Ring-billed Gulls at Praia da Vitoria, Terceira, the Azores

The story of the Ring-billed Gulls on the Azores and across the Western Palearctic is told in Josh Jones' article, 'The Rise and Fall of Ring-billed Gull HERE. An extract from that article reads:

"Given its geographical position, it is no great surprise that the Azores has traditionally produced the highest counts of Ring-billed Gull within the Western Palearctic. While a small number of new vagrants appears across the archipelago each year, Terceira Island is unique in that it has traditionally attracted a sizeable wintering flock. Data prior to the turn of the century is scant, although maximum counts since then include 56 in February 2001, 33 in 2003, 25 in 2004, 46 in 2005 and 26 in 2007.

What is telling is the gradual but nonetheless noticeable drop from 2005 onward. While the flock still regularly peaked in the low twenties in the late 2000s and early 2010s (for example, 23 on 22 February 2011), such figures have grown increasingly scarce as the 2010s have progressed. Twenty-two were tallied on 16 February 2014, but nothing has come close since. Winter 2017-18 produced a maximum of 12 birds, including just two first-winters (the rest adults), with early 2019 counts peaking at 14. Therefore, though a sizeable wintering population still remains, the story is a familiar one to that encountered across mainland Europe – a diminishing number of individuals and an ageing population among those returning birds"

This year I could only find 10 birds at the usual pre-roost site on the beach at Praia da Vitoria although there were reports of up to 13 birds earlier in the winter, so it seems like this unique small wintering population is hanging in there. The population this year comprised 6 adults and 4 first-winters indicating renewal of the population.  It would be fascinating to know where these birds spend the rest of the year. 

Adult Ring-billed Gulls (above) 

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, bird #1 (above and with a first-winter Common Gull below). A distinctive bird with rather plain greater coverts. 

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, bird #2 (a more typical plumage with mottled coverts with some greater coverts also moulted. Common Gulls on similar age tend to not moult their greater coverts) 

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, bird #3.  This individual had a relatively dark bill. 

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, bird # 4 

First cycle Ring-billed Gull (#3) showing the distinctive mid-underwing pale panel

First-winter Ring-billed Gull (#1) in flight

Adult Common Gull. There were four Common Gulls on the beach and also up to 12 Mediterranean Gull and a hybrid Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull (pictured again below) in the local area this year. Both Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull have been increasing on the Azores over the last couple of decades as Ring-billed Gulls have decreased which may indicate a change in the source populations. More photos of the other Common Gulls on the Beach HERE all of which were confirmed as nominate canus with reference to Peter Adriaens et al, Gulls of Europe.  

Ring-billed Gulls and first-winter Mediterranean Gull on Praia da Vitoria Beach