Caspian Gull colony at Lelystad, The Netherlands

[Albert de Jong]

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....

View on the westside of the southern groyne.

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ASpoonbills are also breeding here.

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Pair of Herring Gulls argenteus (unringed)

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Herring Gull orange P4, from Roland-Jan Buijs

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Herring Gull blue RV, a Dutch one from Roland-Jan Buijs

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Lesser Black-Backed Gull graellssi green BN, from Roland-Jan Buijs

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Lesser Black-backed Gull red RL from Roland-Jan Buijs

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LBBG yellow RG, also a Dutch one from RJ Buijs

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Same bird: LBBG yellow RG

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[Albert de Jong]

And now what I really came for: the Caspians. Sorry for the wrong codes below.

Pair 1 - female green XLDT and partner unringed

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Pair 1 - female green XLDT

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Pair 1 - female green XLDT in flight

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Pair 2 - At left a giant male Caspian, at right a possible YLG

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Pair 3 and pair 4 - in front an unread yellow-ringed male and at the top an unringed female with male yPESV (male partner)

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PSEV (male) flying off from partner

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PSEV

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Pair 5: large male Caspian (unringed) with female Herring Gull argenteus

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Pair 5 - male

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Pair 5 - again male

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Pair 6 - perhaps not fully adult yet. At northern groyne

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Pair 7 - at northern groyne

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Pair 7 - single bird

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Pair 7 - single bird flying off

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Single bird, subadult female

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Single bird, subadult female (the same as above)

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[JanJ]

Thanks Albert for the observations and great images!

JanJ

[Albert de Jong]

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.