October 2015 - First Cygnet movement!

October 29th

The Coloured ringed Swans have started to disperse from their various ringing sites.  The first cygnet has made it to Bray Harbour 18Km SE direction and the first non breeding Swan has made it to Swords 20Km NW direction.  Sightings are so vital and appreciated and all sightings are responded to with report.

mute.swan.ring"at"gmail.com

October 24th

At Sandycove today there were only 2 Coloured Ringed Mediterranean Gulls but I spotted a Black Headed Gull with a metal and set about trying to read it.  Helsinki ST283.477.  I haven't seen this individual since January 2015, so it is back for another winter and same location.

However, I spent some time on the Grand Canal reading coloured Ringed Mute Swans and saw another Cygnet from Tymon Park.  It has gone to a different location than it's sibling - that is now in Sean Walsh Park.  However for me there were two birds of the day.  Both Mute Swans with Metal only Rings.  Neither I had recorded before.  The mystery of the pink Dye yesterday was solved with it dripping from a bridge in Goldenbridge.  The Swans, pigeons and gulls all had dots of it on their feathers but it does not appear to be effecting them in any way.

October 23rd

At Grange Castle Business Park there were hundreds of Black Headed Gulls.  I have never had much luck at this location but thought I would check up on Mute Swans as well.  No Coloured Rings on the Black Headed Gulls or the larger Herring and Lesser Black Backed, but I spotted a Mediterranean Gull.  I have only ever seen one med gull at this location which was W[E147]  last year. I eventually got a photo as it few past. W[E147] again.

Mediterranean Gull

As regard the Swans, the family of pair and 4 cygnets which have recently moved here were on the lake.  Two more tried to join them but they were soon seen off.  The colour ring quite visible in flight.  Yes, there appears to be pink dye on the coloured ringed one

Coloured Ringed Mute Swans

October 22nd

There are only 2 ringed Gulls in Sean Walsh Park, that is about right for this time of year.  The Swans are keeping me interested in this location.  The pair that have been harassing the other 11 have moved to the big lake and CACV has taken over the role of the aggressive dominant male, here he has just chased others out of the lake.

October 18th

This morning I went to Bray Harbour, Bullock Harbour, Sandycove, Sea Point and all I saw was one coloured ring.  Herring Gull 0JH.  So I went off to read Swans.

On the Canal there were 3 of our project birds including a Cygnet from Tymon Park.  This is proving to be a great time to get out and read the newly coloured ringed Mute Swans.  There movements are getting interesting as they certainly move about.  I can't wait till some one reads the first coloured ring at Bray or Swords.

CR Cygnet from Tymon Park in Ballymount Park.  Great to be able to read them underwater.

At Grange Castle there was just one Swan instead of the family of 6 last Friday, so I went to check and see the ones on Corkagh Park.  All Swans and Cygnets in the family present and correct and neither Adult ringed from this pair.  So the origin of the family of Swans seen on Friday is still unknown.

At Ballymount Park, success again. There were 3 that had been ringed in the park and also a cygnet from Ballycragh Park in Firhouse.

October 17th

Too busy catching and Colour Ringing Swans to take out the camera!!

October 16th - First Swan Family move.

Following a tip that a family of 2 adults and 4 Cygnets had turned up in Grange Castle Business Park, I went there at lunch time.  One adult carried a metal ring W27889 that I had not seen before.  They are possibly from Corkagh Park which is very near and one adult was ringed which I was never able to read.  I will have to check tomorrow and see if they are gone from that location.  It is apparently unusual for the Adults to leave such a prime location as a complete family group - they normally just chase the young away.

Mute Swan Ring in Grange Castle.

October 15th - BLHGU 6430814 Returns!

Today at Sean Walsh Park I spotted a metal ring.  The Scandinavian Countries use a slightly taller ring and I was on a mission.  Managed to photograph the ring and it is no other than the Black Headed Gull 6430814! The absent dates from the park are now as follows.  Back 1 week earlier than last year.

Absent from Sean Walsh Park

17th February - 5th November 2013
3rd March - 20th October 2014
28th February - 15th October 2015

October 13th

On September 25th the Black Headed Gull 27H0 appeared in Sean Walsh Park both bloodied and limping.  I had not seen it since and feared it hadn't survived it's injuries.  However it turned up today, limping but alive and much improved since the last sighting.  

