A szerecsensirály (Larus melanocephalus) Balatonkörnyéki előfordulásai és első Somogy megyei fészkelése az Irmapusztai-halastavakon

The first nesting of Mediterranean Gull was observed in 1940 in Hungary. Since then the species has been spreading in several areas of the country. Until the new millennium only a few observations have been recorded at Lake Balaton. In this paper we analyse 67 observation data of 91 individuals between 2004 and 2014. The species is typically observed between July and November, mainly on the south shore of the lake. Up to present only 4 recoveries were made, one bird from Ukraine and 3 birds from Hungary. Thus, Lake Balaton presumably play less important role in the migration of Mediterranean Gull. However, the number of recovery data also depends on the effectiveness of detection. Formerly only a few nestings were noted in the Kis-Balaton, while the first breeding pair in Somogy County was found in 2014 on the Fishponds of Irmapuszta at Balatonlelle

Geolocator study reveals east African migration route of Central European Common Terns

Abstract Background The majority of European Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) migrate south along the western coast of Europe and Africa, while birds from eastern regions are known to cross the Mediterranean Sea from east to west or migrate along the eastern African coast. The migration route of north European terns wintering along the coast of western Africa was already described using geolocator data, while knowledge about movements of the European inland populations is based only on relatively scarce recoveries of ringed birds. Methods We used light-level geolocators in inland Common Tern colonies in Hungary and Croatia to study their migration route and to identify wintering areas along with stopover sites. Results revealed by geolocators were compared with recoveries of ringed birds. Results All tracked birds used the east African migration route with autumn stopovers at Lower Nile and in the southern part of the Red Sea, and short spring stopover in Israel. Terns wintered along Kenyan coasts and in the southern Mozambique Channel. Autumn migration lasted four times longer than spring migration. Conclusions This is the first geolocator study that describes the east African migration route of the Common Tern. Important stopover sites were identified. More studies of inland populations are needed to better elucidate tern winter movements