March 2020

19th March

If anyone goes to Howth Harbour at the moment, the most striking thing is there are hardly any Herring Gulls or Great Black-backed Gulls about.  Today the count was 4 Adult GBBGU and 2 sub adult and 6 Herring Gulls and 5 Juveniles.  It is amazing with the chip shops closed, there are no chips to scavenge and suddenly no Gulls.  It really does show that they are there because  so many people either feed them or drop food which they scavenge.

10th March

I had a few hours off this morning, so off to Howth.  Despite having over 1000 Irish Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls colour ringed, I wasn't expecting to see many.  I recored none

Only about 6 Herring Gulls are known to still be in Dublin and I'm not expecting any more back for at least another 10 days.  This week the following have been reported.  Herring Gull 639:D is still in Scotland, 954:D in Wicklow Town, 544:D is in Dunmore East,Waterford, 016:D in Llanelli in Wales.  There are also 5 using Bray Harbour which is near.  Our Dublin Gulls have dispersed from Belfast to Cork.  The Adults are due back at the end of the month and maybe a few more juveniles?

However, today I read 2 metals on Herring Gulls, GC96306 which was ringed in 2010 and MA18347 which was ringed in 2007.  I await to find where they were ringed but I don't recognizance the series.  Oh, also recorded one from the Isle of Man which is to be expected at this time of year.  Interestingly I have recorded no Scottish Gulls this winter.

Herring Gull T3YS - Ringed 2019 on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man