View allAll Photos Tagged mediterranean
One of only two Mediterranean gulls amongst hundreds of black-headed, lesser black-backed and yellow-legged gulls on the salt pans at Olhão. I did read that the Med gulls were winter migrants so maybe even these will be gone soon.
ID in summer plumage is straightforward. The head cap is black not dark brown and covers the back of the neck. There is also no black on the wing tips.
One of my favorite photos from Barcelona, taken from a overcrowded and overpriced (10€/one way) cable car that takes you from the Montjuïc to the beach of Barceloneta within 5 minutes or so. (view on black)
Explore #21 + frontpage :O thx all!
OD-AGO - Boeing B-707-321C/HK - TMA - Trans Mediterranean Airlines
at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
c/n 19.269 - built in 1967 for PanAm -
to TMA in 1977 - converted to freighter -
retired and stored Beirut (BEY) in 2004
scanned from Kodachrome-slide
Mediterranean Gull
Irish Name:
Sléibhín meánmhuirí
Scientific name:
Larus melanocephalus
Bird Family:
Gulls
amber
Conservation status
Status
Breeds in small numbers in the south-east. Winter visitor from northwest France, Belgium and the Netherlands, occurring from September to April.
Identification
A small gull, adults are very pale grey above with white underparts and unmistakable all white outer wing feathers. Adults have a black hood and bright red legs and bill in the breeding season, In the winter, the hood is replaced by a dark markings on the head and the bill and legs are less bright. Similar to Black-headed Gull, but slightly bigger with shorter, less pointed wings, a shorter, thicker bill and longer legs. Mediterranean Gulls have three age groups and attain adult plumage after two years when they moult into adult winter plumage. Juveniles have dark, strongly marked upperparts, tail band and dark legs. First year birds retain the dark heavily marked upperwings and tail band, but have a very pale mantle as adults birds do. Second year birds more closely resemble adult birds but show some dark markings in the outer wing feathers.
Voice
A characteristic "mewing", noticeably different in comparison to Black-headed Gull. Mediterranean Gull tends to be less vocal than other gull species in winter.
Diet
Terrestrial and aquatic insects, marine molluscs and fish.
Breeding
A recent colonist, the Mediterranean Gull arrived in Ireland in 1995 and first bred in the Republic in 1996 in Co. Wexford. Prefers low lying islands near the coast on which to breed. Only two or three pairs breed but this is likely to increase with more and more birds seen in suitable habitat in the breeding season. Regularly breeds, at Our Lady's Island Lake in Co. Wexford, along with other nesting seabirds, including Black-headed Gulls, with which it is often associated. The bulk of the population of this species breeds in Eastern Europe, with small colonies in western regions.
Wintering
Present in Ireland as a wintering species in increasing numbers. Is widespread around the east coast and can also been seen elsewhere in smaller numbers. Sandycove in south Co. Dublin is particularly good for this species during the winter months.
Climbing to the top of the Upper Rock of Gibraltar along the Mediterranean Steps. [In explore on 25 Jan 2020]
The good ship Isa Lei approaches the Bay of Marseille and heads for the small off-lying islands of Iles du Frioul for an overnight stop.
I am please the Golfe du Lion is now behind me and the fierce winds that sweep down from the Pyrenees.
Elmarit 21mm f2.8
Adolescent mediterranean gull enjoying early spring at Presqu'Île de Giens, a beautiful nature reserve at Hyères, Côte d'Azur.
... something a little different, from the Mediterranean coast ... away at a conference, sneaking in a little time for some photography ... didn't bring my tripod, what better excuse could there be to try some ICM? have been toying around with it for a while, been completely inspired by the fantastic photos from some of my flickr friends, you know who you are, thanks for the inspiration!
ps: if you had one day in Paris, where would you go? ... I've been to Paris earlier, so don't need to see the touristy sights
... haven't been around flickr too much ... hopefully next week
This beautiful Portuguese squill seems to thrive on warm days and limited water -- this is the first time it has bloomed in at least 10 years. It is native to the western Mediterranean region in Iberia, Italy, and northwest Africa.
Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.
© Melissa Post 2015
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