September 2013 Gulls, Swans + a heron!

29th September

Really early start!  I was in Howth Harbour by 6.30 am.  Sunrise 7am.  There are moves to do a full gull count in Ireland so roost site information is being collected.  My aim was to roughly count what was roosting., but Howth Harbour is floodlit and when I arrived there were hundred of gulls circling high above the harbour and none where I thought they roosted!  By sunrise they were starting to settle on the usual buildings and many were roosting.  But they were all nervous and kept taking to the air for no apparent reason.  I will have to find if they were disturbed or if this is nornal.  Only three Irelands Eye darvics, but I was on my way home by 8am.

28th September Saturday

Early to Dublin Zoo this morning to see the new Okapi's.  At penguin feeding time, I photographed this Grey Herons BTO.  It also had a green ring which looked like it belonged to the Waldrop Ibis!

Grey Heron - Penguin enclosure!

Stopped at Huston Station, as I had heard a Dutch Black Headed Gull was see there recently. 120 Black Headed Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls - no coloured rings.  I was at Bullock Harbour in the afternoon. Two Irelands Eye Blue rings 3HC + 1VA.  Again new-old, 50-50, 3HC was new to me and 1VA seen before.  So I carried on to Booterstown strand.  No Gull rings, so read 2 Oystercatcher rings instead.

Look out for yellow oystercatcher rings!

22nd September

A trip to Bullock Harbour when the tide was high can often mean nearly all the Gulls on the water.  This was the case today, but...... I saw one flying, watched where it landed and ran around. Another Isle of Man Darvic ring.  Only one ring today but worth the trip.

Another Isle of Man Darvic.

On the way home I stopped at the Royal College of Surgeons, in Sandyford Industrial Estate - there is always a big roost on the roof.

Royal College of Surgeons, Sandyford.

There was one Black Headed Gull with White Darvic.  It turned out to be another Dutch bird ringed by Frank Majoor.  His usual instant response means I already know it was ringed in 2009 in Arnhem and it has been seen twice before.  Interestingly it was seen once in Ireland before, on Duncannon Beach in Wexford in December 2012.

Black Headed Gull + White Darvic + E3EU

21st September

My boys insisted that we went to the playground in Sean Walsh Park this morning.  I walk this park Mon - Fri and now on Saturday again.  However, the Black Headed Gull 27H0 was there and later when they were feeding ducks I photographed two more Black Headed Gull regulars.  So three black Headed Gulls - 

Norfork, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire.

Juvenile Black Headed Gull from Lincolnshire

 I went out to Malahide Estuary to photograph the metal ring on the Swan 5PT as I couldn't find a scheme.  I successfully did that.  The metal ring was huge with code on both sides.  I also photographed six other Mute Swans and reported to BTO.  If people put rings on them, then I will send in reports on them.

Mute Swan XL BTO Ring 

I drove to Howth and read three Great Black Backed Gulls and a Herring Gull Darvic.  All 4 were from Irelands Eye.  Like so many trips to Howth 50% of rings were new to me.

Great Black Backed Gull + Juvenile + Blue Ring

The Herring Gull below, OCP becomes more interesting if you look at the photo of June 15th underneath and see the huge change in Plumage in just 3 months!

Herring Gull + Blue OCP + 21.09.2013

Herring Gull + Blue OCP + 15.06.2013

19th September

The black Headed Gull 27H0 from Cemey Wick, Gloucestershire seems to be the only Darvic around in Tallaght this week.  I have nine other locations around Tallaght which I've scanned without even a metal ring.
However today I got some BTO reports of metal rings sent in recently

BLHGU Ring started with EH11***. This bird was ringed 17 June 2004 at Dove Holes, Derbyshire.  I suppose Manchester is the nearest big town. This makes it the oldest Black Headed Gull I have recorded at 9 years old.

BLHGU Ring started with EY25***.  This bird was ringed 27 May 2013 at Baston Pits, Bourne, Linconshire.  The nearest big city would probably be Peterborough.  A Juvenile of this years breeding season.
Why do so many ringers ring upside down?  It makes so many of them difficult to read.

