Mediterranean Gulls in Northern Ireland 2016

Mediterranean Gulls are a regular, but still fairly rare, sight in Northern Ireland. The species was only confirmed breeding in Ireland for the first time in 1995 and although breeding has occurred pretty much every year since, numbers of breeding pairs here has remained relatively low.

Med Gull at Larne Harbour, winter 2013

That first record was confirmed by RSPB staff at Blue Circle Island in Larne Lough, one of our study colonies. The colony of Mediterranean Gulls is now around five pairs, and as we've already posted, they seem to be doing well with at least seven young this year (see here).

In addition, there were two pairs at the RSPB reserve in Belfast Harbour which had at least three young between them.

Photo by Nigel Moore

Photo by Nigel Moore

Photo by Nigel Moore

Gareth also recorded a Mediterranean Gull nesting with a Common Gull at Antrim (see photos below), but unfortunately they failed. 

Med Gull with Common Gulls at Antrim in early May
Photo by Gareth Platt

Common Gull x Med Gull nesting at Antrim, late May
Photo by Gareth Platt

Common Gull x Med Gull nesting at Antrim, late May
Photo by Gareth Platt

It's not the first time a Med Gull has attempted to breed with another species and a few years ago, a hybrid Med x Black-headed Gull bred with a Black-headed Gull at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve (see here).

I'm sure there have been other pairs in Northern Ireland this year, perhaps on Strangford Lough. If anyone knows of any other breeding in NI in 2016, we'd be very interested in hearing from you, so please get in touch. 

Many thanks to Nigel Moore for the photos from Belfast Harbour and Gareth for the photos of the Med Gull x Common Gull pairing at Antrim.