Raftopoula – A seagull colony

On the east shore of Attica, in the bay of Porto Rafti, there are five uninhabited islets.  One of the five is Raftopoula. 

Approaching Raftopoula from the west.

Seagulls in this region of the world have chosen Raftopoula as their nesting ground.  Gulls nest in large, densely packed noisy colonies returning to the same site after breeding there once.  Careful inspection of the picture depicts 12 gulls.

Seagulls lay two or three speckled eggs.  Both male and female gulls incubate the eggs for a little longer than 3 weeks.  

Young chicks are brooded by their parents for about two weeks, and at least one parent remains with them, until they are ready to fly, to guard them. Both parents feed the chicks, although early on in the rearing period the male does most of the feeding and the female most of the brooding and guarding.

The young gulls have dark mottled feathers. 

Gulls are monogamous displaying fidelity that lasts for the life of the pair. 

Seagulls sweeping over the wine dark sea pass over our trim red and yellow monohull.  In the background the island of Eboea and adjoining islets are visible. 

On the way back a mask of clouds drifted over the sun. Alecos, who was the captain and photographer of our expedition, and I, once again worked our oars while the evening chorus of the seagulls drowned the oars’ splashing swishing….