Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

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Albert de Jong
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Joined:Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:53 am
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Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

Post by Albert de Jong » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:03 pm

At the yacht harbour of Lelystad, Markermeer Lake, The Netherlands, a colony of LBBG and HG is situated on two groynes. Both species are monitored by aerial survveys (governemental department Rijkswaterstaat). LBBG is dominating the colony, with up to 200 pairs in recent years. HG has a couple of tens of pairs. Spoonbills are also breeding here.

From 2015 on, some Caspian Gulls were also seen in the colony. Breeding was confirmed for the first time in 2016: 3 pairs (Herman Bouman, Merijn Loeve, Albert de Jong). In 2017 at least 1 and in 2018 at least 3 pairs were found (D. Doodeman, A. de Jong). These numbers came mostly from observations from vantage points on the dike and are likely to be underestimations. Caspian Gulls in this colony can be best counted from a boat by identifying pairs, photographing them and perhaps finding nests.

Today at 30 March 2019 I did a first visit with the canoe and was surprised by the number of Caspians I had. But first somse other birds....
Kolonie_meeuwen_Lelystad_2019_3_30.jpg
View on the westside of the southern groyne.
Kolonie_meeuwen_Lelystad_2019_3_30.jpg (76.3KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Lepelaar_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_AlbertdeJong.jpg
ASpoonbills are also breeding here.
Lepelaar_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_AlbertdeJong.jpg (148.82KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_paar_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Pair of Herring Gulls argenteus (unringed)
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_paar_AlbertdeJong.jpg (137.8KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_oP4_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Herring Gull orange P4, from Roland-Jan Buijs
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_oP4_AlbertdeJong.jpg (86.39KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_bRV_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Herring Gull blue RV, a Dutch one from Roland-Jan Buijs
Zilvermeeuw_argenteus_ad_2019_3_30_Lelystad_kolonie_bRV_AlbertdeJong.jpg (129.91KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_gBN_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Lesser Black-Backed Gull graellssi green BN, from Roland-Jan Buijs
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_gBN_AlbertdeJong.jpg (87.55KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_rRL_ensubadult_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Lesser Black-backed Gull red RL from Roland-Jan Buijs
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_rRL_ensubadult_AlbertdeJong.jpg (95.51KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_yRG_AlbertdeJong.jpg
LBBG yellow RG, also a Dutch one from RJ Buijs
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_yRG_AlbertdeJong.jpg (155.31KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_yRG_vliegend_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Same bird: LBBG yellow RG
Kleine mantelmeeuw_ad_2019_30_3_Lelystad_yRG_vliegend_AlbertdeJong.jpg (42.95KiB)Viewed 5556 times
Last edited by Albert de Jong on Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:45 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Albert de Jong
Posts:48
Joined:Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:53 am
Location:The Netherlands
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Re: Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

Post by Albert de Jong » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:11 pm

And now what I really came for: the Caspians. Sorry for the wrong codes below.
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_partner_AlbertdeJong2.jpg
Pair 1 - female green XLDT and partner unringed
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_partner_AlbertdeJong2.jpg (187.25KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Pair 1 - female green XLDT
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_AlbertdeJong.jpg (189.57KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_AlbertdeJong2.jpg
Pair 1 - female green XLDT in flight
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair1_Lelystad_XLDTfemale_AlbertdeJong2.jpg (56.52KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair2_man_metwssMicha_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Pair 2 - At left a giant male Caspian, at right a possible YLG
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair2_man_metwssMicha_AlbertdeJong.jpg (182.44KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair3and4_Lelystad_geelvooraan_PSEVenpartnerachteraan_AlbertdeJong1.jpg
Pair 3 and pair 4 - in front an unread yellow-ringed male and at the top an unringed female with male yPESV (male partner)
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair3and4_Lelystad_geelvooraan_PSEVenpartnerachteraan_AlbertdeJong1.jpg (333.59KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair4_Lelystad_geelPSEVvliegtenpartner_AlbertdeJong1.jpg
PSEV (male) flying off from partner
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair4_Lelystad_geelPSEVvliegtenpartner_AlbertdeJong1.jpg (143.19KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair4_Lelystad_mangeelPSEV_AlbertdeJong.jpg
PSEV
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair4_Lelystad_mangeelPSEV_AlbertdeJong.jpg (76KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong1.jpg
Pair 5: large male Caspian (unringed) with female Herring Gull argenteus
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong1.jpg (91.44KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong2.jpg
Pair 5 - male
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong2.jpg (48.94KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong3.jpg
Pair 5 - again male
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair5_Lelystad_gepaardmetZilver_AlbertdeJong3.jpg (121.5KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair6_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Pair 6 - perhaps not fully adult yet. At northern groyne
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair6_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong.jpg (228.63KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Pair 7 - at northern groyne
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong.jpg (132.67KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong2.jpg
Pair 7 - single bird
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong2.jpg (198.41KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong3.jpg
Pair 7 - single bird flying off
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_pair7_Lelystad_AlbertdeJong3.jpg (80.93KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_subadult_vrouw_AlbertdeJong.jpg
Single bird, subadult female
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_subadult_vrouw_AlbertdeJong.jpg (123.69KiB)Viewed 5555 times
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_subadult_vrouw_AlbertdeJong2.jpg
Single bird, subadult female (the same as above)
PontischeMeeuw_cachinnans_2019_3_30_subadult_vrouw_AlbertdeJong2.jpg (47.06KiB)Viewed 5555 times

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JanJ
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Re: Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

Post by JanJ » Wed Apr 03, 2019 1:54 pm

Thanks Albert for the observations and great images!

JanJ

Albert de Jong
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Re: Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

Post by Albert de Jong » Sat May 04, 2019 4:57 pm

May 1st I visited the colony again and found 10 nest locations of pairs of seemingly pure Caspians. At 6 of it, I was able to have a quick look in the nest. They all contained 3 eggs, of which one clutch was already hatched. Concluding from that, the Caspians are at least 3 weeks earlier breeding than most other gulls here.

Besides the 10 nests, it looked like the unringed monstrous male Caspian paired with a Herring Gull was not nesting yet.
Attachments
Nest3_2019_ongeringd_cachinnans_klein.jpg
Unringed pair - nest 3
Nest3_2019_ongeringd_cachinnans_klein.jpg (195.28KiB)Viewed 5405 times
Nest7_PNED_afvliegend_2019_cachinnans_klein.jpg
Yellow PNED flying off the nest
Nest7_PNED_afvliegend_2019_cachinnans_klein.jpg (203.95KiB)Viewed 5405 times
Nest10_2019_cachinnans_dame_ongeringd_klein.jpg
Breeding female cachinnans - nest 10
Nest10_2019_cachinnans_dame_ongeringd_klein.jpg (143.53KiB)Viewed 5405 times

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