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| Adult Mediterranean Gull with Black Headed Gull behind |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull, Shore Road, Buckhaven |
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| Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Invergowrie Bay |
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| Moulting Mediterranean Gull, Buckhaven |
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| Moulting Mediterranean Gull, Buckhaven |
When you hear the word "Mediterranean" you probably think of crystal clear blue skies, turquoise waters and sandy beaches and warm sunshine. Maybe some bikini-clad tourists enjoying the sunshine. When you add the word "Gull" you probably aren't transported in your mind to Fife. However, Mediterranean Gull and Fife go together rather well. Buckhaven in Fife in particular, and one street - Shore Road, to be very precise.
I have no idea what brings these birds from mainland Europe time and time again to a grassy area by the shore, sandwiched between a residential area and the Firth of Forth, with a childrens' play area close by. They mingle freely with the other gulls in small numbers, allowing close comparison with the Black Headed Gulls which are the most likely source of confusion. Side by side however confusion is limited. Black Headed Gulls in summer plumage have chocolate coloured hoods. On Med Gulls it is black. On Black Headed Gulls this hood curves upwards behind the eye, leaving the back of the head white. On Med Gull adults the black hood goes straight across, giving the impression (to me anyway) that the bird is wearing a polo neck jersey. The bill is much broader on Mediterranean Gull, more Common Gull bill shaped than the much finer Black Headed. It is also a more orangey-red in colour. The other feature to look out for on adult birds is the lack of black on the wingtips. Younger birds do have varying amounts of black but are still quite easy to tell apart from Black Headed Gulls.
I have never seen a juvenile Med Gull at Buckhaven, but I did find, and correctly ID one, on my own patch in Dundee in 2012. A single was by the burn and outflow pipe in Invergowrie Bay with other gulls in front of the hide. It looked like a very clean and sharply marked juvenile Common Gull, and stood out from the other birds as something different. Photos confirmed the identification when I got home.
Usually outside the breeding season there is a decent chance of seeing at least one Mediterranean Gull at Buckhaven, with small groups of 2 or 3 fairly common. Double figure sized groups have also been seen from time to time in recent years and there does appear to be a gradual increase in the frequency of sightings. Sometimes the birds are ringed, but I haven't managed to read anything off these rings as they tend to be hidden among the grass.
In Angus, Arbroath waterfront around Gayfield football ground is the most reliable site for Med Gull, but it is worth looking through any gull flock for something different. At different times of year, Iceland, Glaucous or Little Gull are all possible, with other rarer species also capable of turning up anywhere. Not all species are as easy as Med Gulls to ID, but it is always a good idea to get photos, if possible, of any "interesting looking" birds, and check later, if you can't ID it at the time.