January 2015 - Med Gull from Hungary!

January 27th

This Great Black Backed Gull turned up at Bulloch Harbour this evening.  Ringed in 2010, I have never seen it before.  It was seen in January 2011, 4 years ago.  Where has it been hiding?  More excitingly, has it come back to breed?  It this the start of the 5 year olds coming back to their natal site to breed?  Will it turn up at Howth?  

Great Black Backed Gull, Blue[1EJ]White

January 26th

A very quick 10 minutes at Bulloch Harbour and nice to see Herring Gull 0JH in Breeding Plumage.  Hopefully it will breed this year.  I have also put a photo from 15 November 2014 below, to show how it looked over the Winter.

0JH today 26 January 2015

0JH on November 15th 2014

Unusually, plenty of Mediterranean Gulls at Bulloch Harbour about and three coloured rings.  French Mediterranean Gull 330 is more commonly found up the road at Sandycove.  Very odd that it's bill stripe is missing.  It is not a feature I have noticed much before.

The German Med AKAJ is my most recorded Med at Bulloch Harbour

Among the Herring Gulls and Great Black backed Gulls sat a Glaucous Gull - Larus Hyperboreus

The Hungarian Juvenile H4L3 also turned up a Bulloch Harbour, thats a first

January 25th

While out reading Brent again, one stood out.  My first Dark bellied Brant.  But as it wasn't ringed, not overly exciting!

Dark Bellied Brent

January 24th

A whole week and no rings in Sean Walsh Park apart from 1 metal read.  Today I had the boys in the car but had heard of a large flock of Brent in Drimnagh - not too far from Tallaght.  We drove down for a recce.  Maybe up to 500 Brent on a Green.  Hadn't time to even get out of the car, but parked and photographed some ringed birds.  The trick is to get a sequence of photos to get both leg rings recorded.

Brent PHWR. (Right Code, Left Code, Right Colour, Left Colour)

 Brent 32WB (Metal under 3) (Right Code, Left Code, Right Colour, Left Colour)

We went past Tallaght Community School on the way home and spotted 217G from Lough Mask in Mayo.  This is it's favorite roosting place.

Black Headed Gull Y[217G]K

January 18th

Ballymount Park is not a park I usually do, but occasionally I check out the Mute Swans and check the Black Headed Gulls for rings.  Yesterday at Dublin Zoo I was surprised to see no Pochard ducks. There are always Pochard wintering in Ballymount so I thought I'd see how many.  There were no Pochard and today there were only 9 Mute Swans, there are usually over 20. 

Mute Swan ZY4380 which was ringed in St Stephens Green was present as usual.  Alot of "Pink tip" noted on the swans.  This is a condition caused by eating mouldy Bread.  There were 8 Common Gulls, alas none ringed.

January 17th

Bray Harbour this afternoon was both successful, exciting and still slightly disappointing.  A white Darvic Ringed Black Headed Gull flew past me as I arrived but I never saw again.  I did see lots of Coloured Rings.  I spent so much time looking for the elusive BHG that I hardly read any Mute Swan Rings.  It was cold and the temperature, although +2 felt more like -2.

Black Headed Gull Y[2X2J]K

The Black Headed Gull Y[2X2J] that was ringed in Sandycove, Dublin was ever present this afternoon.

Black Headed Gull from Lithuania 

There was a Juvenile Black Headed Gull from Lithuania.  Metal ring reading below.

The Scottish Herring Gull was also present.

Herring Gull from Scotland

But bird of the day goes to the Black Headed Gull in this poor photo which is cropped severely, which shows another Lithuanian Black Headed Gull K[P615]. It was ringed as an adult by Frank Majoor in 2010 and has been a regular in Bray since then.  This is my first sighting of it this winter.  I never saw it again all afternoon!

Black Headed Gull from Lithuania.

January 14th

The Danish Black Headed Gull has appeared to have changed its survival strategy and is becoming a regular in Sean Walsh Park

January 11th - Hungarian Mediterranean Gull

Yesterday, at Bulloch Harbour and Dun Laoghaire there was nothing of excitement in the way of coloured rings again, but a new day with new optimism started at Bray Harbour.  When I arrived there were good numbers of Herring Gull and Black Headed Gulls.  Alas, again no rings and no Ring Billed Gull.  But I did read 7 Mute Swan Rings and one of them was new to me!

I moved up the coast to Sandycove but there were only 2 Med Gulls, but I spotted a Red Darvic on the Juvenile standing in seaweed.  Camera quickly out for a photo, but only 2 digits visible as it's leg was in seaweed.  Threw some bread out to tempt it and managed the full code when he settled on the breakwater for a moment.  It is from Hungary.  That's about 1900km away!

New Mute Swan in Bray

January 8th

A strange start to the year, with many trips dipping - just no rings around.  Today, delighted that 27H0 turned up as it has been missing for the last 2 weeks.