Most of my recent blogging has been about Mute Swans, not just because of the project I'm involved with but because I haven't seen any coloured ringed Gulls.  Hopefully as winter approaches I will get more sightings.

October 11th - First Adult movements recorded.

On the Grand Canal this afternoon, I spotted two of our Coloured ringed Swans.  They were both ringed in Ballymount Park two weeks ago.  Distance between the two sites is 4.5km.  I have long suspected that these two herds interchange regularly as the numbers of Swans at both locations fluctuate daily.

October 10th

Another excellent day Colour Ringing Mute Swans.  Many thanks to all the ringer and helpers, without whom this project would be very slow to get started.  There are now 49 Mute Swans, both Juvenile and Adult, with Coloured Rings.  Now to get out there are monitor their movement - or lack of it!

Susan Doyle with Swan CACK!

October 5th - Happy days.

Over the week end I was a little saddened that 2 Cygnets were missing from Tymon Park.  We had colour ringed 2 Cygnets from a family of 4 and are planning to try and ring the other 2 next weekend. One of the missing cygnets was coloured ringed and maybe all was not lost.  Today at Sean Walsh Park two cygnets turned up and yes one was CABC from Tymon Park.
The Lake in Tymon Park is on the Poddle River and Sean Walsh Park is on a Tributary of the Dodder River.  They are not connected by a water way and it can only mean they flew almost 3 KM.  I didn't know they could fly at 18 weeks, according to one internet source they can fly at 60 days, but I have noted that they only start exercising their wings at 12 weeks (84 days).

October 3rd

The Swan projects have taken time away from reading Gulls, but I got down to Sandycove today even though the tide would be too high for good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls.  There were 5 about and 1 with a coloured ring.

Mediterranean Gull Y[2XA4] Ringed in Dublin but goes to France for Breeding season.

Re-sighting the Swans that were colour ringed last week end, brought me to a few parks and I did check the Gulls for rings - with out success.  However, very pleased with the coloured Rings.  They are easily read under water and it is making re-sightings so much easier!

Family of Swans under the fountain at Tymon Park

Swan ring - readable under water.

Colour Ringed Swans

Colour Ringed Mute Swans.

What a fantastic day ringing.  After years of reading Swan Metals, today we started Colour Ringing Mute Swans in South Dublin and in Kildare.  We ringed at 10 locations and processed 34 mute swans.  Thanks to all those who assisted and to those who gave permission

Mute Swan Coloured Ring.

Re-sightings can be emailed to the following address and all sightings are greatly appreciated. Reply will include life histories.  For some of the birds ringed today the life histories will be short, but we also added colour rings to 7 previously metal ringed birds, so these birds already have a history.

mute.swan.ring@gmail.com

mute.swan.ring@gmail.com

September 2015 - Juv GBBGU - 1st of the year

September 25th

It is not unusual for Black Headed Gulls to turn up with an injured foot, there are about a dozen in the park at the moment, but it is sad when it is a Coloured ringed bird.  27H0, a regular at the park for the last 2 years, turned up with an injured leg.  Nothing to do with the ring, these injuries happen frequently, some recover, lets hope 27H0 does too.

September 20th

There was a huge fire on Irelands Eye at the end of June this year.  About 30 Great Black Backed Pullus were coloured ringed the week before.  I had hoped that they were not all lost.  Today at Howth I re-sighted 1 of them.  Blue[3JU], a first sighting for me!

Great Black Backed Gull - 3JU

Also at Howth I spotted a metal ring on an adult Herring Gull GC29139.  I hadn't recorded it since July 2013. It was ringed by Oscar Merne in 2006.

Broadmeadows produced nothing of note.  I have decided after todays visit, that there are no cygnets surviving at this location, but if anyone knows different, please let me know.

September 19th

Tymon Park this afternoon, I spotted a metal ring on a Black Headed Gull.  Camera out quickly and a few shots before they were put up and it did not to reappear.  However photos show the full ring and it is a surprise.  Denmark 6J-4103 was ringed in May 2013 in Holbeak (that is the Island Copenhagen is on).  I have seen it 4 times before in 2013 and 2014, but only in Sean Walsh Park.  It is a first record in Tymon Park and a first sighting for me of this Black Headed Gull in 2015.
Thank you Jesper and Kjeld for ringing it!

