Pictures: Teus Luijendijk

July 2002, Ooltgensplaat ZH

February 2005, Katwijk aan Zee ZH

July 2002, Ooltgensplaat ZH

This beautiful gull has always been very scarce in The Netherlands, but recently its numbers have increased sharply. Where there have been loose breeding pairs (mostly in Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus  colonies) in a variety of locations scattered all over the country for years, there has been a noteworthy boom in the SW of the country. This resulted in a total figure of over 1000 breeding pairs in 2001.
A very good place to watch breeding birds is in a colony near the town of Ooltgensplaat. A hide (aptly named Zwartkopmeeuw  after Mediterranean Gull) placed here provides good views on a near-by mixed colony of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls. It was here that I made some video shots of recently fledged juvenile birds.