Eirol landfill, Portugal (January 12, 2015)

One of two adult Herring gulls Larus argentatus present at the site.




Herring gull number two.




Ringed Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, from Véron, les Prés Pendus, Yonne, FRANCE 48,07N 3,17E. One of two birds observed.




A Pied wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii (top) and white wagtail M. a. alba (bottom).




The only signs of the young Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus that resided at the landfill for some time (see previous posts) were 10 older remains of Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus…

...and, remarkably, the remains of a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus. Not a common prey for a Peregrine.

Gullrings at the Eirol landfill, Aveiro (Portugal): March 3, 2014

Today Pedro Moreiro and I visited the Eirol landfill. We searched for rings between 7:15 and 14:15. There were a few short showers spread out over this period, but most of the time it stayed dry. It was also rather windy. There were fewer gulls present than during our previous visit; about 19.000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2000 Black-headed Gulls, 150 Yellow-legged Gulls, one Greater Black-backed Gull and one Mediterranean Gull. We counted 15 Black Kites, which regularly flushed the gulls and by the time of our departure had pretty much claimed the pit, making it difficult to read anymore rings. 41 rings were read. Some of today’s photos:

Adult Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, from the UK.

Adult Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

Immature Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, from Scotland.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, from The Netherlands.

 Immature Greater Black-backed Gull Larus marinus.