16th September

Common Gull 2ACV which I saw yesterday was indeed a Common Gull from Big Copeland, Co Down.  Many thanks to Shane Wolsey for his rapid response. It was ringed in May 2010.  Once again I received a "This is the first time the bird has been re-sighted since it was ringed!"  It is yet another scheme I can add to my winters in Dublin list.

The Swan White[5PT] is not Belguim.  The scheme is not listed on CR birding so any ideas welcome.

15th September

On the way home from a birding trip to Rogerstown Estuary, I stopped at Malahide Estuary for 20 minutes and what a 20 minutes.  Before I even stopped I spotted a Common Gull with a Blue CR Ring.  Camera out as fast as possible and photographed from the car.  It is one from a Northern Irish  Project and delighted to have captured a half decent photo.  More about this bird later.

It was only a few minutes when I spotted a Black Headed Gull with a Black CR Ring.  It took a few minutes to read it R47S. French I believe - More later...........

While watching the flocks of gulls, the Mute Swans chase you looking for food.  One mute swan had a CR Ring.

I haven't found a scheme yet for this mute swan, but the metal ring was a lot bigger than a normal Swan BTO Ring. According to CR Ringing it is from Belgium and have emailed them, but there has only ever been one other Mute Swan from Belgium in Ireland so highly unlikely. Any suggestions as to what scheme is welcome!!  

Normal Mute Swan BTO Ring.

14th September

There had been some rings during the week. The Black Headed Gull 27H0 appeared in Sean Walsh Park every day and occasional Black Headed Gull E5VA visited, but most of the sightings like these were re-sightings, of value to the ringing schemes but not very interesting generally.  Went ring reading at 5.30 this morning and sat at Booterstown waiting for sun rise. However the Gulls began leaving 20 minutes before dawn! I moved on to Sandycove.  Lots of med gulls (12) and again the only coloured ring was a re-sighting.  At Bullock the only interesting ring was 1NL.  I last saw this Great Black Backed Gull in Sean Walsh Park last April.

3rd September

No coloured rings seen in Sean Walsh Park Tallaght today, but Bullock Harbour in the evening produced one.  The fantastic weather means the rocks on which the gulls normally congregate on were full of people, so there were hundreds of gulls on the water.  Still the Blue ring was again new to me.

2nd September

Sean Walsh Park is beginning to become more predictable.  Reading metal rings is always difficult, but I am getting fewer 'here for one day' Black Headed Gulls.  Today the number of Black Headed Gulls was up, as probably those that had day time roosted in nearby schools and sports fields were now being displaced as schools return from Summer holidays.  Black Headed Gulls 27H0 and E5VA were there as usual.

Black Headed Gull from England

Black Headed Gull from the Netherlands.

1st September

Early morning trip to Howth Harbour, Dublin.  Nine coloured rings observed and photographed, but all were local, ringed on Irelands Eye.  Two were Herring Gulls and seven were Great Black Backed Gulls.

Herring Gull at Howth.

It always fascinates me how every time I go to Howth or Bulloch Harbour I see some birds I have not seen before, like this Herring Gull.   Today 3/9 were first time observations and only one of those was because it was ringed this year.

Great Black Backed Gull + Blue Ring

I also spent some time at Bull Island scanning the Black Tailed Godwits but with no luck.

August 2013 - CR Sandwich Tern!

August 2013

26 August
While reading gull rings on 24th I photographed a sandwich tern on a rock just to check exposure levels.  As it happened it had a red darvic ring, My first CR Ringed Sandwich Tern by accident.  An almost instant reply from Scotland.  It was ringed north of Aberdeen in July 2011. Again I am the first to see this bird since it was ringed.

Sandwich Tern - Ringed in Scotland in 2011.

Lunch time was busy in the Park.  But Black Headed Gulls W[27H0] and a new metal ring starting with EY were read.

25 August
At Bullock Harbour again and although the tide was too high, still, three more Irelands Eye Blue Darvic Rings.  What I find fascinating was I spent a long time at Bullock Harbour yesterday, but two of the three rings I saw today were not present yesterday.  Also, yesterday one of the Great Black Backed Gulls I had not seen before.

