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

April 2013 - All blue rings.

April 2013 

All Blue rings!

Black Headed Gull ES45066

I thought that all the black headed gulls had gone, but on April 5th ES45066 turned up again.  It is common for Juveniles to leave later, so it wasn't a huge surprise.  Adult Plumage starting to come through.

Brent Goose 4CBB + Booterstown Marsh

The Brent geese were to remain all April.  This individual was photographed on April 7th at Booterstown Marsh.

Herring Gull - Blue Darvic - Blue[0CU]White

At Tallaght Community School, on April 14th, this Herring Gull from Irelands Eye was seen.  There is a daytime roost at that location.  It is good to get these sightings inland as it shows the extent of their range. It takes a while to get the reports and it will be interesting to see where this bird has been and if it is usually coastal.

Great Black Backed Gull Blue Darvic - Blue[2LH]White

We were heading to Bullock Harbour where my boys love seal watching etc. I spotted yet another Darvic Blue[2LH]White. Another one I hadn't seen before.  2 Darvic Rings in one day!

Great Black Backed Gull Blue[1MC]White

On the 21st I was coming home from Bray and Stopped at Bullock harbour.  1MC was showing well.
I was still doing my daily walks at Lunch time in Sean Walsh Park, but no rings were showing showing up or expected.

Great Black Backed Gull + Blue[1NL]White

Then on the 26th my scanning of the big gulls in Sean Walsh Park finally paid off.  I only got a quick shot from a long distance, but enough to clearly see the ring.  1NL.  I had seen this GBB in December 2012 at Bullock Harbour.  The GBB Gulls at Bullock Harbour, which I thought were exclusively Pelagic, can come 5-10KM inland!  My boys were taken to Sean Walsh Park on Saturday and Sunday and although there were 127 big gulls, (GBB, LBB and Herring), there was no sign of 1NL.

As April last year, was a month without a coloured ring sighting, April 2013 was a significant improvement!

Graham

March 2013 - Black Headed Gulls depart.

March 2013

Black Headed Gulls depart!

Black Headed Gull E5VA

In Sean Walsh Park Black Headed Gull E5VA failed to show up on three separate occasions that I went to Lake 3.  It was the 13th when this photograph was taken at lake 3.  I had never seen him progress to adult plumage before and it was now mid change.  On the 16th I spotted him on a lamppost near lake 1.  On the 19th or March the snow came yet again and in a field in Kiltipper, where I never had a single ring before, I spotted E5VA.  It was about 2Km from Sean Walsh Park and the first time I had spotted him outside the park.  Then it was gone.  Benny Middendorp reported to me that he first saw it on April 11th in Holland, followed quickly by Maarten van Kleinwee also spotting it. Now two things I find interesting.
While E5VA travelled from Zoetermeer to winter in Ireland. They had an Irish Black Headed Gull wintering there!  Orange Darvic so I assume Northern Irish.
White E5MY is its brother/sister. That bird chose Spain as its place to winter!  Who chose better?

Other Black Headed Gull news.

Swedish ring 6430814 was last seen on the 13th of March, The juvanile ES45066 from Norfolk last seen on the 14th.  white[NUT] who I hadnit seen since February 19th was still around and Sean Kingston had recorded it Roosting at Booterstown on the 4th of March.

Brent Geese.

On March 6th I took a day off work and helped out at a Brent Geese ringing day.  Not alot to report other that I enjoyed it and will do it again.

Me with 66RR

Brent 34RR

The English cannon netters label the geese differently!  They would call this RR34!  Very confusing.

Graham

February 2013 - More Brent Geese and other rings.

February 2013

More Brent Geese and other things.

February 2013 started with nice Great Black Backed Gull complete with Darvic at Bullock Harbour.

Great Black Backed Gull Blue[1MN] White. 03/02/2013

I've started labelling my darvics what appears to be best practice internationally.  As there are now so many projects ongoing, they are being very specific in the description of the ring and it appears CR Ringing is trying to introduce guidelines.  New schemes all seem to be four alpha numeric codes.  For Black Headed Gulls, each country appears to have a unique feature - Norway begin with J, Holland E.  Ireland it suggests all should begin with a 2.  So the Black Headed Gull 217G complies with these guidelines.  Older schemes can continue until they have run out of combinations.  Some new schemes are using different coloured letters. .  So [Colour][Code][Font colour]. = Blue[1MN]White.  Some schemes have introduced Colons : between letters. Yellow[T:015]Black is a Scottish gull.  All very confusing, but worth remembering to record Font Colour as well as ring colour.

3SBB - Brent Goose, Blackrock Park, Co Dublin

I started reporting Brent last month and continued on in February.  I assumed that they would be heavily reported, but I was the first person to report 3SBB this winter.

JBWR - Brent Goose, St Olafs GAA, Dublin

Linnet with coloured ring

I got very excited when I noticed a linnet with a coloured ring in my garden.  This was the 3rd false alarm this winter as it turned out to be a closed ring and identifies the bird as an escapee.  I had a Goldfinch with a blue closed ring and a Redpol with a plain red ring already.

Sandymount Roost.16th February 2013

I did try Sandymount Strand several evenings where thousands of gulls roost - as well as thousands of other types of birds, but no coloured rings and no Darvic rings seen.

TAWR - Brent Goose, Portmarnock

UBRY - Brent Goose, Portmarnock

I recorded 9 Brent in February.  Trying to get a photo of both rings at the same time, meant I ended up with a hundred + photos at the end of each trip.  They are delighted to get every single Brent report, but as you report more they request that it is submitted in an exact format, so they can upload them without having to retype everything.  This included trying to find the exact site code from the 1000+ sites the Brent are known to use.

DBSFNO is the code for Sandyford/Naomh Olaf GAA Pitches.  This is because part of the Brent study is how site faithful these birds are.

 I was also given my Brent reporting name! GPR.

I have received a notice of a Brent Capture and Ringing week with a request for volunteers.  Booked a day of work and looking forward to it!

Graham

February 2013 - Danish, Dutch and Norwegian Darvic rings

February 2012

Lots of Rings

Busy month, so busy I am writing up February as first, Sean Walsh Park and then other coloured rings!  The month started with Black Headed Gull E5VA - as always and still at Lake 3. It stayed quite until the 18th with Swedish 6430814 being the only other ring read in the park.  There was a metal ring at lake 1, but getting a gull to land so I can read it isn't always straight forward.

BHG E5VA ever present

 On the 18th of February White [NUT] turned up.  Last year he arrived on January 21st, stayed around for a month.  My theory is that he winters further west and stops off at Sean Walsh Park for a month on the way back to Denmark.  If I am correct then he's a month late.  (He/She - not sure)

NUT shows off his darvic ring!

The amount of Common Gulls increases in the Park at this time.  The 19th, saw JEJ6 present itself on the rocks of Lake 4.  On the 27th it stood on the sculpture of the Hippo at Lake 5 and allowed me take photos from 6m away or near enough to get full reading on its metal ring! Oh ringed in 2009, mine yet again was the first sighting since it was ringed!

JEJ6 - First Darvic ob Common Gull

February 28th saw me record ES45066 at lake 1. He brakes the norm as he has been seen at both Lake 1 and lake 3. Oh, he is a Juvenile ringed by R J Gribble as nestling,on 12-Jun-2012 at Pockthorpe, Norfolk, UK.

  So February 2012, 3 Darvic Rings in the Park and 2 metal rings. Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English!  More importantly 3 of the 5 were definitely here last year and one wasn't even hatched!