March is a fantastic time of year for birds, particularly exciting for all the IMRG Gull projects. The Black-headed Gull numbers continue to decline as they depart for their breeding grounds, Herring Gull adults increase as they return ready for nesting. The Great Black-backed Gulls is always my primary focus for producing annual Survival survival stats by way of BTO RAS. My first trip to Howth Harbour for the 2026 season and only 5 rings read and of those, 2 were last years Juveniles. Another was an adult only ringed last year but two old blue ringed adults recorded. My aim is always to record as many as physically possible. In 2025, exactly 100 colour ringed GB were recorded within my Dublin project boundaries. (Many more were recorded outside the project boundaries) All GB's recorded had wintered in Dublin. So I'm still waiting for those which wintered many miles from Dublin to return. The furthest wintering spot for these magnificent Gulls is Northern Spain. 1000KM+ although most stay within 200km
Sunday, 15 March 2026
Sunday, 24 August 2025
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
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.
Sunday, 1 June 2025
2025 Mute Swan productivity
02/06/2025 14:15 Swan Nesting Census 2025
The Swan nesting census is nearly finished for 2025. My boundaries are the greater Dublin area which includes East Kildare and North Wicklow. 2024 was very poor and below what is needed to maintain the population. We only had 116 cygnets hatch and many of them did not survive the first 12 weeks.
The following is the outstanding nests / data .
Baldoyle Estuary. New nest site. Still nesting. Neither Swan identified.
Ballymount Park. Still nesting.
Blessington Street Basin. Neither adult identified yet.
Castletown House. I have not visited this lake to see results of nesting.
Corkagh Park, Wildfowl Lake. Still nesting.
Hatchings listed alphabetically below, the current situation is as of 01/06/2025 20:10 is 119 cygnets hatched.
Adamstown, 12th Lock on Grand Canal.
01/06/2025, 4 Cygnets. Make CDNN & Female CDJC
Ballycragh, Firhouse, Dublin 24
17/05/2025. 5 Cygnets
08/09/2025 Still 5 cygnets
Blessington Street Basin, Dublin7
12/05/2025. 6 Cygnets. Both parents - rings not yet read.
Bray, River Dargle
New nest site. 22/05/2025 3 Cygnets. Female un-ringed!
Broombridge
29/05/2025. 4 Cygnets hatched
Bushy Park, Rathfarnham
11/05/2025 5 cygnets. Female un-ringed.
10/09/2025 3 Cygnets
Caves Marsh, Malahide Yacht Club.
01/06/2025 hatched 4
Chapelizod, Liffey
18/05/2025 Hatched 6.
06/07/2025 Island Bridge CCZZ (M) unringed F & 4 Cygnets
Corkagh Park, Fishing Lakes
20/05/2025 hatched 6.
03/09/2025 - Female returned to Corkagh Park
06/09/2025 - CCDD M & CDJV + 5 cygnets
 |
| Corkagh Fishing Lakes 02/02/2025 13 days old. |
Fairview Park, Tolka River
31/05/2025. 8 Cygnets and both swans un-ringed.
23/08/2025 Still 6 Cygnets.
Fr Collins Park,
11/05/2025 hatched 6 Cygnets
Gollierstown Bridge, Adamstown
24/05/2025 Hatched 4 Cygnets
Grangecastle Business Park
10/05/2025. Hatched 4. However it soon reduced to 3.
Lucan Weir
30/05/2025. Hatched. Just 1 Cygnet. Spot the cygnet? The cygnet is now called Spot.
14/09/2025. Spot has survived. 1 Cygnet
Naas Harbour, Co Kildare
24/05/2025 Hatched 3 cygnets
Newbridge, Lakeside
17/05/2025 Hatched 9 cygnets
23/07/2025 Still 8 Cygnets
04/08/2025 7 Cygnets remain.
Parkwest Guinness Filters, Clondalkin
10/05/2025 Hatched 3 Cygnets
06/09/2025. No surviving Cygnets
Poppintree Park, Ballymun
25/05/2025 Hatched 8 Cygnets
Ryewater Aquaduct / Confey. Leixlip, Co Kildare
17/05/2025 Hatched 3 cygnets
Tolka Valley Park, Finglas
24/05/2025 Spotted with 4. These always leave the Park when hatched and travel down the Tolka to Griffith Park. They arrived with 4. No way of knowing how many hatched.
Tymon Park, Limekiln Lake, Tallaght, Dublin 24
21/05/2025 Hatched 8 Cygnets
06/09/2025 4 Cygnets remain. :)
14/09/2025 managed to confirm the metal. CABF - Colour missing - Metal read.
Tymon North, Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24
15/05/2025. Hatched 7 Cygnets
19/07/2025 Still with 5 Cygnets
09/09/2025 Still with 5 Cygnets
Tymon Park, Spawell end. (Also called Wellington Road Lake).
10/05/2025 hatched 5
University College Dublin, Belfield
19/05/2025. New Pair, un-ringed. Hatched 2 Cygnets
14/07/2025 - Still 2 Cygnets - Nessa Childers.
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