24 August

At last an ISLE OF MAN RING!  HERGU T5VZ  Great afternoon ring reading in Bullock Harbour. Total of 9 Coloured Rings and two metal rings read.  One metal looks interesting as it starts HT which I haven't seen before.
So, what is the Isle of Man Gull below?  Bill too thin for Great Black Backed, very pale compared to the other Herring Gull but still a possibility, narrow pale tips but I initially went for Lesser Black Backed Gull and was incorrect.  Juvenile Gulls can vary in size and features.  However, Killian M. and Aidan K were fairly sure it is a Herring Gull, and the Ring report confirms this.  I am the first to see this bird since it was ringed.

Lesser Black Backed Gull + Isle of man + Ring

Great Black Backed Gull - For comparison of bills.

19 August

Received several more Ringed Bird Reports back from the BTO.  These are the metal rings I read in the field. All Swans were ringed by O J Merne.  That's not surprising as every Swan I have read was ringed by Oscar.  Two of the Herring Gulls were also ringed by Oscar on Irelands Eye.  One was ringed in 2004 making it the oldest Herring Gull ring I have read!  The rest were Chris', and  also ringed on Irelands Eye and the only surprise was that one was ringed by Declan M in 2009.  I didn't know that he also ringed out on Irelands Eye.

17 August

Bray Harbour was quickly scanned today and a Gull with a ring.  A Herring Gull 0JH.  Ringed in July 2010 on Irelands Eye. I last saw it June 2012 at the exact same location.  I also did Bullock Harbour and Tymon Park (Hundreds of Gulls) without another ring. However, the interesting thing today was that BLHGU W[27H0] has also been sighted roosting at Sandymount.  I rarely find out where individual Gulls Roost.

White [27H0] - now a regular at Sean Walsh Park

0JH - A good example of a 3rd year Herring Gull.

12 August

Lots of Gulls at Howth on Sunday 11th but only 1 Great Black Backed Gull with a Blue Darvic 2KU.  2KU was the first GBBGU I ever read!  Also read a Herring Gull with a BTO Metal Ring .  Fairly sure it isn't one of the metal rings used on Irelands Eye so awaiting report from BTO.  Read a few Med gulls rings on Sunday afternoon, but back to Sean Walsh Park at lunch today and E5VA and 27H0 were among the 300 gulls.

10 August

The Juvenile Black Headed Gull 27H0 was also present on the 7th + 9th in Sean Walsh Park.  It may stay around for the Winter.  I was also in Tymon Park, Spawell on Friday where there were 80 Black Headed Gulls and two had Metal Rings.  Managed to read one of them - another SW7 ring. Today I read my first Oystercatchers coloured Rings on Sandymount Strand and St Benildus School turned up two new coloured ringed Med Gulls.

MEDGU 2XA2

MEDGU 3P06 from Belguim

My first Oystercatcher ring.  Rather poor photo  - Sorry

06 August

Reading  CR rings is what I do, but it is always better when the bird is observed on your own patch!  In my case Sean Walsh Park.  So today when I observed a new Black Headed Gull Juvenile with a Darvic ring in Sean Walsh Park it counts as a very good day.  The Black Headed Gull is from a project over a number of sites in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire but it only took an hour for a confirmation, thank you and full report next week email! My thanks to John Wells for the rapid response!  For every 50 trips to SWP I get 1 new ring on average! 

  

E5VA was also present today.  It is interesting how white E5VA' head has become in such a short time.

05 August

Checked a number of flocks for Black headed gulls but only occasional metal rings observed and no coloured rings.  I did however see three coloured ringed Med Gulls in St Benildus School.  The Med Gull from the Czech Republic, seen on Saturday wasn't observed but the following three birds were!

Red HY52 White - From Hungary

Green 330 White - From France

White 3J02 Black - From Belguim

03 August

Took my boys to Bullock Harbour in the afternoon to go rock hopping!  I got a bit of ring reading while we were there. The Scottish Great Black Backed Gull was still around 1A9:C.  

