Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)
(last update:
Mediterranean Gull adult 93A January 15 2012, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
Ringing data: ringed >3CY on 24/06/2001 Rijkevorsel, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,21N 4,46E Berckvens, Ludo. Originally also a green ring was attached, 93A, so there are a lot of recoveries from the first years, prior to the date the colour ring was lost.
The bird was found in a flock of Med Gulls, and just died at the beach, instantly. The bird is not lean; it did not swallow a fishing hook; no trace of impact of lead shot (no internal hemorrhage). A little blood came out of his beak and reminded Jean-Michel of a few possible collision moments before (the Med Gulls also feed in the village Le Portel, and the bird may be hit by a car).
Life history:
Green93A Bruxelles E901904 >3CY 24/06/2001 Rijkevorsel, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,21N 4,46E Berckvens, Ludo
23/07/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
23/07/2001 Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,43N 1,37ED, Camille
26/07/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EDuponcheel, Camille
02/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
11/08/2001 Equihen-Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,41N 1,34ED, Alexandre
11/08/2001 Equihen-Plage, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,41N 1,34ED, Camille
15/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Alexandre
17/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
18/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
20/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
21/08/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
10/10/2001 Le Portel, Parking Roro, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,44N 1,35ESauvage, JM
02/11/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Armin
02/11/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Sabine
02/01/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
02/03/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EP, Serge
09/04/2002 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EF, Renaud
01/05/2002 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EM, Albert
12/05/2002 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EM, Albert
18/05/2002 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EM, Albert
16/07/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
26/07/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
10/08/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Alexandre
10/08/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
23/08/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
24/08/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Alexandre
24/08/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED V, Philippe
10/09/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
24/09/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
25/09/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
13/10/2002 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37EL, Jean-Pierre
16/10/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EP, Marie-Claire
16/10/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EP, Serge
18/10/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EP, Marie-Claire
18/10/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EP, Serge
18/10/2002 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ET H, Job
30/10/2002 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37EC, Philippe
30/10/2002 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37ED, Camille
24/01/2003 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37ED, Camille
20/02/2003 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37ED, Camille
20/02/2003 Wimereux, Plage Nord, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,46N 1,37ED, Jean-François
13/03/2003 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EF, Renaud
28/03/2003 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17EF, Renaud
30/03/2003 Zandvlietsluis, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,17ED S, Geert
10/04/2003 Stabroek, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,2N 4,22EV L, Bram
30/07/2003 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EV, Iven
31/07/2003 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
04/08/2003 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EF, Renaud
06/08/2003 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EK, Leon
06/08/2003 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34Ev de M, Barbara
10/02/2004 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34ED, Camille
28/02/2004 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34EC, Philippe
Colour ring green 93A lost.
15/01/2012 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE 50,42N 1,34E found dead, green ring 93A lost. Sauvage, JM
First sighting in 2012.
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.
