Mediterranean Gull |
Zwartkopmeeuw |
Larus melanocephalus
Pictures: Teus Luijendijk
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.
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Mediterranean Gull - Zwartkopmeeuw Larus melanocephalus videograbs (approx. 250x). |
February 2005, Katwijk aan Zee ZH
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Mediterranean Gull - Zwartkopmeeuw Larus melanocephalus digiscope pictures (approx. 100x). | |
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Mediterranean Gull - Zwartkopmeeuw Larus melanocephalus digiscope pictures (approx. 100x). |
Copyright ©Teus Luijendijk 2002-2005