GBBGU 1A9:C from Scotland.  Ringed in 2012

There were also three Irelands' Eye Great Black Backed Gull with Blue Darvic Rings. 1KH, 1TC & 2LA. (and a few hundred others without rings).  We finished our outing at Sandycove where the German Mediterranean Gull AKAJ obliged by showing well.  I also continued with my reading of all the metal rings. It took nearly 60 photos of this Herring Gulls legs to get  the last digit, only to realise it ended with 44 and I had all the digits after 4 shots!

Herring Gull + Metal Ring GC*****

Stopped in the morning while passing St Benildus School in Stillorgan, Co Dublin and my first CR Bird of the month is a med gull from the Czech republic.  A bird from the Czech republic is a first for me!

Mediterranean Gull + Cr Ring 

July 2013 Gulls and Rings

July 2013

July 30th evening
Trip to Bullock Harbour on the way to a club tern watch evening and  photographed a coloured ringed med gull (and missed one) but then I got my first foreign Great Black Backed Gull, ringed in Scotland!  Horse Isle, Ardrossan, Ayrshire on 1st July 12 to be percise.  Many thanks to Iain Livingstone in Scotland for his speedy response.  Once again I am the first to observe this individual.

Great Black Backed Gull ringed on Horse Isle, Ardrossan, Ayrshire 1st July 12.

Green[AKAJ]White -  German Mediterranean  Gull

July 30th morning
The day started very well with a metal Ring in Sean Walsh Park - a Black Headed Gull with a new style Denmark Ring, instead of just numbers this one was 6J-4103.  Then at lunch time E5VA turned up as it hasn't been there on the last 7 trips.

Black Headed Gull - Darvic Ring E5VA

 July 28th

Howth Harbour was interesting today as so few Blue rings compared to earlier in the month, was the low tide a factor?  I read 5 GBB darvics and 1 Herring Gull darvic.  So I spent a while and some bread reading the herring gull metal rings. Most seem to be ringed by CH from the number sequence, how ever one was the old style ring with just the BTO postal address and no website.  The bird may be reasonably old - it might not, it could have been ringed some distance away, I'll have to wait and see.

Old Style - 2004 Ringed on Irelands Eye (Post Script)

New style and up side down for added sport! Thanks DM!

July 27th
July has been frustrating with only 1 coloured rings in the Tallaght Parks and its not about at the moment. So many metal rings are proving hard to read.  I read ES4**** which I think will be ES45066 back from Pockthorpe in the UK and this BHG ST2827**? among others but all incomplete readings.  I at least know that this Black Headed Gull is from Helsinki!  

July 21st
Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght Dublin 24.  E5VA has returned to SWP again. Third year in a row.


19/03/2013 Last seen in Dublin
19/04/2013 Observed in Zoetermeer, Holland
21/07/2013 Back in Sean Walsh Park

July 12th
Still can't read any of the metal rings - Black Headed Gulls too well fed.  First med of the summer in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, pity no ring.

July 10th
First metal ring in Sean Walsh Park was a BTO ring but bird wouldn't land for more than a second!  ***9607.  I would have expected this, that the first Black Headed Gulls were from the Irish Colonies.......but, the second seen that day was Swedish 62145**.  So the first of the Scandinavian Gulls are back in Dublin (and probably wondering what has happened to the weather.  It was 27 degrees today in Dublin).  For us this is a heat wave.

July 7th
Spent a few very enjoyable hours today with C.H. on Ireland's Eye ringing both Herring and Great Black Backed chicks.  Very, very busy tourist Island today with the fine weather.
The Herring Gulls rings still start with the digit 0.