Metal ringed Black Headed Gull in Tymon Park, Dublin

Denmark 6J-4103 on Black Headed Gull

September 14th

There are many juvenile large Gulls in the parks at this time of year.  I have wondered if they are all from Urban nests.  Today I spotted a metal ring and thought this will give me some data.

Unfortunately before I could get the full code they were disturbed!  GR98*41.  1 digit missing.  It appears to be a 3 or an 8, I will try again tomorrow!

September 5th

Tymon Park, Tallaght.  150 Black Headed Gulls and not a coloured ring among them again.  I did spot 2 metal rings and although both stayed some distance away, photographs were enough to piece the BTO ring number together - EZ03404.  It turns out it was ringed by my ringing group in January 2015 at the exact same location!  Never got a chance to read the other ring completely but it wasn't BTO.  The 3 digits I read match a Finish Black Headed Gull I have read there a few times before, so I tried again on Sunday and will keep trying.

September 4th

When I arrived in Sean Walsh Park I spotted a yellow Darvic on a Black Headed Gull.I walked casually around the far side of the lake without setting them up and photographed Yellow[217G].
I have sighted this Black Headed Gull in Tallaght before but this is a first for Sean Walsh Park.

The Black Headed Gull Y[217G] is from Lough Mask in the west of Ireland

The Black Headed Gull 27H0 from England which has been absent for 2 weeks also made an appearance.

New Isle of Man darvic Aug 2015

August 30th

Bullock Harbour and Sandycove produced a few rings, but the tide was too low for decent photos.

Mediterranean Gull at Bullock Harbour

Herring Gull 0JH.  Darvic is very worn.

 However, bird of the day had no coloured ring.  This Swedish Black Headed Gull was ringed in 2005.  For the last 5 years it's metal ring has been read at the exact same location- Bullock Harbour. Great to see it back for another winter.

August 29th

At Sandycove this afternoon there were 3 CR Med Gulls.  Green[RS96] from France, Red[H4L3] from Hungary and a locally ringed Yellow[2XK2]. But only 2 dozen Mediterranean Gulls present, so I quickly moved on to Bullock Harbour.

Mediterranean Gull with French CR Ring.

Bullock Harbour was equally rewarding with the Polish Mediterranean Gull, Red[PRN6] appearing briefly.

Mediterranean Gull with Polish CR Ring

Of the 2 Dublin ringed Great Black backed Gulls Blue[1JJ] was the most interesting observation.  I had last seen this bird in May 2015 in my local Park in Tallaght.  It just shows the the Gulls inland  are not necessarily all urban birds.

Great Black Backed Gull

But today, though I observed bird rings from France, Poland, Hungary and bird of the day was this GBBGU with an Isle of Man ring.

Juvenile Great Black Backed Gull with Orange Darvic from Isle of Man.

August 26th

The Black Headed Gull 27H0 is still reliable with 50% of visits rewarded with a sighting.

August 24th

E5VA Returns

The Black Headed Gull E5VA returned to Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght.  This Dutch Black Headed Gull I first recorded in January 2012, the month I started ring reading.  This is the 4th .season it has returned and it shows how faithful it is to it's wintering site.

Black Headed Gull + Metal Ring and CR Ring

Last year it was less frequently recorded, It will be interesting to see how often it uses the Park this year.

Mute Swan Census - Phase 2

Phase 2  UPDATED 14/09//2015

14th September 2015

Received yet another report of Mute Swans with Cygnets in Russborough House in Blessington.  Confirmed breeding pair no. 42!  Thank you Vincent - yet again.

5th September

It is proving slow work getting around to sites and then trying to relocate Swans and Cygnets.  Parks are easy but waterways, Canals and Rivers are proving difficult.  Completed the Peples Garden in the Phoenix Park today.  3 Cygnets first noted 25th May and still 3 Cygnets.

Re finding Families is proving to be harder than expected.  Couldn't find yet another family this morning.  The other odd thing that is happening is the number of nests we missed.  Had a report that a friend Canoeing down the Liffey came across a Family of Swans near Celbridge.  So there is another pair and nest we appear to have missed.