January 3rd

Sean Walsh Park this morning produced no Coloured or metal rings.  Had to make do with watching the Caspian Gull!

January 2nd

Today I ended up at the East Link Toll Bridge in Dublin and walked to the back of the Aviva Stadium.  I spotted a Great Black Backed Gull with an Ireland's Eye ring.  I never saw it in 2014 at all, but had recorded it at Howth in 2013.

Great Black Backed Gull 3EP.  Ringed 2013

January 1st

First Darvic of the season goes to a Black Headed Gull from the Irish Project over at Lough Mask, Co Mayo.

Black Headed Gull from Lough Mask

December 2014 - Isle of Man Ring

December 31st

2014 has come to an end and I must sit down and look at how my year of ring reading has gone, but instead I went to Broadmeadows and read some Mute Swan Rings and then onto Howth where I finished my years ring reading with 5 Great Black Backed rings.

Great Black Backed Gull - 2nd Winter

Great Black Backed Gull 3AK was ringed in June 2013.  This was the first time I have recorded it! I know it spent last Christmas at Ballycotton in Cork.  Sean saw it back in April at Bullock Harbour but another new to me.

Great Black Backed Gull - 3rd winter

Great Black Backed Gull 1MC according to my notes is from the nest of 2012. That would make it a 3rd winter, although it looks well advanced in the moult for 3rd winter!

December 30th 

What a difference a day makes.
My plan was to look for my possible Larus smithsonianus, last seen on the 21st by going along the South coast.
Bulloch Harbour and today there were 6 med gulls and 1 coloured ringed from Germany, Sandycove there was a Black Headed Gull with a Yellow Darvic.  I started reading a metal and realised it was the same Metal Finland Ring as December 27th and moved on.

At the base of the East Pier another Med with a Darvic and then my bird of the day, a Juvenile Herring Gull from the Isle of Man.  It took a while to read it T4VV.  Excellent morning.  I will try again for my unidentified big gull, but it looks like it may have moved on.

December 28th

Where have all the coloured ringed Gulls gone!  Oh well gave up and went off to read waders.  The first time I scanned Booterstown Nature Reserve there was a Coloured Ringed Black tailed Godwit!  But it was standing on one leg - typical.  Yellow over off white, but that is only half the code!

So I went off and read an Oystercatcher and a Brent Goose and came back.  The bird was now over the far side of the Marsh.  But Camera out again.

Yellow over Lime Green/Lime Green over white with X.

30/12/2014.  I have already had confirmation that it was ringed in Iceland, just awaiting a report.

December 27th

No rings at Bray harbour, at Bulloch Harbour only the Herring Gull 0JH was present.  No coloured rings at Dun Laoghaire, although there were a few Med Gulls.  So I chose a black Headed Gull and set about reading its metal ring.  ST283.477.  It turns out I read this one before.

I am fast running out of metal rings that I haven't read before, I last saw this Black Headed Gull from Pori, Finland in November 2013 about 500m further down the coast!

December 22nd

Sean Walsh park was full of Gulls but apart from the Black Headed Gull 27H0 no other rings recorded.  The Caspian Gull was quite tollerent of Black Headed Gulls and Juvenile Herring Gulls but really aggressive towards the adult Herring Gulls.  Interesting to watch.

Caspian Gull in Tallaght

December 21st

No Coloured Rings at Bray, No Coloured Rings at Bulloch Harbour and no coloured rings among the 1,000 gulls at the base of the East Pier.  Oh well, I sat and read a metal on a med!  It turns out I've read this Belgium ring before! (See January 2014)

Mediterranean Gull with Metal ring.

E930465

Still trying to work out this gull!

ID attempt
It is a very big gull but it has black primaries with white tips so I can rule out Glaucous.
So it is a large white headed Gull.  If fact it is very large compared to the Herring Gull in front of it but male & female Herring Gulls differ considerably in size.  It could well be just a male.
It has a few brown feathers which shows it is not quite Adult yet which doesn't help.
The streaking on head and breast is heavy and darker and extends further than the Herring Gulls.

If was to use "Collins" I would go for American Herring Gull, if I was to use Olsen I would go for a Vega Gull!  I have asked a couple of people who know more than me, but without a flight photograph all I am likely to get is an opinion as opposed to a definitive answer.  It may very well be an odd looking Herring Gull

December 18th

What a week for recovery reports.  I got a 6 reports from Denmark.  A big thank you to Kjeld Tommy Pedersen. I also got post from Belguim (Belguim still replies by mail with a stamp) and two BTO Reports.

