BLACK TAILED GODWIT + BAR TAILED GODWIT (on right) Juveniles Limosa limosa + Limosa lapponica Gormanston Beach, Co. Meath, Ireland

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) adult on 03/08/2012 in winter plumage, colour ringed (Green 542) and has a very interesting history as follows; ringed as a nestling at Les Pas-de-Calais, France on 17/06/2008, observed at Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15/10/2008, observed at Doelpolder Noord, Doel, Belguim on 12/06/2010, observed at Oostwold, Groningen, Netherlands on 08/07/2011, photographed at Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland on 03/08/2012, observed at Weymouth, Dorset, England on 26/11/13

 

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

RED KNOT (Juvenile) Calidris canutus Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co Meath, Ireland

 

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LITTLE STINT (Juvenile) (Calidris minuta) Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co Meath, Ireland

 

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In Ireland, the Little Stint (Calidris minuta) is a uncommon spring and a scarce autumn  passage migrant  which breeds in the Arctic and winters in sub Saharan Africa

SANDERLING (Calidris alba) juvenile at Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

 

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   The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Calidris. It breeds in the Arctic tundra regions of North America and Asia. This small shorebird winters on the coastal beaches of southern North America, South America, Western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. It also occurs as a spring and autumn passage migrant at inland locations.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 2nd winter or 3rd year plumage at Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

ROSEATE TERN (Juvenile) (Sterna dougallii) Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

 

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In Europe, the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a rare summer visitor which breeds in a small number of coastal colonies and spends the winter in West Africa