Studying Mute Swans is learning curve for me.  I have noted that the reason I am trying to gain Cygnet numbers in week 12 is that after week 12 Cygnets can leave their parents.  Today I went to Bluebell.  It is 12 weeks since I first recorded Cygnets, but 13 weeks ago I recorded Swan on nest, so I can't be sure if they are 12 or 13 weeks.  Today there were only 2 cygnets and no adults.  Have the family split already?  I will keep searching the canal for the missing swans.  As they are un-ringed it will be difficult to relocate them.

Cygnets at Corkagh Park at 12 weeks.  Stretching of wings first observed at 3 lolcation all at 12 weeks.

Phase 1, the nesting census has shown that the number of successful breeding pairs has increased over the last 25 years.  Attention is now being focused on phase 2 cygnet survival.  At 12 weeks old the first Cygnets have been known to move away from the parents.  So August will be an important month in gathering cygnet numbers in order to calculate survival rate.  Already the first broods have reached the 12 week mark and in the 1st 4 nests we are getting about 75% survival.  But data drives statistics and would love to get a complete picture.

Location Sub Location 1st Date of Cygnets No of Cygnets Date of Resighting No of Cygnets 12 weeks = 84 days 1 Naas Pond 1 Naas Nr Town 04/05/2015 8 07/07/2015 7 64 2 Charlesland  Golf Club 07/05/2015 6 12/08/2015 6 97ü 3 Tymon Park Lime Kiln Big L 07/05/2015 7 06/08/2015 4 91ü 4 UCD Belfield O'Reilly Lake 11/05/2015 4 09/08/2015 4 90ü 5 Tymon Park Tymon North 12/05/2015 3 02/08/2015 3 82ü 6 Ballycragh Firhouse 14/05/2015 7 05/08/2015 4 83ü 7 Ploopluck Bridge Naas 14/05/2015 9 Missing 8 Corkagh Park Fiseries Lake 16/05/2015 6 09/08/2015 4 85ü 9 Ashtown Royal Canal 20/05/2015 3 25/07/2015 3 66 10 War Memorial Island Bridge 20/05/2015 7 20/05/2015 7 0 11 Tymon Park Lime Kiln Mid 21/05/2015 4 22/08/2015 3 93ü 12 Blanchardstwon IT 23/05/2015 3 29/08/2015 2 98ü 13 St Stephens Green 20/05/2015 4 25/07/2015 3 66 14 Ard Clough Grand canal 24/05/2015 9 22/08/2015 4 90ü 15 Peoples Garden Phoenix Park 25/05/2015 3 05/09/2015 3 103ü 16 Tymon Park Spa Well 25/05/2015 5 26/08/2015 5 93ü 17 Clongriffen Park Fr Collins 06/05/2015 6 08/09/2015 6 125ü 18 Athgarvan Bridge Liffey 26/05/2015 6 20/06/2015 4 25 19 Naas Pond 3 Naas 26/05/2015 8 07/07/2015 3 42 20 Luttrelstown  Golf Course 26/05/2015 2 26/05/2015 2 0 21 Hermatige Golf Club 20/05/2015 4 28/05/2015 0 22 Kilcoole 30/05/2015 3 04/08/2015 1 66 23 Inchicore Bluebell 01/06/2015 7 23/08/2015 2?? 83ü 24 Broadmeadows Estuary 02/06/2015 2 25/07/2015 1 53 25 Marley Park Lower Lake 06/06/2015 2 03/07/2015 2 27 26 Skerries Mill 04/06/2015 8 25/07/2015 8 51 27 Kilcoole Golf Club 08/06/2015 3 11/08/2015 0 28 Druids Glen  Golf Club 09/06/2015 3 11/08/2015 1 63 29 Druids Glen  Golf Club 09/06/2015 5 11/08/2015 4 63 30 Druids Heath Golf Club 10/06/2015 4 10/06/2015 0 31 Lake side Newbridge 05/06/2015 5 07/07/2015 4 32 32 Castleknock Stn Royal Canal 20/06/2015 5 20/06/2015 5 0 33 Broombridge Royal Canal 20/06/2015 3 01/09/2015 3 73 34 Tolka Valley Park Finglas 20/06/2015 1 06/09/2015 1 78ü 35 City West Business Park 20/06/2015 7 09/09/2015 5 81ü 36 Blackrock Park Booterstown 20/06/2015 5 06/08/2015 5 47 37 Basin Grand Canal 21/06/2015 2 13/08/2015 1 53 38 Blessington Demanse 24/06/2015 4 27/06/2015 4 3 39 Star Dust Memorial Coolock 24/07/2015¬ 5 08/08/2015 5 15 40 Tolka River Drumcondra 03/07/2015¬ 3 24/07/2015 1 21 41 Tolka River Fairview 03/07/2015¬ 7 24/07/2015 7 21 42 Russborough Blessington 01/09/2015¬ 5 01/09/2015 5 0  Total Number of Cygnets 203 141

