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Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: June 11, 2012 )

Mediterranean Gull 13cy EX51003 January 13 2010, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Ringing data: ringed as pullus 26 May 1998 at HRUSOV RESERVOIR, BRATISLAVA Slovakia (48°02N*17°13E). Bird only recorded 3 times:

31/07/1999 BOULOGNE-SUR-MER,Pas-de-Calais by Camille Duponcheel.
17/08/1999 LE PORTEL / Pas-de-Calais by Camille Duponcheel and Renaud Flamant.
09/08/2000 LE PORTEL / Pas-de-Calais by Camille Duponcheel and Renaud Flamant.

Now:
13.01.2010 Boulogne-sur-Mer by J.M. Sauvage.

From June to September, a complete moult takes place, into so-called "adult winter" plumage. The head pattern resembles the pattern in first winter birds, with blackish mask behind the eye. The mantle, scapulars, tertials and all the wing-coverts are replaced for plain pearl-grey feathers. The secondaries are completely white. The adult primaries are shiny pearly-grey, flashing white at a distance. There is a black line along the outer-web of P10 (and sometimes on P9 as well). Secondaries, under-wing and tail all completely white. The bare part coloration in adult plumage: Iris brown, orbital ring red or orangey-red, the bill red or orangey-red with a black bill-band and a yellowish tip and the legs dull reddish or dark. There is some variation in 3cy and 4cy wing-tip patterns.