MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Larus melanocephalus

Mediterranean Gull is a small gull which breeds almost entirely in Europe, mainly in the south east but especially around the Black Sea and central Turkey. There are colonies elsewhere in southern Europe and this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in recent decades. Birders often abbreviate its name to 'Med Gull'. It has colonised Britain, mainly in southern and eastern England with numbers exceeding two hundred in 2000. In winter they migrate to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.

There have been around three hundred Mediterranean Gulls reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1979: (1)

An adult was seen in a flooded field at Stoke Gifford on March 18th. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

1981: (1)

One was seen in flight over the M4/ M5 interchange at Almondsbury on February 21st.

1983: (1)

A 2nd year bird was seen at New Passage on December 27th.

1984: (1)

One was seen at Freezing Hill near Doynton on December 4th.

1986: (1)

One was seen off Severn Beach on December 27th.

1987: (2)

Two adults were seen near Marshfield on July 27th.

1990: (2)

One was seen at New Passage on April 15th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on August 22nd.

1991: (1)

One was seen off Severn Beach on August 22nd.

1992: (2)

One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on September 10th; One was seen at Cold Ashton on September 17th.

1993: (1)

A Juvenile/ 1st winter was seen at Oldbury Power Station on August 16th.

1994: (2)

One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on July 20th; A 1st winter was at Thornbury on August 22nd.

1995: (1)

An adult was found at Oldbury Power Station on July 13th.

1996: (8)

An adult was seen at New Passage on February 26th; An adult was noted at Oldbury Power Station on March 19th; An adult was seen at New Passage on March 30th; An adult was noted at Oldbury Power Station on July 17th; A juvenile was noted at Oldbury Power Station on July 19th; An adult was noted at Oldbury Power Station on August 11th; An adult was seen at New Passage from September 15th - 17th; An adult was noted at Oldbury Power Station on December 15th and 17th.

1997: (11)

An adult was seen on Severnside on February 18th and 26th; An adult was seen on Severnside on May 4th; A 2nd summer was seen on Severnside on June 7th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 11th and 19th; An adult was seen on Severnside on August 30th; On Severnside 1st winter birds were noted on August 31st, September 3rd, 21st and 25th.

1998: (9)

A 2nd winter was seen on Severnside on January 1st; An adult was noted on Severnside on January 11th; An adult was seen on Severnside on February 8th; A 2nd summer was seen on Severnside on March 30th; A 1st winter was seen at Oldbury Power Station on September 20th; A 2nd winter was seen on Severnside on October 25th; Two, an adult and a 2nd winter were seen on Severnside on October 28th; An adult was noted on Severnside on December 20th.

1999: (11)

An adult was noted on Severnside on January 31st; A 1st summer was seen on Severnside on July 4th; An adult was noted on Severnside on August 10th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on August 11th and 28th; An adult was seen on Severnside on December 3rd. 12th. 19th and 27th; On December 28th an adult and a 2nd winter were noted on Severnside.

2000: (20)

An adult was seen on Severnside on January 11th and 13th; An adult was seen on Severnside on March 2nd; A 2nd summer was noted on Severnside on April 30th; A 1st winter/ summer was seen on Severnside on May 13th; Two 2nd summers were seen on Severnside on June 19th; Two adults was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 14th - 15th; A 2nd summer was noted on Severnside on July 30th; An adult wearing a green French ring was seen on July 20th - 21st at Oldbury Power Station; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on August 1st - 2nd; An adult was seen on Severnside on August 12th and was joined by a 1st summer/ 2nd winter on August 13th; A 1st winter was noted at Oldbury Power Station on August 27th; A juvenile was seen on Severnside on August 28th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on September 26th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on October 8th; An adult was seen on Severnside on October 8th, 10th and 11th; An adult was seen on Severnside on November 15th and 26th; An adult was noted at Littleton on December 30th.

2001: (7)

A 1st winter was seen at Oldbury Power Station on February 24th; One was seen on Severnside on June 6th; A 2nd summer was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 19th and was joined by an adult on July 21st; A 2nd winter was noted at Oldbury Power Station on August 3rd and was joined by an adult on August 6th; An adult was at Oldbury Power Station on August 30th.

