Grote Mantelmeeuw Larus marinus als nieuwe broedvogel in België

In 2004, a Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus nested in the outer harbour of Zeebrugge, Belgium. It concerned a single female that produced a 3-egg clutch. As she had no partner and had to leave the nest unattended whilst foraging, the eggs were predated about a week after the completion of the clutch. About two weeks later she made a second attempt but again the nest was predated after the first egg was laid. This is the first time that breeding has occurred in Belgium, although it has been claimed that there was already a successful breeding attempt in 2002. This breeding attempt should be seen in the context of the increasing number of breeding records along the sandy coasts of Northern France, the Netherlands, Germany, Western Denmark and Eastern England at the end of the twentieth century.