(13 of 25 PICTS: 13-25)

3B Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 

During the ninety ninetees both Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
and Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis began to settle in The Netherlands in ever
 increasing numbers and both settled quite comfortably in local
Black-headed Gull colonies. The Mediterranean Gulls settle amidst the
Black-headeds and when there is any danger most of them leave the colony
and leave the defense and losses to the Black-headeds! Like other geese,
the Barnacle's like to breed among gulls which see danger coming before
they do. The Barnacle Geese have profited from the protection they got
in the beginning of the fifties when their numbers were dangerously low
as a result of hunting. Since then they slowly recovered but in recent
decennia showed a remarkable expansion from their former stronghold
on Novaya Zemlya to the north Russian coast, then to the Baltic and now
some thousands breed in the SW Netherlands in the very area where
the whole Russian population winters. This is the first example of an arctic
 species adapting quite well to sub-arctic and temperate conditions!
The Mediterranean Gulls on the other hand feed exclusively inland on
intensely manured fields during their stay in Holland thus benefiting from industrial
pig-farming. 

>all pictures c Norman Deans van Swelm<

---

1-blackheadedgulls- 2-bonapartegulls- 3-mediterraneangulls- 4-littlegulls 5-franklin'sgulls

13 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus breeding amidst Black-headed Gulls 05052007 Tholen, The Netherlands

14 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 05052007 Tholen, The Netherlands

15 Barnacle Goose breeding 15052007 Haringvliet, The Netherlands

16 Barnacle Goose breeding 15052007 1 Haringvliet, The Netherlands

17 Barnacle Goose nest 15052007 Haringvliet, The Netherlands

18 Barnacle gosling 15052006 Haringvliet, The Netherlands

19 Barnacle gosling 15052006 1 Haringvliet, The Netherlands

20 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocehalus White 3L87 02012007 Fuengirola, Spain

21 Mediterranean Gull adult 03012007 Fuengirola, Spain

22 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus adult 03012007 Fuengirola, Spain

23 Mediterranean Gulls adult & 3CY 03012007 Fuengirola, Spain

24 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2CY 03012007 Fuengirola, Spain

25 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2CY Fuengirola, Spain

The Netherlands c Norman Deans van Swelm

The Netherlands c Norman Deans van Swelm

blackheaded gulls
1A	1B	1C	1D	1E	1F
12	24	36	48	61	67

To NEXT page 4    little gulls

Small gulls

12 jan 2012