Herring Gulls Juveniles 0LA + 0MA

With the Great Black Backed Gulls this year, the Darvic rings can now start with a 3 [3, alpha, alpha]. ie 3AA could be used, up to now they have always been [1, alpha, alpha] or [2, alpha, alpha] eg 1TN or 2KV

Black Headed Gulls return to Tallaght

There were no Black Headed Gulls in Sean Walsh Park on Monday 1st of July, 

July 1st                  0

July 3rd                 7

July 4th                12

July 8th                95
July 9th              108 (Including first 7 juveniles) and first metal ring
July 12th            207 Only Approximate as they kept flying between lakes. 1st Med this year also

The temperature was above 20 this week so the parks are so full of children and dogs so it is hard getting the Gulls out of the water, so no rings yet, but I didn't get one last year till the end of August

4th July -- Black Headed Gull in Sean Walsh Park - 1st Summer 

July 2nd

At Bray Harbour tonight, no rings on any of the Gulls but read a few Mute Swan rings.
Went to Bullock Harbour next, where three Great Black Backed Gulls were sporting Irelands Eye Darvic Rings, however, the highlight was the first Juvenile Black Headed Gull of the year for me.  As I don't have any breeding near me, I don't get to see them till winter.

Juvenile Black Headed Gull - Bullock Harbour, Dublin

Great Black-Backed Gull  + Blue[2LA] + Bullock Harbour

June 2013 Larus Marinus - Great Black-backed Gulls

June 2013

Larus Marinus - Great Black-backed Gulls

June 29th

Another week of no Darvic rings in Tallaght.  Out at Howth early this morning.  Again more Herring than Great Black Backed and again no Isle of Man rings etc.  8 Ireland Eye Blue Darvics, six seen recently by myself at Howth, but the one which caught my attention Blue[2KU].  Almost a year ago I saw it in Bullock Harbour and was probably the first ringed Great Black-backed gull I saw. (I have the report that it was ringed  as Pullus in July 2009 and my sighting last July was the first report since it was ringed.

Great Black Backed Gull - Blue[2KU] 

1UK who was fine last week has sustained a foot injury and was hopping!

GBBG 1UK

June 22nd
Another week with no rings in the Parks of Tallaght. Two Black Headed Gulls (1st Summer) passed through SWP on Tuesday.  Nothing at Bullock Horbour on Thursday evening and only a few at Howth on Saturday. I went to Howth in the afternoon instead of early morning.  Relatively few Great Black Backed gulls compared to last week and significantly more Herring Gulls.

Herring Gull with Blue Darvic.

June 15th
Out at Howth early this morning, again looking for Isle of Man rings and White Gulls.  No luck, but a very pleasant morning.  13 Irelands Eye Darvic rings, and again a mixture of those seen before by me and some new to me.  This Herring Gull (2nd Summer) was new to me and came quite close.

Larus Argentatus + Coloured Ring 0CP

Howth Harbour - Roost on the Ice house

June 9th
Target rings for this month is actually an Isle of Man Herring Gull.  They are seen most years, in early June at Howth, so again I went to Howth, early as it was scheduled to be a glorious day.  Alas, no Black and gold rings.  There were plenty of  Blue Darvics on GBBG.  Six were seen there last week by myself and four were new to me.  No white gulls either.  I have to catch the 'Fish Offal Lorry' some day!  Apparently, when the Offal from the fish factories is being collected, Gulls come from miles around for the chance of a free meal!

Note:  The size of a Juvenile GBBG compared to a small adult Herring Gull

Drove home along the coast and picked up a new Herring Gull [Blue] OJK in Sutton. There were dozens of Black Headed Gulls at the Bull, but very far out.  Happened to be at Bullock later that afternoon. Blue 1TC and Blue 1JR were around.

June 4th
Went out to Howth to see if any white Gulls were around.  Last year I had an Iceland Gull in Sean Walsh Park, but have yet to see one this year or a Glaucous Gull anywhere.  Arrived not long after 9 am and plenty of Herring Gull and Loads of Great Black-backed Gulls. I read 10 with Ireland eye darvic rings - hardly surprising as Irelands Eye is just over 1 Km away.  The Darvics I read were mainly first sightings and not that interesting, but I didn't see a single Lesser Black Backed Gull!  In fact all the Gulls were Great Black-backed or Herring variety.
The only variety were all the different stages of Juvenile plumage.  the one below I decided was first Summer.  The other photo I included is 1TN.  It was in Bullock Harbour for the majority of afternoon visits last month.  It was gone from Howth by 10.30.  Perhaps it roosts at Howth?