2002: (c.30)

One was seen at Littleton Warth sometime in January; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on January 4th; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on February 24th; One was seen at the Sun Life Centre at Filton sometime in February; There were four seen at New Passage on April 13th; At least three separate individuals, a juvenile, 2nd summer and adult were seen at New Passage throughout July; An adult was present at New Passage throughout August; A juvenile was seen at Severn Beach on August 22nd; A 1st summer was noted at New Passage on August 31st; An adult was seen throughout September at New Passage; A 1st winter was seen at New Passage on September 8th; One was noted at Oldbury Power Station sometime in September; One was seen at Harnhill Tip, near Elberton sometime in September; An adult was seen throughout October at New Passage; A 1st winter was seen at New Passage on October 5th and 8th; Three were seen at Harnhill Tip, near Elberton sometime in October; An adult was seen at New Passage on November 6th; An adult was seen at Northwick Warth on December 31st; One was seen at Harnhill Tip, near Elberton sometime in December.

Mediterranean Gull at Severn Beach. August 2002. © Paul Bowerman.

2003: (c.20)

In January One was seen at Harnhill Tip near Elberton in sometime this month; An adult was on Northwick Warth on the 2nd - 3rd; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on the 21st and 26th. An adult was seen at Severn Beach on February 25th. An adult was seen at Severn Beach on March 9th; A 1st summer was seen at Severn Beach on March 10th. A 1st summer was note at Severn Beach on May 1st, 3rd and 4th. A 1st summer was at Severn Beach on June 1st. A summer adult was on Northwick Warth on July 7th; A juvenile was at Severn Beach and a moulting adult was seen at New Passage on July 22nd. On July 23rd a juvenile was seen at New Passage; A moulting adult was at New Passage on July 29th - 30th. In August one was noted at Pilning sometime this month; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on August 2nd and then at New Passage on August 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th. On August 16th there were two, an adult at New Passage and a 2nd summer at Severn Beach. An adult was seen again at New Passage on August 18th - 21st and the 27th - 29th. In September an adult remained at New Passage throughout the month; On September 27th there were three, two adults and a 2nd winter on Northwick Warth. An adult was seen regularly at New Passage on October 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th then moving to Northwick Warth on the 31st. An adult was seen regularly at New Passage on November 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th; Northwick Warth on November 13th, 23rd and 27th, Aust Warth on November 26th. An adult was seen at New Passage on December 7th, 9th, 17th, 20th, 22nd and 27th. A 2nd winter was seen at New Passage on December 14th; Others were noted at: Oldbury Power Station in July, August and September.

Mediterranean Gulls at left Severn Beach in July - Centre left New Passage in July - Centre right New Passage in August and right New Passage in September 2003.

And left New Passage in October - Right New Passage in December 2003: All © Paul Bowerman.

2004: (c.45)

At Oldbury Power Station:

An winter adult was seen on Lagoon III on January 27th; Four moulting adults were seen on July 25th; An adult was seen on August 8th; An adult was seen in fields to the north of Lagoon III on August 22nd; An adult was present on September 10th; A 2nd winter was seen on September 28th.

On Severnside:

On January 3rd an adult was on Northwick Warth; On January 13th an adult flew past Severn Beach; On January 14th an adult was at Severn Beach; On January 23rd an adult was at New Passage; On January 28th an adult was at Severn Beach. On February 1st an adult was at New Passage; On February 10th an adult was at Severn Beach; On February 22nd a summer adult flew past Severn Beach. On March 8th a summer adult was at Northwick Warth. On April 4th a 1st winter was at Severn Beach; On April 6th a 1st winter was at New Passage. On June 17th a 1st summer flew past Severn Beach.

On July 6th a summer adult with a green colour ring on it's left leg was found at Severn Beach; On July 7th and 9th an adult was seen on Severn Beach; On July 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th - 21st, 23rd - 26th and 27th - 30th an adult (unringed) was present at New Passage; On July 21st and 26th a juvenile was seen at New Passage; On July 22nd a moulting adult and a juvenile were seen together at New Passage; On July 31st an adult roosted on Northwick Warth.

