Whilst staying at Sharma, on the Red Sea
coast of northwest Saudi Arabia, Euan Fergusson saw White-eyed Gull. This
species is almost entirely restricted to the Red Sea with most birds seen in
the Jizan area although they are also common in Jeddah. The White-eyed Gull is
mostly sedentary although it disperses from its breeding sites in the Red Sea
to occur throughout the Red Sea during the non-breeding season. There may also
be some southward and eastward movement during this time, when it is reported
to become scarce in the northern part of its range. Breeding takes place during
the months of June – September where it breeds in loose colonies, on inshore
islands, where it occupies bare rock and sand flats, and usually consists of
fewer than 25 pairs. During the non-breeding season it is usually found in
small groups, but sometimes forms flocks of hundreds or even thousands to
forage and often occurs further out to sea at this time. They eat mainly fish,
but also crustaceans, molluscs, annelids and offal.
