After the spectacle in June at Noordwijk aan Zee (see blog posts) we were happy to learn that more sand suppletion activities were going to take place just a few kilometers south at the beach of Katwijk aan Zee, very near to where I live. What’s more, the activities will take place until the end of March 2014 (!). Needless to say we are eager to see what gulls it will bring us this winter.
This week, the activities started and tonight I had my first opportunity to go over there to have a look.
Types of gull present are: Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and possibly Mediterranean Gull.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
German-ringed Caspian Gull
Within minutes of scanning the large group I had my first major sighting: a first-calendar year Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans wearing a Green color ring originating from Germany.
First-calendar year Caspian Gull (seen here long-calling in characteristic albatros posture) ringed as Green XMDK. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Unfortunately he was at quite a distance away. Hopefully I will be able to take more photos of him this weekend at a closer range.
More impressions
Thousands of gulls on the beach: a beautiful sight!
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Gull behavior
The main area where the gulls are resting is a few hundred meters to the north of where the activities are taking place. I found it interesting to see the gulls moving from one location to the other in a group formation and following the row of houses along the boulevard.
Gull movement up the beach. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.
Expect more posts about Katwijk to follow over the coming months! 😉
Gulls to the Horizon 
In your second video, I think that your gulls are making use of ridge lift from the wind blowing against those houses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridge_lift
Yeah, that must be it. There was quite a bit of wind at the time.
Intelligent birds and very nice to witness.
Have you ever seen them riding the slipstream of a ship? When it looks like they’re just flying after it – and then you notice that they’re easily keeping pace with the ship, but only occasionally flapping their wings?