Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
Status; International importance;
Population estimates; Distribution; Annual abundance/
productivity; Phenology/diet/survival
Description
The following was adapted from
original text by Matthew Parsons in
Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland (with
permission from A&C Black, London).
The Mediterranean gull is the most recent addition to the
species of seabirds breeding in the UK. Yet it is probably more
familiar to bird-watchers as a passage migrant and winter visitor,
since although it has increased as a breeding species in recent
decades its population in these islands numbered little more than
100 pairs during the Seabird 2000 census. By 2010 there
were over 600-700 nesting pairs, mostly on the south and
south-east coasts of England.
The range of the Mediterranean gull has expanded quite markedly
over the last 50 years. A westward expansion started in Hungary,
where it was breeding regularly by 1953, then into Germany and
Belgium during the 1960s and the Netherlands by 1970. Range
expansion also occurred in an eastward direction during the 1970s
and 1980s. The first breeding occurrence in Britain was in 1968, at
Needs Ore Point (Hampshire). Thereafter, a pair bred at Dungeness
(Kent), in 1979, increasing to two pairs by 1985. A site in north
Kent was colonised in 1983, which was later to become established
as one of the major colonies in England. Also during this period a
handful of other breeding attempts were made, including pairings
with black-headed gulls. The first breeding attempt in Northern
Ireland was in Antrim in 1995.
Conservation status
Mediterranean gull is currently identified as a conservation
priority in the following:
Amber listed in Birds
of Conservation Concern 3 (2009 update)
Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981 - protected under Schedule 1
EC Birds Directive -
listed in Annex 1
(further information on Conservation Designations for UK Taxa)
Amber listed in
Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland 2 (2007
update)
International importance
*AON = Apparently Occupied
Nests
The UK
population figure was derived from data in Mitchell, P.I.,
Newton, S.F., Ratcliffe, N. and Dunn, T.E. (eds.) 2004. Seabird Populations of
Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London.
This was also the source of figures for the Biogeographic and World
populations.
UK population estimates and change 1969-2002 (census data)
| |
Operation Seafarer
(1969-70)
|
Seabird Colony Register
(1985-88)
|
Seabird 2000
(1998-2002)
|
| UK Population estimate (AON*) |
0 |
1 |
110 |
| % change since previous census |
N/a |
N/a |
+11,000 |
*AON = Apparently Occupied Nests
For census results for individual countries and Ireland, the
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man see under relevant
sections below.
Distribution/abundance
The Seabird
2000 census provides the most comprehensive recent
assessment of the distribution and abundance of breeding seabirds.
Numbers of Mediterranean gull found in different regions,
and a map showing where colonies are found and how large they are
is provided in the Seabird 2000 Mediterranean
gull results page (PDF, 1.0 mb).
An
interactive map is available on the NBN Gateway, where you can
filter to display only the Seabird 2000 data. For more
recent, but less comprehensive, coverage view the distribution on
the NBN with all available contributing datasets
The locations sampled during the annual
Seabird Monitoring Programme provide some information on
distribution and are accessible via the Seabird Monitoring Programme
online database.
Annual abundance and productivity by geographical
area
Breeding abundance
Mediterranean gull is the most recent addition to the breeding
seabird fauna of the British Isles. The species first bred in the
UK in 1968 and numbers remained very low until the late 1980s. The
Seabird 2000 census recorded 110 pairs. Today there are about
500-600 pairs, mostly in south and south-east England (SMP
database). The colonisation of the UK was a result of the expansion
in population size and range from the species’ core population
around the Black Sea and into other European countries in the 1950s
and 1960s1. There is no
evidence that the colonisation or increase is related to climate
change. Predictions of increased storminess due to climate
change may increase the incidence of tidal inundation of
nests, potentially affecting reproductive output, but there is much
uncertainty about how this and predicted increases in sea level
will affect the population size of this and other species that nest
close to the tide’s edge.
Productivity
Relatively few data on productivity are
available, but in recent years, the larger colonies have
experienced fairly high success.
This species does not breed in Scotland.
