Onverwachte prooien van Stormmeeuw Larus canus op volle zee

A Common Gull on deck on the fisheries research vessel Tridens on 17 July 1995 produced 2 pellets which could he collected and analysed. At the time, the ship sailed approximately 120 km away from the coast in the Dogger Bank area. The two pellets contained remains of 103 hoverflies, 71 of which were identified as Episyrphus balteatus, four as Scaeva pyrasti, and 20 as other representatives of the genus Episyrphus. One of the pellets contained the unidentified remains of two beetles Coleoptera spp. The 17th of July followed a prolonged period with easterly and southeasterly winds. Many insects were observed around the ship at great distances from land, including frequent sightings of Episyrphus balteatus.