Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: July 11, 2014 )

Mediterranean Gull 6CY 7S9 July 08 2014, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Ringing data: ringed as pullus on June 12 2009, at Conchil le Temple, Pas de Calais, FRANCE 50,22N 1,4E.
Male.

Life history:
09/05/2011 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, gravières des Bretonnières, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE 47,35N 0,23E - maleRayer.F
10/05/2011 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, gravières des Bretonnières, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE - Rayer.F
11/05/2011 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, gravières des Bretonnières, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE - paired with adult unringed - Rayer.F
13/05/2011 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, gravières des Bretonnières, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE - Rayer, F
15/05/2011 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, gravières des Bretonnières, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE - with nest material in the billRayer.F
03/07/2011 - Outreau, Bassin Liane, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,37ESauvage, JM
20/07/2011 - Equihen-Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,41N 1,34ELilipaly, S
02/08/2011 - Wimereux, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37EFlamant, R
03/08/2011 - Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EFlamant, R
02/08/2012 - Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EFlamant, R
18/08/2012 - Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ESauvage, JM
08/05/2013 - La Flèche, la Monnerie, Sarthe, France 47,42N 0,02ERayer.F
20/06/2013 - La Flèche, la Monnerie, Sarthe, France 47,42N 0,02ERayer.F
24/06/2013 - La Flèche, la Monnerie, Sarthe, France 47,42N 0,02ERayer.F
28/06/2013 - La Flèche, la Monnerie, Sarthe, France 47,42N 0,02ERayer.F
30/06/2013 - Montreuil-sur-Loir, La Bierrerie, Maine-et-Loire, France 47,35N 0,23ERayer.F
28/07/2013 - Le Portel, Hub port, Pas-de-Calais, France 50,43N 1,35ESauvage, JM
07/08/2013 - Le-Portel,Pas-de-Calais,France
20/12/2013 - Plage de Kervel (29) 48° 07' N04° 17' W
10.03/2014 - la Monnerie, La Flèche (72) 47° 42' N 00° 02' W mâle
24/03/2014 - la Monnerie, La Flèche (72) 47° 42' N 00° 02' W
30/03/2014 - Bretonnières,Montreuil-sur-Loir ' 47° 35' N 00° 23' W
19·04·2014 - Bretonnières,Montreuil-sur-Loir ' 47° 35' N 00° 23' W
08/07/2014 - Boulogne sur mer "port"' Pas-de-Calais, France 50.44N 01.35E Sauvage JM

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.