The Wild North: Audouin’s Gull
One of the key species I wanted to see on my first visit to Mallorca (after the Hoopoe of course), was one of the world’s rarest gulls – the resident Audouin’s Gull. This rare gull frequents the coastline of Mallorca, with strongholds in the south and north of the island. During the late 1960s this was one of the world’s rarest gulls with a population of a mere 1,000 pairs. With new colonies established it is faring better but still remains rare with a population of only 10,000 pairs. In fact, my first ever sighting was along a section of beach in Puerto Pollensa, where several were walking about on the sand. Many an occasion when sat outside Café 1919 by the harbour, I have delighted in watching the yellow-legged Gulls flying overhead, for that special Audouin’s mixed in. More on what makes this bird special and how to recognise it later, but first, I want to share one of (many) mishaps I have had over the years as a birdwatcher on Mallorca.
Puerto Pollensa © Neville Davies
The Audouin’s Gull is not afraid to venture close to people, and the beach along Puerto Pollensa is a reliable place to see them. Life for me occasionally has its mishaps, and if anyone is going to get themselves into a spot of unintentional bother, it is usually me. One example is when I got excited at having spotted my first potential Audouin’s Gull. I crossed the road so that the beach was now in front of me and set off to get a closer look. So here I am, with a pair of binoculars and a camera around my neck, shimmying past the sun worshippers, getting closer to the gull that is in an open area of beach but not too far away now. I started to take a few pictures in case it flew off. This theme continued for a little while, walk a bit closer, a quick photograph, a bit closer, another photograph. Soon enough I got that special magical and clear shot just before the bird took flight. I was overjoyed, I had got to see one of the rarest gulls there was, and not only that, but I had also got a very decent photograph for my troubles. On turning around however, I noticed that the female bathers had covered up, and their partners did not look happy. It then dawned on me that they had probably not even noticed the gull. When you have binoculars and a camera on a beach, no amount of explaining is going to convince anyone that your intentions were sincere. And so a long embarrassing walk back through the scowling sun lovers to the road ensued. The photo turned out to be excellent, so it was worth it.
As gulls go, this species has a gentler expression compared to the steely stare of the resident Yellow-legged Gull. There is something that little bit magical and characterful about Audouin’s, but don’t let the soft expression fool you, they can be quite aggressive when it comes to food or territorial disputes.
A large gull, it is restricted to the Mediterranean, the western coast of Saharan Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The genus name (Ichthyaetus audouinii) is from Ancient Greek, ‘ikhthus’ meaning ‘fish’, and ‘aetos’ meaning ‘eagle’. The specific ‘audouinni’ and the English name are after the French naturalist and ornithologist Jean Victoire Audouin.
Unlike many large gulls, surprisingly they are not scavengers but a specialist fish eater, often feeding at night and well out at sea, but also enjoying leisurely patrols close to beaches. They are particularly fond of Herrings, Anchovies and Sardines, readily available locally, and will happily rely on discarded food from fishing vessels. If need be they will also forage on land where they can catch small mammals and lizards along the coast.
I have seen them a bit further inland on occasion around the Can Curassa area perched up in the fields, possibly copying the Yellow-legged Gulls and taking earthworms? Interestingly, ringed birds have been recorded reaching an age of 21 years.
The feathers are predominantly white except for the pale-grey upper wings and black outer wings. They have delicate dark eyes and a diagnostic blood-red bill with a black and yellow tip. Their legs have a dark grey but almost greenish colour, and both sexes look identical. Juveniles have a dark-grey, brown plumage, a grey face and a black bill. Compared to other gulls species, Audouin’s have a more elongated, elegant figure with longer, narrower wings.
It is fair to say that the Audouin’s Gull is another bird that always catches my attention whenever I see one. Over the years I have taken many pictures for my collection. I do enjoy sitting around the harbour in Puerto Pollensa, watching them drift slowly past, almost silent, unlike the more vocal Yellow-legged Gulls.
While walking around the harbour admiring the boats, I also look out for Sandwich Terns and Shags perched up on the rocks in the bay, sometimes joined by the more common Cormorants. Of course a walk around the harbour can only end one way – another cup of coffee people watching, gull watching, sipping slowly away and letting the stresses of the world drift by on the gentle breeze.
Neville Davies Writer of The Wild North
Neville is the author of two books. One entitled The Eurasian Hoopoe the other, a field guide to Birds of Mallorca. Order on the links below. Or email [email protected].
