Below are some of my favourite images that I took during the 2018 season at the IJmuiden Forteiland gull colony, the Netherlands.
It has been a good season, for the gulls and for us as the research team.
Although a long heat wave unfortunately resulted in the death of many young gulls, it also meant that many of them ended up as the only chick of the family and were therefore fed well by both parents. The overall breeding success was therefore not affected too much.
The good weather also meant that we were able to reach our yearly target of colour ringing 100 gulls, roughly equally divided between adults and juveniles.
My thanks go out to Fred en José again for letting me be part of the team for another year!
Lesser Black-backed Gull YACP interacting with its female partner, April 2018:
Herring Gull YBAK showing an (almost complete) Thayeri-pattern on P9 in the left wing, April 2018:
Herring Gull YBRB, April 2018:
Lesser Black-backed Gull YCHT, May 2018:
(Presumed) Hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Yellow-legged Gull YBAM, May 2018:
Herring Gull YCNS, April 2018:
(Presumed) Hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Yellow-legged Gull YBVA, June 2018:
(Presumed) Hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Yellow-legged Gull YCRK, June 2018:
(For more images, see 1CY Hybrid Gull LBBG x YLG Green YCRK – June and July 2018.)
Lesser Black-backed Gulls trying to get the fish off of a Herring Gull, June 2018:
Herring Gull YACB, June 2018:
Herring Gull YCKD with its only chick, June 2018:
Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks, June 2018:
Lesser Black-backed Gull chick, June 2018:
Herring Gull YCKZ, July 2018:
Herring Gull YCKD, July 2018:
Herring Gull YBPT, July 2018:
Lesser Black-backed Gull YCSP, July 2018:
Gulls to the Horizon 