Sharp eyed followers of the blog will notice I have added 3 broods to the data base whose nests were never discovered.  At the Star Dust Memorial Park in Coolock, and on the Tolka River at Drumcondra and Fairview swans turned up with cygnets!  I'm not missing any pairs so these are being treated as missed successful nests.
¬These dates are not approximate hatching dates, but first reported dates, therefore 12 weeks will not be needed.

Swan and 3 Cygnets at Tymon, Lime Kiln Mid lake today

Tymon Lime Kiln Mid lake.  Hatched 21 May as 4 Cygnets.  Since June 14th the count has remained 3 Cygnets.


Please keep the sightings coming in.  I will be emailing all observers to date to request a last look. The interim reports of cygnet numbers have been very interesting with the most vulnerable period being week 1+2 and then survival remaining high..  I could have guessed this but without the interim observations, we couldn't never have been sure.

August 1st Med Gulls breaks rules

August 21st

Holiday over and back to ring reading.  In Sean Walsh Park still the only coloured ring is the Black Headed Gull, 27H0.

August 20th

Sandycove turned up two med Med Gulls, but they were both recently ringed! The regular Great Black backed 1VV was at Bullock Harbour.

August 5th

The one that keeps getting away.  I have been playing with a metal ringed Black Headed Gull in Sean Walsh Park or rather it has been playing me.  Landing allowing 1 photo and taking off again.  It is now a week and I think it is EY65133 but have to make sure there aren't two birds.  Although in adult Plumage it has the orange legs of a 2nd cy / 3rd cy bird.  It is not a ring I've seen before.

August 4th

While looking for Mediterranean Gulls Roosting on the Northside of Dublin I spied a yellow Darvic among the Black Headed Gulls.  It was 9.30 and dark but I took out my camera and hand held at 1/30sec and 1600iso I pushed my luck for 40m away.  But having lightened the images TP86 is visible. Another Polish Black Headed Gull using Dublin Bay.

August 3rd. Med gull breaks the rules

Mediterranean Gulls winter as a juvenile in a location.  They may change their wintering location during the 1st and 2nd year, then they stick to what they know.  Today I spotted an adult med PRN6 from Poland. I don't think it has been seen in Ireland before.  Very unusual to be first seen here as an adult.  Three possibilities.
1. It was ringed last year as an adult so it has been coming here for years we just didn't know it.
2. It found the weather in Portugal too hot and came for the rain!
3. It got lost and will move on quickly!
The data has been input into the Polish website and I will get a full report tomorrow.

05/08/2015. Got my answer tonight. 

PRN6  was ringed in 2015 as an adult!  It didn't come for the weather, it wasn't lost  It may have been coming here for a few years as one of the many un-ringed.

Mediterranean Gull  - Poland

The couple of hours this morning were very rewarding.  9 Coloured ringed med Gulls in total.  Including the following individuals.

Green [AKAJ] been coming to Dublin since 2012

2X7A Adult Mediterranean Gull

Adult Mediterranean Gull 2XA4

 At Bullock Harbour the Herring Gull 0JH turned up.

August 1st

The long staying Herring Gull from Scotland was still at Bray Harbour this afternoon.  Otherwise it was quiet, I read 5 mute swans while there.  The only interesting Mute was ringed in 2006 as an adult.  It hadn't made an appearance since last August.

Herring Gull from Scotland

I stopped at Poppintree Park but no coloured rings.  I did however, spot a Black Headed Gull with a metal ring.  It was from Holland.and this was my bird of the day.

Black Headed Gull with metal ring

The Ring -ARNHEM-HOLLAND 3675.873

Howth was spectacular this morning with 100's of Herring and Great Black Backed Gulls.  However there were very few Coloured rings to be seen.  I only recorded 7 rings.

Great Black Backed Gull 1TN on take off

2009 GBBGU 2JJ at Howth