Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: June 11, 2012 )

Mediterranean Gull 4cy R12R July 13 2012, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Bird has been ringed as 2cy at Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE (50,42N 1,34E) on 08 January 2010. Ring recoveries:

14/05/2010 Sol de Loire, Montjean-sur-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,24N 0,53Eprobably male Fossé, A
25/05/2010 Sol de Loire, Montjean-sur-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,24N 0,53EBellion, L
26/05/2010 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,25N 0,48EDerrien, P
26/05/2010 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,25N 0,48EGriard, B
27/05/2010 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,25N 0,48EDerrien, P
05/06/2010 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,25N 0,48EGriard, B
11/07/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EPrudhomme, I
au 24/07/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ELaignel, J
26/07/2010 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37EDuponcheel, C
26/07/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EDumont, P
au 28/07/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EDumont, P
01/08/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EDumont, P
au 12/08/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EVan Huffelen, Henk J
20/11/2010 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EFeys, S
05/03/2011 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EGuichon, M
au 25/03/2011 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,25N 0,48EGriard, B
20/07/2011 Equihen-Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,41N 1,34ELilipaly, S
21/07/2011 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ENagtegaal, J
au 31/07/2011 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EFlamant, R
03/08/2011 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EDuponcheel, C
au 30/08/2011 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EVan Huffelen, Henk J
02/01/2012 Outreau, Bassin Liane, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,37ESauvage, J M
25/02/2012 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ESauvage, J M
23/06/2012 Sonzay, rubbish dump, Indre-et-Loire, France 47,56N 0,46EPresent, J
23/06/2012 Sonzay, rubbish dump, Indre-et-Loire, France 47,56N 0,46EGriard, B
02/07/2012 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ESauvage, J M
12/07/2012 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ESauvage, J M

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.