On August 24th I reported to the BTO a new Mute Swan in Bray Harbour - W21626. The report shows it was ringed in Arklow in 2006 by  Oscar Merne. The BTO classification for Mute Swans, is that recoveries over 40km are interesting.  Arklow is 45Km away so this is only my second interesting Mute Swan recovery!  I've now reported 50 individual mute Swans. (Broadlough in Wicklow to Swords Dublin is my only other "interesting recovery" at 53km)

December 16th

Lunch at Sean Walsh Park.  Black Headed Gull E5VA which turned up yesterday after 6 weeks followed me around today. First at lake 3, then 4 and even at lake 5 it was there!  Black Headed Gull 27H0 from England was present as always.  Just as I was leaving I saw another Darvic.  Black Headed Gull White[NUT] from Denmark was ringed in 2005 making it one of the older Gulls. Although I saw it first in the Park in  January, February March 2012.  I saw it February + March 2013.  It didn't show in 2014 until now.  I know it has been in Dublin as Sean has sighted it roosting at Sandymount Strand.  But back in Sean Walsh today!

December 15th

Lunch time at Sean Walsh Park and three rings on Black Headed Gulls.  27H0 from England, 6430814 from Sweden and EV5A showed up from Holland.  The Black Headed Gull E5VA has been missing since November 5th, so great to see this bird that I have been watching since a Juvenile in 2012.

Black Headed Gull E5VA from Holland

Black Headed Gull 27H0 from England

December 14th

While driving Past Tallaght Community School, I noticed a yellow Darvic.  I stopped and photographed Black Headed Gull Yellow[217G]K.  I have never seen this individual in any of the local parks but this is the 8th or 9th time over 3 years it has been seen on the all weather pitch.  I have written about this individual before, but it is from Lough Mask and one of a rapidly decreasing Irish breeding population.  The vast majority of the other Gulls are foreign wintering Gulls.

Black Headed Gull with Yellow Darvic 217G

December 13th

A frosty morning in Bray looking for Coloured Ringed Black Headed Gulls.  None seen.  The Herring Gull from Scotland was present - 3rd week in a row.

December 12th

The Black Headed Gull from Denmark White[4ET] continues to be an anomaly by today turning up in Sean Walsh Park.  It is the only duel park bird I know also turning up in Tymon Park a kilometer away.  Last seen 29th November in Tymon Park.  It did the same trick last year.  The Black Headed Gull in breeding Plumage (- almost) was present and I got an additional 2 digits but it is very shy and doesn't come to bread!  Last year I had a late molting Black Headed gull with a badly worn ring upside down and all I got was *3602***.  This would make it 3602*397.  I would love to get the country

I now have **02*397! 

December 9th

At lunch today in Sean Walsh Park, Black Headed Gulls 6430814 from Sweden, 27H0 from England were present (as always). 6J-4103 from Denmark had it's full code read for the first time this winter.  It may have been in the park up to now but metals are always tricky to read.  However, the Black Headed Gull in (almost) full breeding Plumage was hungry enough to come within 8 meters and I tried to read it's ring.  I quickly discovered it was upside down and reverted to Camera.  I only got 3 digits 397, and no scheme, but it stands out from the crowd.

December 8th

Caspian Gull showing well today in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght.

3rd winter Caspian.  Sorry photo is so dark!

Caspian Gull

December 7th

The north Side of Broadmeadows Estuary appeared to be closed this morning but at first light the Mute Swans were out near the kennels.  I read the four with rings but the gulls weren't coming in so I moved towards Howth.  There were Brent on the shore at Malahide but only one with rings.

Brent SURY (Right leg letter, Left Leg letter, Right leg Colour, Left leg Colour)

I continued on towards Howth, not expecting much.  As I was passing Portmarnock I remembered that in November 2013 I had seen a Herring Gull on the roof of the Church.  I pulled into the carpark and there it was again!  Same roof 13 months later!

Herring Gull 0JN 

Howth did produce 3 Coloured ringed Great Black Backed Gulls, one Coloured Ringed Herring Gull and I read a metal ring on a Herring Gull, but no foreign Gulls

Herring Gull 0LJ at Howth

But on the way home I spotted a Black Headed Gull with a Darvic on teh foot path in Clontarf.  I stopped and got my camera and walked back.  It was still there.  It flew onto a nearby garage but I got the full code.  It was from Poland!  Saved be best till last.

The Polish Black Headed Gull at Clontarf

Polish Black Headed Gull on Petrol Station!

December 6th

I went to Bray Harbour at first light to see if the Black Headed Gull I saw last week VY42 was present and to get a record photograph.  It wasn't there!  The Scottish Herring Gull was still there.  It looks like it has gone this far south and is staying.  It will be interesting to see if it stays around for winter.

December 4th

For a change I went to Tymon Park, Spa Well entrance, to see what was around.  Plenty of Black Headed Gulls, about 80, but no coloured rings.  I did spot a metal and set about photographing it.

Eventually after 100 frames and throwing bread left and right to photograph the ring from all sides. The sun kept coming out the camera exposures were all over the place but I got the full code.  As I entered it into my own data base, predictive text showed it wasn't the first time I'd seen it.! I saw it on December 7th 2013 at the exact same location! Great to get repeat sightings