Gulls

[Johnrgby]

We have lived in a couple of coastal locations in The UK, where gulls are a major pest, even when we lived in Cheltenham because of the proximity of The Severn they were a pest there, here, at least in Caleta I see very few gulls anywhere, except at this time of year when  there are flocks of them all heading North up to as many as 50/60 birds at a time go over our house, now I am aware that some species of gull are migratory, so it is not surprising, however I never/rarely see any heading South, anyone any thoughts on where they go to?

[MLA]

This doesn't answer your question John, but thought it might be of interest:

http://www.realbirder.com/FuerteventuraSpeciesList.htm

https://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/...gulls.html

[Johnrgby]

This doesn't answer your question John, but thought it might be of interest:

http://www.realbirder.com/FuerteventuraSpeciesList.htm

https://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/...gulls.html

Indeed, many thanks, Martin.

[Gone Fishing]

We have lived in a couple of coastal locations in The UK, where gulls are a major pest, even when we lived in Cheltenham because of the proximity of The Severn they were a pest there, here, at least in Caleta I see very few gulls anywhere, except at this time of year when  there are flocks of them all heading North up to as many as 50/60 birds at a time go over our house, now I am aware that some species of gull are migratory, so it is not surprising, however I never/rarely see any heading South, anyone any thoughts on where they go to?

Perhaps they all like Cheltenham so much when they get there that they can't be bothered to fly South again ?

I've notice a similar thing with swallows in the spring - hardly ever see them return in the autumn.

They may well take a different return route due to the direction of prevailing winds.
The Straights of Gibraltar is a favoured crossing point for many migrating birds in the Autumn, so could be that the return leg is over Morroco, then down on through Mauritania, The Gambia etc.

[Johnrgby]

We have lived in a couple of coastal locations in The UK, where gulls are a major pest, even when we lived in Cheltenham because of the proximity of The Severn they were a pest there, here, at least in Caleta I see very few gulls anywhere, except at this time of year when there are flocks of them all heading North up to as many as 50/60 birds at a time go over our house, now I am aware that some species of gull are migratory, so it is not surprising, however I never/rarely see any heading South, anyone any thoughts on where they go to?

Perhaps they all like Cheltenham so much when they get there that they can't be bothered to fly South again ?

I've notice a similar thing with swallows in the spring - hardly ever see them return in the autumn.

They may well take a different return route due to the direction of prevailing winds.
The Straights of Gibraltar is a favoured crossing point for many migrating birds in the Autumn, so could be that the return leg is over Morroco, then down on through Mauritania, The Gambia etc.

While Cheltenham is a nice town and a very nice place to live, If I were a gull { "which I thank the lord I,m not Sir" } I would avoid it like the plague as they have a small team of people searching for and destroying Gull eggs