Before I went to France, I went to the experts for advice on birding both Deauville and Paris. Charlie (of 10000 Birds fame) was kind enough to get information for me from a colleague of his who knew the area. So, I packed up my binoculars, camera, and other birding tools, and headed out the door for this new adventure.
Only to arrive and find that I’d left Birds of Europe sitting at home next to where the suitcases used to be. As it turns out, I ended up without much birding time at all, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. I did see gulls, sparrows, crows, mallards, and the ubiquitous rock pigeon.
Let’s start with the gulls. I’m not strong on gull ID, so all y’all feel free to jump in with comments.
Am I correct that these are all Mediterranean Gulls?
Update
Bad news: my ID stinks. Everyone else, with lots more experience than I have, agrees it’s a black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus
Good news: Lifer!
Update #2
Not a lifer, after all. It turns out I saw a black-headed gull in Ireland in 1998. Oh well.
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“I have no idea what you would call those in French”
Me neither
Anyway, we finally agreed on is ID and I guess this is where using “latin name” of bird can be useful for an international audience as your website is now.
Gwen, I thought about both Black-headed but finally leaned toward mediterranean. I seem to be outvoted, however, by people who are more experienced than I.
Olivier, You agree with Gwen. Larus ridibundus is Black-headed gull in English, even though that isn’t a translation of the name in French. What we call Laughing Gull in the US is Larus atricilla. I have no idea what you would call those in French.
Unless my eyes are cheating those gulls are ( in french sorry) “mouette rieuses” ‘Larus ridibundus’ Not sure their english name … maybe Laughing Gull?
Hope that help
Looking at the ear mark, I think they are Black-headed gulls. Meds have a more greyish mask in winter.
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