23 - 24 August 2025 - Ring Reading Dublin

 24/08/2025

Seapoint

Today I had to contend with Paddle boarders continually harrying the roosting birds.  I don't think they were doing it on purpose, but every time birds landed they approached.  Very quickly there were only 2 terns and 4 med gulls left.  Only read 1 Tern Ring.  The rocks here are such an important roosting location as they are usually not accessible to people or dogs.

At the Forty Foot in Dun Laoghaire, there were lots of metal ringed terns but it took a while to find a colour Ring.  

Eventually saw a Sandwich Tern with an Orange Ring.  KKP is another one that is probably from Lady's Island in Wexford.  

The aim of the morning was to read Med Gulls and three were recorded.  Two yellow rings, which were deployed in Dublin, and a Green ring on a med that comes to Dublin every year after breeding back in Germany.

23/08/2025

With my main project seasons coming to a close or over, time for a bit of ring reading.  Started in Dublin City on the Tolka River at Fairview.  I am back counting Swan broods now they are 12 weeks old.  (Fairview pair had 8 cygnets and still have 6 which is really good).

High up on a building I recorded a Herring Gull C26:D.  First record since 2021!  Nice to know its alive.

I went to The Great South Wall as the tide was really high.  Here, the railings near the sewage works provide a high tide roost for all types of Terns, Black-Headed Gulls, Cormorants and other species.

First Ring was one of our Irish Midland Ringing Group Black-headed Gulls Green 2AFD.  I haven't cropped the photo as it shows the railing roosts well.

There is some coming and going and eventually a Polish Juvenile was also recorded.

Also on the Railings was one of my project Great Black-Backed Gulls 570:D.  From the Dalkey Island Colony.

I moved on to Seapoint.  Disappointed to find people climbing on the rocks and the High Tide Roost was gone.  Only One Bird Recorded at this location.  Another of my project Great Black-Backed Gulls again from Dalkey Island 8J6:D

I continued South to Sandycove and the Forty Foot.  Quite a Few Mediterranean Gulls but no Rings.  Far out there were Sandwich Terns.  But even with my Nikon P950, the rain was heavy enough to blur the photos.  I recorded 1 only.  Did you know that Sandwich Terns from Wexford head north to Dublin before they migrate south?

This is normally in range for Sandwich tern Rings but not today.  I could see the orange ring but not 100% on the code

Did manage 1 ring,  Looks to be a Wexford bird.  Orange [KNN]

I finished off in Bullock Harbour to see what's passing through.  6 Meds but no rings.  This years Juvenile Great Black-backed was the highlight.  Too many to upload all the Bullock Birds, but all GB's and no Herring Gulls rings again.