Med. Gull question

[Karl J]

After finally getting down to see the Med gulls on & around Gt Yarmouth sealife centre today, I now know what to look for over on Breydon.

But where they go in summer ?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Carlos,

Most of the ones that winter in Britain are breeding in Belgium and the Netherlands. Some are also breeding in Britain as well now (about a hundred pairs in the latest rare breeding bird report in British Birds)

Michael

[cjay]

But some oversummer here & at breydon water. It has always been a mystery why the Med Gulls favour this stretch of beach in winter. It could be due to the anglers usuing the pier & discarding abit nearby.
BTW there is a cafe opposite the site that does very good food.

CJ

[Karl J]

Cheers Michael & colin


But some oversummer here & at breydon water ....
BTW there is a cafe opposite the site that does very good food.

CJ

cheers ..... sound like 2 points worth remembering I think

[Bluetail]

It has always been a mystery why the Med Gulls favour this stretch of beach in winter.Likewise, down this way, with the whole of Plymouth Sound to choose from and two estuaries, they invariably favour a grotty beach at Torpoint.

Jason

[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
While Med.Gulls are regular in small numbers at most estuaries and beaches here in Co.Cork,and also in numbers in Cork city,the general Cobh/Saleen/Whitegate area is far better than anywhere else,attracting over 20 birds(perhaps closer to 30?)in a given winter.
It seems that the species tends to favour certain sites for no apparent reason....
Harry H

[Andrew Whitehouse]

In Fife birds have been seen with colour rings from both the Netherlands and Hungary. As in Ireland, they seem very tied to 'traditional' sites round here. They are hardly ever recorded around St Andrews (despite sometimes large numbers of small gulls and me and others looking through them) but turn up regularly on the Forth, particularly at Leven.

[Karl J]

Some had green rings & some others red, if that means anything (??) but didn't note any numbers. I'd make a vague guess that there were about 15 - 20 birds.

[cjay]

When were you there was it saturday morning? if so what time?

Did you see two men with beards?

CJ

[Karl J]

No it was Sunday afternoon Colin.

2 men with beards .... hmmm ? .... Not unless you count the Santa's which are still up

[alcedo.atthis]

In the early nineties, Aberdeen usually had 2 Med Gulls seen at 3 regular sites during the winter months. One bird was seen during the breeding season within a large Common Gull breeding colony. Whether it was sucessfull in breeding, or interbreeding, whichever the case, there seems to be no openly available record to show this. The Gull breeding colonies during the summer months are worth a look.


Malky @ Westhill