that have hatched, so at least 6 more to verify and enter.

Tymon Park - Spawell or Wellington Road Pond

Herring Gull survival project is also in full swing.  We have had many hours of ringing and ring reading.  Unfortunately,  it looks like we will not get to Lambay this year, but 94 Herring Gulls recorded so far in Dublin  The aim was to get to about 200 individuals, more if possible.

For Great Black-backed Gulls, this year has been somewhat of a disaster.  As an apex predator, it looks like last winter bird flu has has a massive impact.  Shenick Island has gone from approx 50 nests last year to about 20 this year.  This sort of crash seem to be replicated at each colony I visit.

To date we have only recorded 50 of the target of 100 individuals.  They are just not around.  As with all species I do have many outstanding sightings to process, but there doesn't seem to be many new sightings on first review

April 2023

April 24th 2024

First cygnets hatched in Dublin.  Sean Walsh Park, Stadium Pond.  Only 2 visible according to my observer but more to follow, still in the nest.

April 2nd, 2023

This is my really bust time of year.  The Great Black-backed RAS and Herring Gull RAS kicked off on March 10th.  It has been shaping up for a disastrous season with numbers low and ring reads extremely low.  However, April 1st was a better day with 13 GB Rings read.  Hopefully, they are just late returning to Dublin this year and that Avian Flu hasn't decimated the population.

1PH, first sighting since March 2022.  This is quite typical.  They winter usually somewhere within 500KM some even winter in Spain.  

MUTE SWAN SURVIVAL RAS

First one this year was a surprise.  At the Avocet Twitch in Broadmeadows, CDID photobombed a group photo at the twitch!  Photo from twitter @JohnC1809.  Really made me laugh. 399 more to find - minimum.

Migration Starting?

February 2023

I have started colour ringing Black-headed Gulls in my local parks.  On Saturday 11/02/2023 I recorded one at Bull Island.  What is unusual is that the Southside ones usually roost on Sandymount Strand. Daily travel is East-west. No record of going north south or south north before.  Movement usually starts late Feb.  Is this one on the move to its breeding ground already?

The movement distance is not significant.  I have ones from my Local Park from St Petersburg and Ukraine and everywhere in between.  The significance or oddness is the direction.  1,000's of Black-headed Gull ring reads and this is a first.