Great Black-backed Gull 1RM, Howth Harbour

Great Black-backed Gull + Blue[1TN]White

June 1st
Went to Bullock Harbour in the afternoon and plenty of Gulls about.  Still no Mediterranean Gulls, Common  or  Black Headed Gulls back.  More Kittiwakes and plenty of Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and some Lesser Black Backed Gulls.  Four gulls with Blue Darvic rings from Irelands Eye.

Great Black Backed	1TC	Bullock Harbour	01/06/2013	Irish
Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	01/06/2013	Irish
Great Black Backed	1KH	Bullock Harbour	01/06/2013	Irish
Great Black Backed	2LH	Bullock Harbour	01/06/2013	Irish

Great Black-backed Gull + Blue 1TC -  2nd Winter +

1TC was new to me a Bullock Harbour

Great Black-backed Gull + Blue 1KH - 3rd  Winter +

1KH was new to me at Bullock Harbour

Great Black-backed Gull + Blue 2LH- Adult.

2LH was seen by me at Bullock harbour back in April.  Didn't get a good photo of 1JR but it is there more often than not.

May 2013 - Migration is late!

May 2013

Migration is very late + Gulls at Bullock Harbour

May 31st - Late addition to May Blog.

At Howth Harbour for 10 minutes late in the evening.  Only read one Gull.  Blue [1MC].  This Gull was in Bullock Harbour in April 2013.  It is good to see individuals again especially in a different location.

Great Black Backed Gulls with Blue plastic ring and three digit code starting with 0,1 or 2 should be reported to gulls-at-eircom.net

Great Black Backed Gull 1MC

Have tried to read the Oystercatcher rings at Sandymount without success.  I can clearly see their rings in the  flocks but mindful of disturbance I haven't got close enough to read them. They also have an annoying habit of standing on the leg that doesn't have the two digit code.  I will need to use a scope to read them.

Oystercatchers with rings

While looking at them I noticed some brent geese and then it struck me.  What are Brent still doing here in May?  Then what are the Oystercatchers still doing here and not at their breeding grounds? And the Godwits?  I would have expected them all to have gone by May.

With large gulls you expect juveniles such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Great Black Backed Gulls etc to still be around and they haven't disappointed.  So through out the month I kept a close eye on Bullock Harbour.  I still scan Sean Walsh Park every lunch time but since I saw 1NL  I have not even seen a metal ring!

So May 2013 looks like this

Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	03/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1TN	Bullock Harbour	03/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	04/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1PA	Bullock Harbour	06/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	06/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	11/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1TN	Bullock Harbour	12/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1JJ	Bullock Harbour	19/05/2013

Great Black Backed	1JR	Bullock Harbour	25/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1TN	Bullock Harbour	25/05/2013
Great Black Backed	1JJ	Bullock Harbour	25/05/2013

Great Black Backed Gull + Blue Darvic 1JR

1JR will be two years old in the coming weeks!  Ringed on June 25th 2011.  Photo May 2013

Great Black Backed Gull + Blue Ring 1TN

Larus Marinus, Great Black-backed Gull + Blue Ring 1PA

Well, what does 8 trips in a month to Bullock Harbour tell me - not a lot.

• 1JR, 1JJ and 1TN spent a lot of time in Bullock Harbour this month.
• 1PA was only observed once.
• In April 2013, I had not seen these birds at this location, although I had seen different GBBG with Darvics.  
• The number and type of Gulls vary and at the beginning of the month there were less adult GBBG present.  
• The percentage of adult GBBG increased throughout the month and the number of adult LBBG decreased.  In Sean Walsh Park inland, the inverse was noted.  The number of LBBG has increased and the number of GBBG has decreased.  

This is where reporting sightings is so important.  The observations of one birder by him/her self cannot give the complete picture.  If anyone else reported these birds you might discover the range covered. etc.  Where were they in April?   Where did the ones in April go to. was 1PA seen at Bullock by others.

DATA IS EVERYTHING!

Graham