Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)
(last update:
Mediterranean Gull adult PAN2 July 06 2014, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
Plastic ring lost, code on metal ring read. Ringing data: ringed as adult female on May 18 2006 at SKOKI DUŻE,WŁOCŁAWEK,POLAND (KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE) by M. Zielińska/P Zieliński.
Life history:
27/07/2006 - Boulogne-sur-mer,Pas-de-Calais,France C.Duponcheel.
15/01/2007 - Boulogne-sur-mer,Pas-de-Calais,France JM.Sauvage / E.Sauvage.
19/02/2007 - Wimereux,Pas-de-Calais,France JM.Sauvage
14/07/2007 - Calais "port",Pas-de-Calais,France M.Zielinska / P.Decory
02/08/2007 - Boulogne-sur-mer'port",Pas-de-Calais,France C.Duponcheel / R.Flamant
15/09/2007 - Le-Portel,Pas-de-Calais,France JM.Sauvage
04/12/2007 - Wimereux,Pas-de-Calais,France C.Duponcheel,M.Zielińska,D.Tirmarche
26/07/2009 - Boulogne-sur-mer"plage",Pas-de-Calais,France R.Flamant
04/09/2009 - Boulogne-sur-mer"plage",Pas-de-Calais,France F. Engelen
10/10/2009 - Boulogne-sur-mer"plage",Pas-de-Calais,France A.Driencourt
02/08/2011 - Boulogne-sur-mer"plage",Pas-de-Calais,France R.Flamant
13/02/2013 - Le-Portel,Pas-de-Calais,France JM.Sauvage
06/07/2014 - Boulogne sur mer "port",Pas-de-Calais,France JM.Sauvage
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.