On August 1st an adult was seen on Northwick Warth; August 2nd two juveniles were present at New Passage; On August 3rd and 24th a juvenile was seen at New Passage; On August 4th -  8th, 10th - 11th, 22nd and 28th a moulting adult was noted at New Passage. One sometime in September at Littleton Warth; On September 1st a juvenile was seen at New Passage; On September 3rd, 7th - 9th, 16th, 25th and 29th an adult was at New Passage; On September 23rd a 1st winter was seen at New Passage. On October 4th an adult was present at New Passage. On November 13th, 15th an adult was seen at Northwick Warth; On November 21st an adult was seen at New Passage. One at Olveston sometime in December; On December 14th an adult was noted at Severn Beach; On December 26th one was present at Northwick Warth.

Mediterranean Gulls at left Severn Beach in July - Centre left and right New Passage in July - And right August at New Passage 2004. © Paul Bowerman.

2005: (c.25)

An adult was seen at Severn Beach on January 2nd; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on February 12th; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on March 7th; A 1st summer was present at New Passage on March 21st; A 1st summer was noted at Severn Beach on May 5th. One was seen at Littleton Warth sometime in July; An  adult was seen at New Passage on July 17th, 18th, 26th and 31st; A juvenile was present at New Passage on July 20th; Two adults were seen at New Passage on July 22nd.

An adult was seen at New Passage on August 3rd; 7th; 10th; 12th, 13th, 27th; A juvenile/ 1st winter was noted at New Passage on August 17th and 30th; An adult was seen on Northwick Warth on August 20th and 25th; A juvenile/ 1st winter was present at Severn Beach on August 23rd and 24th;  A juvenile was seen at Oldbury Power Station on August 19th; A winter adult was noted on August 20th on Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station.

An adult was noted at New Passage on September 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 21st, 25th - 27th and the 30th. An adult was noted at New Passage on October 5th, 10th, 11th, 26th and 31st with a 1st winter here on the 28th. A 2nd winter was seen at New Passage on November 11th; An adult was at New Passage on November 17th and 30th. An adult was seen on December 10th and 20th from New Passage.

Mediterranean Gulls left in July - centre in August and right September all at New Passage 2005. © Paul Bowerman.

2006: (c.45)

At Oldbury Power Station:

A summer adult was seen in the evening roost on the Tidal Reservoir on March 17th; A summer adult was on Lagoon III on July 1st; One was noted on July 8th;  A summer adult was seen on Lagoon III on July 14th; A summer adult was present over Frampton Cotterell July 16th; On July 17th two adults (one full summer, one moulting) were on Lagoon III; A moulting adult was seen on Lagoon III on July 28th; One was reported from Littleton Warth sometime in September; A winter adult was on Lagoon III on November 11th.

On Severnside:

An adult was seen at Severn Beach on January 5th; On February 4th an adult was seen at Severn Beach; An adult was noted in the Northwick Warth area on March 3rd; On March 30th a 2nd summer was noted at Severn Beach. An adult was at New Passage on July 8th; A 1st summer was at Severn Beach on July 9th; An adult was at New Passage and a juvenile was at Severn Beach on July 15th; An adult was at Northwick Warth on July 17th; An adult was at New Passage on July 18th and 19th; A juvenile was at New Passage on July 21st and 29th; Two moulting adults were at New Passage on July 26th and 27th with one present on July 28th; A juvenile and an adult were present at New Passage on July 31st.

Mediterranean Gull at Severn Beach. July 2006. © Paul Bowerman.

An adult and a juvenile were seen at New Passage on August the 1st, 3rd, 14th and 15th; An adult was noted at New Passage on August 2nd, 16th and 24th; A juvenile was present at New Passage on August 4th, 10th 20th and 21st; On August 13th an adult and a 2nd summer were present at Northwick Warth; Two adults were noted at Northwick Warth on August 17th. A 2nd winter was found at Severn Beach on September 1st and 22nd; An adult was seen at New Passage on September 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 21st and 30th; A 2nd summer was seen at Severn Beach on September 16th.

