Latvia to Lurgan to Latvia to Lurgan to Latvia and back!

Almost two years ago (to the day), we caught and colour-ringed a bird at Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh which had already been fitted with a Latvian metal ring. The bird was subsequently seen a couple of times that winter before being photographed on Getlini dump near Riga, Latvia (see here) in April 2015 and again in April 2016 having spent the winter months in between back at Kinnego.

01/11/2014	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
14/03/2015	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
12/04/2015	Riga, LATVIA	Getlini dump
26/11/2015	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
29/11/2015	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
01/02/2016	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
14/02/2016	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina
06/04/2016	Riga, LATVIA	Getlini dump
23/10/2016	Lough Neagh	Kinnego Marina

As you can see from the table above, 2BPP has returned to Kinngeo for another winter and it was photographed a couple of days ago. The metal ring is very worn and it is unlikely that it would've been possible to identify this individual without the colour-ring.

Photo by Gary Platt

Many thanks to Gary for his report and photo.

Look who's back...

Back in July, we received word of one of "our" birds in Oslo, Norway (see here).

2ALP had been ringed as a chick on Blue Circle Island in Larne Lough in 2013 and hadn't been seen until last winter, when it spent the early part of the winter at Whitehouse Lagoon, Belfast Lough.

At the end of September, Suzanne photographed 2ALP back at Whitehouse. it's fantastic to confirm the bird back in NI.

Photo by Suzanne Belshaw

Also seen at Whitehouse on the same day was T56W, a Polish-ringed bird which has overwintered at this site for at least the past two years (see here and here).

Photo by Suzanne Belshaw

Many thanks to Suzanne for her reports and photos.

Another Grampian Oyk in Ireland

You might remember the report of a colour-ringed Oystercatcher at Belfast Lough this time last year and in case you don't, click here!

The bird had been ringed by Grampian Ringing Group and was the third record of one of their birds here.

Recently, Suzanne managed to photograph another bird which turned out to be part of the same study.

T96 at Killough, Co. Down
Photo by Suzanne Belshaw

T96 was seen at Killough, Co. Down and we've heard back from Harry Scott at Grampian Ringing Group that it had been ringed as a chick in June 2015 at Strathdon. 

It was one of a brood of three, one of the first broods of young birds GRG fitted with yellow darvics.

T96 with its siblings
Photo by Harry Scott

Many thanks to Suzanne for passing on her sighting and to Harry for the information. 

If you see a colour-ringed Oystercatcher which you think if part of Grampian Ringing Group's study, you can contact Harry at picades (@) ifb.co.uk

2015 BHG NI Annual Report

As it's almost time to prepare the 2016 annual report, I thought it was about time I FINALLY put the 2015 report online...better late than never!

Sincere apologies, it's been sitting almost complete since January and being lazy / forgettful / busy...it was never uploaded.

Well, here it is - enjoy!

2015 Annual Report