Population estimates and change 1969-2002 (census data)
| |
Operation Seafarer
(1969-70)
|
Seabird Colony Register
(1985-88)
|
Seabird 2000
(1998-2002)
|
| Population estimate (AON*) |
0 |
1 |
108 |
| % change since previous
census |
N/a |
N/a |
+10,700 |
* AON = Apparently Occupied Nests
Breeding Abundance
The Seabird Colony Register recorded only one pair of
Mediterranean gulls breeding in England.
Although breeding was first confirmed in 1968 in
Hampshire, nesting was sporadic until the late 1980s. Thereafter
colonisation spread along a frontline across southern and
south-east England so that by Seabird 2000 there were 108 pairs
nesting, some as far north as Lancashire and West Yorkshire
although the main population was still centred in the south. The
increase has continued apace such that by 2010 over 600 pairs
were reported to the SMP, with about 67% of these at just one
site. However, data are not received from all sites
each year so it is possible that the current population may be
edging toward 700 pairs.
Productivity
Little systematic productivity data have been collected for
Mediterranean gull in England as part of the SMP.
This species does not breed in Wales.
Population estimates and change 1969-2002 (census data)
| |
Operation Seafarer
(1969-70)
|
Seabird Colony Register
(1985-88)
|
Seabird 2000
(1998-2002)
|
| Population estimate (AON*) |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| % change since previous
census |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
* AON = Apparently Occupied Nests
Breeding Abundance
Mediterranean gull is a recent colonist in Northern Ireland
with the first breeding record occurring in County Antrim in 1995.
At the time of Seabird 2000 two pairs were known. Numbers have
changed little since then although reports are not received from
all sites each year.
Productivity
Few systematic productivity data have been collected for
Mediterranean gull in Northern Ireland as part of the SMP.
Population estimates and change 1969-2002 (census data)
| |
Operation Seafarer
(1969-70)
|
Seabird Colony Register
(1985-88)
|
Seabird 2000
(1998-2002)
|
| Population estimate (AON*) |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| % change since previous
census |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
* AON = Apparently Occupied Nests
Breeding Abundance
The first breeding record for the Republic of Ireland occurred
in 1996 when a pair was found at a site in County Wexford. By
the time of Seabird 2000 three pairs were known. Further
increase has occurred since then; at least six pairs were known in
2005, but reports are not received from all sites each
year.
Productivity
Little systematic productivity data have been collected for
Mediterranean gull in the Republic of Ireland as part of
the SMP.
Population estimates and change 1969-2002 (census data)
| |
Operation Seafarer
(1969-70)
|
Seabird Colony Register
(1985-88)
|
Seabird 2000
(1998-2002)
|
| Population estimate (AON*) |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| % change since previous
census |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
* AON = Apparently Occupied Nests
Breeding Abundance
Mediterranean gull colonised Ireland in the mid 1990s, breeding
first occurring in Northern Ireland in 1995 and the Republic of
Ireland in 1996. The population increased slowly with five
pairs counted during Seabird 2000. Further increase has
certainly occurred since then with at least nine pairs present at
sites in 2005. However, reports are not received from all
sites each year making it difficult to ascertain the exact
population at present.
Productivity
Little systematic productivity data have been collected for
Mediterranean gull throughout Ireland as part of the
SMP.
This species does not breed on the Isle of
Man.
This species does not breed on the Channel
Islands.
UK phenology, diet, survival rates
No data have been collected as part of the Seabird Monitoring
Programme.
References
1 Parsons, M. 2004. Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus. In:
Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S.F., Ratcliffe, N.
and Dunn, T.E. (eds.) 2004. Seabird
Populations of Britain and Ireland:187-195.
Poyser, London.
Partners
Data have been provided to the SMP by the generous contributions
of its partners, other organisations and volunteers throughout
Britain and Ireland. Partners to the SMP are: BirdWatch Ireland;
The British Trust for Ornithology; Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology; Countryside Council for Wales; Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Isle of Man); Department of
Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Republic of Ireland);
States of Guernsey Government; JNCC; Manx Birdlife; Manx National
Heritage; The National Trust; National Trust for Scotland; Natural
England; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; The Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds; Scottish Natural Heritage; Seabird Group;
Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group; Scottish
Wildlife Trust. More about the SMP partners >>
Image of Mediterranean gull appears courtesy
of Ian Rendall ©, is subject to
international copyright law and may not be reproduced in any form
whatsoever.