Larus cachinnans

(last update: February 16, 2013)

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1cy August
1cy September
1cy October
1cy November
1cy December

2cy January
2cy February
2cy March
2cy April
2cy May
2cy June
2cy July
2cy August
2cy September
2cy October
2cy November
2cy December

3cy January
3cy February
3cy March
3cy April
3cy May
3cy June
3cy July
3cy August
3cy September
3cy October
3cy November
3cy December

sub-adult January
sub-adult February
sub-adult March
sub-adult April
sub-adult May
sub-adult June
sub-adult July
sub-adult August
sub-adult September
sub-adult October
sub-adult November
sub-adult December

adult January
adult February
adult March
adult April
adult May
adult June
adult July
adult August
adult September
adult October
adult November
adult December

adult cachinnans: December

Observations of ringed birds in Israel

Between 01 and 03 June 1998, Dorit Leibers ringed about 120 Larus cachinnans in the largest cachinnans colony in the northwest Caspian Sea. From this group, seven birds were relocated at Ashdod and Shifdan (which is about 20 km north to Ashdod), and another one was seen at Eilat. One of those birds, first seen in Israel, was recorded one month later as well at Larnaka, Cyprus on January 1999.

Ehud Dovrat, probably the man with the largest record for reading gull rings in Israel, also contributed heavily on the recordings of cachinnans. Below is a list of the recordings. Many thanks to the ringers and Ukrain ringing centre!

(Location in Caspian Sea. Click image for pictures of the two colonies)
 
Rings from Ukraine - fledged at northern Black Sea
 
UJC8
Ringed 02 July 1998  fledged - northern Black Sea (4626N 3145E). 
Recorded in Israel: 22+29 Jan 1999, 12+13+20 Febr 1999, 05 Mar 1999.

UYC5
Ringed 25 June 1998  fledged - northern Black Sea (4624N 3203E). 
Recorded in Israel: 15+16 Jan 1999.

UPJ0
Ringed 29 June 1998  fledged - northern Black Sea (4624N 3203E). 
Recorded in Israel: 31 Dec 1999, 28 Jan 2000, 11 Febr 2000.

URH1
Ringed 29 June 1998  fledged - northern Black Sea (4624N 3203E). 
Recorded in Israel: 14 Jan 2000.

Rings from Ukraine - fledged at northwest Caspian Sea

K070 (DB437026)
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 18+25+26 Dec 1998, 1+9+15+16 Jan 1999, 5+27 Febr 1999, 5+12+13 Mar 1999.
 
K120
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 2+8+15+16 Jan 1999 at Shifdan. Next month recorded at Larnaka, Cyprus (3453N 3337E). Again in Israel: 19 Febr 1999 by John Sanders.
 
K117
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 8+9+15+16+22 Jan 1999, 5+6+12+13+19+20+24+26+27 Febr 1999, 5+12+13 Mar 1999, 21+22 Jan 2000 recorded at Shifdan.
 
K116 
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 16 Jan 1999, 21 Jan 2000, 18 Febr 2000, 29 Dec 2000, 20+26 Jan 2001, 16 Febr 2001 recorded at Shifdan. 
 
K031 
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 16 Jan 1999, 5+12+13+24+27 Febr 1999, 5+6 Mar 1999 recorded at Shifdan.
 
K123
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 6+20+24 Febr 1999, 23 Mar 1999 recorded at Shifdan. 19 Jan 2001, 9 Febr 2001 recorded at Ashdod.
 
K098
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 19+20 Mar 1999, 7 Jan 2000, 29 Febr 2000 recorded at Shifdan. 1+9+29 Dec 2000,  12 Jan 2001, 2 Febr 2001, 8+21 Dec 2001 recorded at Ashdod.
 
K053
Ringed 02 June 1998  fledged - northwest Caspian Sea (4501N 4818E). 
Recorded in Israel: 5 May 1999 recorded at Eilat (by Barak Granit, Rami Lindros, Trevor Elery).

Interpretation of data

Of course, the number of recoveries is limited to make any firm statements, still they total 81 'observation days'. Interestingly, there are no real autumn records, nor even late autumn records. Almost all observation are from mid-winter. Apparently, cachinnans remain in the near area of the breeding grounds and probably wander around there at waste dumps or beaches. Once it really gets cold by November, they start moving south and by December and January can be found in Israel.
This is different from the pattern in W Europe, where cachinnans (like Mediterranean michahellis) may arrive as early as August. Birds then still in complete juvenile plumage.

Larus cachinnans adult, December 23 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.

Rather pale-eyed individual.

Larus cachinnans adult, December 15 2012, Ashdod, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.

Larus cachinnans adult, December 15 2012, Ashdod, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.