Mediterranean Gull
The Mediterranean Gull is intermediate in size between the Common Gull and the Black-headed Gull. The breeding plumage adult is a distinctive white gull with a very pale grey mantle and wings with white primary feathers without black tips. The black hood extends down the nape and shows distinct white eye crescents. The blunt tipped, dark red bill has a black sub-terminal band. The non-breeding adult is similar but the hood is reduced to an extensive dusky "bandit" mask through the eye. The Mediterranean Gull takes 2 years to reach maturity and first year birds have a black terminal tail band and more black areas in the upperwings and pale underwings.
The Mediterranean Gull was formerly restricted to the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean but in recent decades it has undergone a dramatic range expansion and can be found over most of Europe as far as the UK and Ireland. It can be found in scattered colonies of varying size in large reed beds or marshes or on islands in lakes. It is sometimes found nesting in mixed colonies with Black-headed Gull.
In winter, the majority of Mediterranean Gulls migrate to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious during winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts.
The Mediterranean Gull was a very rare UK bird until the 1950s but it is now widespread in winter and breeding in ever increasing numbers. It is mainly found along the east and south coasts of England and most of the breeding population nest within Black-headed Gull colonies at coastal wetlands. It is more widespread in winter with some beaches in Norfolk and Kent attracting more than a hundred birds and it can also be found inland in small numbers wherever Black-headed and Common Gulls gather (especially in roosts on reservoirs).
The Mediterranean Gull tends to be an opportunistic omnivore and eats fish, worms, insects, offal and carrion.
The Mediterranean Gull is not globally threatened and is designated by the IUCN as being “Least Concern”. However, it is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Date: 2nd July 2010
Location: Camber, East Suusex
The Mediterranean Gull was formerly restricted to the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean but in recent decades it has undergone a dramatic range expansion and can be found over most of Europe as far as the UK and Ireland. It can be found in scattered colonies of varying size in large reed beds or marshes or on islands in lakes. It is sometimes found nesting in mixed colonies with Black-headed Gull.
In winter, the majority of Mediterranean Gulls migrate to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious during winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts.
The Mediterranean Gull was a very rare UK bird until the 1950s but it is now widespread in winter and breeding in ever increasing numbers. It is mainly found along the east and south coasts of England and most of the breeding population nest within Black-headed Gull colonies at coastal wetlands. It is more widespread in winter with some beaches in Norfolk and Kent attracting more than a hundred birds and it can also be found inland in small numbers wherever Black-headed and Common Gulls gather (especially in roosts on reservoirs).
The Mediterranean Gull tends to be an opportunistic omnivore and eats fish, worms, insects, offal and carrion.
The Mediterranean Gull is not globally threatened and is designated by the IUCN as being “Least Concern”. However, it is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Date: 2nd July 2010
Location: Camber, East Suusex
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Also in: Gulls
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