Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: June 11, 2012 )

Mediterranean Gull adult 37H3 November 09 2010, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Bird from Belgium. Ringed as breeding adult (>3cy) on the nest: Bruxelles E911618, ringed on 14 May 2007 at Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM (51,2N 4,17E).
Very long life history for this bird after 2007, in short:
01/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17E
16/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 5
17/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
18/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
21/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
1/03/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
01/04/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
02/04/2008Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
03/09/2010Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34E
18/09/2010L'Houmeau, Port du Plomb, Charente-Maritime, FRANCE 46,12N 1,12W
09/11/2010Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34E JMS.

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.