Mediterranean Gull - Yellow 2XJ9

Mediterranean Gulls have been breeding in Ireland since at least 1995, with the first confirmed breeding record being at Blue Circle Island, Larne Lough.  

Since 2015, as well as ringing young Black-headed Gulls, we have been colour-ringing young Med Gulls during our visits to Blue Circle Island. A total of seven young Med Gulls have colour-ringed over the three years since.

We have only received a re-sighting of one of the seven birds so far, but it has been spotted a number of times since.

2XJ9 was ringed by me on Blue Circle Island at the end of June 2016.

2XJ9 being ringed in June 2016

It was then photographed by Neal Warnock at Glenarm, about 12 miles up the Antrim Coast from Larne Lough. 

2XJ9 at Glenarm, August 2016
Photo by Neal Warnock

The bird was not reported again until September last year when it was re-sighted twice in ten days by the same observer at two sites on Loch Ryan. We got word last week that 2XJ9 is still overwintering in Scotland, as the same observer recorded it again, this time at a site just north of Stoneykirk.

Blue - Ringing location
Yellow - Re-sighting locations

We have added a page to the blog, which features photographs of Mediterranean Gulls (ringed and not) which have been recorded here in Northern Ireland. Please check it out by clicking here.

Many thanks to Neal and Brian for reporting their sightings and to Sean for co-ordinating Med Gull colour-ringing in Britain and Ireland.