An adult was seen at Northwick Warth on October 8th and 14th; On October 12th an adult was seen at Severn Beach; An adult was present at New Passage on October 12th, 15th, 30th and 31st. There were two, an adult and a 1st winter at New Passage on November 28th; Two adults were noted at New Passage on November 29th. An adult was seen at Severn Beach on December 3rd; A 1st winter was seen at New Passage on December 4th.

Mediterranean Gulls at left New Passage in March - Centre at New Passage in July - And right Northwick Warth in August 2006: © Paul Bowerman.

2007: (27)

An adult was noted at New Passage on January 1st and 2nd; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on January 5th. An adult was seen at New Passage on February 2nd; Two adults were noted at Southworthy Farm behind New Passage on February 5th. A 2nd winter was seen at New Passage on March 17th; A 1st winter was seen at Aust Warth on March 30th. There were three, an adult, a 2nd summer and a 1st summer at Severn Beach on April 17th; A 1st summer was seen at Severn Beach on April 21st. A 1st summer was seen at Severn Beach on May 6th.

A 1st summer was seen at Severn Beach on July 5th; A 1st summer was seen at New Passage on July 9th; An adult was noted at New Passage on July 11th; A summer adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 14th on Lagoon III; A 1st summer was seen at Aust Warth on July 15th at 14:00; An adult was seen in flight heading down river off New Passage on July 28th; A moulting adult was present in the evening on Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on July 29th and again on the shore on August 2nd; A juvenile was noted at New Passage on July 29th.

Mediterranean Gull at Oldbury Power Station. July 2007. © Pete Hazelwood.

NB

'Micky the Med' our regular returning adult usually present most days from July to September has been coming here since July 2002 and can even be seen perching on it's regular rock! Of course it is sometimes joined by different adults and younger birds that don't linger... Paul Bowerman.

An adult and juvenile were present at New Passage on August 1st; An adult was seen at New Passage/ Northwick Warth from August 2nd - 8th, 24th and 30th - 31st; On August 9th an adult and a moulting 2nd winter were noted on the shore at Oldbury Power Station in the evening;

Mediterranean Gull at left Northwick Warth and right New Passage. August 2007. © Paul Bowerman.

In September an adult continued to show in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth areas on the 5th and 6th and was joined by a 1st winter on the 8th. An adult was noted at Severn Beach on the 24th and 27th.

Mediterranean Gull at New Passage. September 2007. © Paul Bowerman.

In October the regular adult was seen at New Passage on the 3rd and 27th. On November 3rd an adult was roosting on the shingle island at Severn Beach; An adult was seen at Severn Beach on November 9th and 10th; A 1st winter was seen at Severn Beach on November 11th; An adult was noted at New Passage on November 22nd, December 1st and 26th.

2008: (c. 12)

A near summer adult was seen with gulls in flooded fields near the Western Approaches traffic lights at Severn Beach on January 8th; A winter adult was on show at New Passage on January 12th; A 2nd winter was seen in flight by the R. Avon just north of Keynsham from the public footpath towards Swineford this afternoon; An adult was present at Severn Beach on March 21st; A 2nd summer was seen at Severn Beach on April 19th; Two, 1st and 2nd summer birds were present at Severn Beach on May 6th with the 2nd summer present on May 10th and the 1st summer present on May 11th.

An adult  was seen over the evening tide at Severn Beach at 19:00 on July 1st; An adult was among gulls flying downriver at high tide at Oldbury Power Station and then roosting at the yacht club in the evening on July 2nd and the same or another adult was roosting on Northwick Warth at around 19:00; An adult was seen at New Passage on July 3rd and around 13:30 on July 6th; An adult was seen in the roost on Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on July 8th; Two were reported from Oldbury Power Station this morning with an adult still present on Lagoon III later in the day on July 12th; A moulting adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on Lagoon III in the evening roost on July 15th, 16th & 17th; An adult and juvenile were present at Oldbury Power Station in the evening roost on July 19th;