Larus armenicus

(last update: 10-1-2011)

Coordinators:
Amir Ben Dov (Israel)
Mars Muusse (Netherlands)

adult armenicus: December


Autumn storms happen only about three times a year along the Israelian coast. This is how the gulls take shelter during a storm at Ashdod. Ashdod is situated in the center of Israel about 20 minutes south to Tel Aviv. The best location to look for gulls is on the northeast of the town, where you find an active waste dump area. Also, here is a location where fresh water enters the ponds and gulls like to bath and preen. These location are only two km from the seashore.

Best time to observe gulls in Ashdod is from October to March, when normally six species of gulls are present. Most common are Armenian, Baltic, Heuglin's and Caspian Gulls. Also Steppe Gull occurs here with numbers varrying from 10 to over 100 (during winter storms). Furthermore a few Yellow-Legged Gulls, and 'the king of gulls': Pallas's Gull. Several median sized gulls are observed: Common Gull is rare (1-2 birds), and rarely you'll find 1-2 Audouin's Gulls. From time to time a very few Mediterranean Gulls are present.

Ashdod is the top site in Israel to read colour rings on Baltic Gulls (Larus fuscus).


Resting group at the beach in fading light. Grey tone of mantle depends on the relative angle to the observer.


Fightling over food, showing pattern on upperwing and tail.


Sun-rise over the ponds of Maayan Zvi.

Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov. Courtship ceremony.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 06 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult, December 15 2012, Ashdod, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Larus armenicusLarus armenicus adult December 15 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.