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Systematic list - part 5: Gulls, Terns, Doves and Pigeons

 

Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus (2)

Fine breeding-plumage adults at Granelli on 28th April and 3rd May.

Little Gull, Granelli, 3rd May

 

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii (6)

2 single birds flew past Capo Murro di Porco on 24th April, 3 at Vendicari on 28th April, 1 at Granelli on 29th April.

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Audouin's Gulls, Capo Murro di Porco, 24th April

 

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis (100+)

Smaller numbers than expected at several coastal locations. The only site holding more than a very few was Portopal– it looked like there was a colony on Isola Capo Passero.

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Yellow-legged Gulls, Portopalo di Capo Passero, 1st May

 

Little Tern Sternula albifrons (12+)

Small numbers seen at Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane, Vendicari and Granelli.

 

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (1)

1 at Granelli on 3rd May. A briefly-seen marsh tern there on 28th April was probably also this species.

 

Whiskered Tern, Granelli, 3rd May

 

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (2)

Singles at Granelli on 29th April and 3rd May.

 

Feral Pigeon Columba livia var. domesticus (500+)

Abundant and widespread.

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Feral Pigeons, near Capo Murro di Porco, 4th May and Siracusa (right), 4th May

 

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus (100+)

Much more common and widespread than I had expected – though not as numerous as at home they were far commoner here than I've ever found them anywhere else in southern Europe.

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Woodpigeon, Granelli, 1st May

 

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Woodpigeons, Capo Murro di Porco, 4th May

 

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto (>50)

Common and widespread. Leucistic birds seen at Capo Murro di Porco and Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane.

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Collared Doves, Valle di Templi, Agrigento, 27th April (left) and Capo Murro di Porco, 3rd May (right)

 

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (18)

After my first en route between Piazza Amerina and Agrigento on 27th April this species was found at numerous sites. Not sure if my lack of observations in the first few days (including the whole time I was at Etna) reflected the habitat or the timing of the arrival of the majority of migrants.

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Turtle Doves, Granelli (left) and near Cava Carosello (right), 3rd May

 

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