SEASONAL PATTERNS OF ABUNDANCE OF KELP GULLS LARUS-DOMINICANUS AT BREEDING AND NON-BREEDING LOCALITIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

At Malgas Island, Western Cape Province, South Africa, active nest sit es of Kelp Gulls were recorded from August to February, but mainly bet ween October and December with a peak in November. In August and Septe mber all active sites were recently-made scrapes without eggs or chick s. Eggs were found from early October until January and chicks from la te October to early February. At Dassen Island, Western Cape Province, numbers of adult Kelp Gulls are highest during the main October-Decem ber breeding season. After breeding, adults disperse from the island, with only 4% remaining by May. First-year birds were observed at Dasse n Island from February to July, with mean numbers decreasing after Apr il. At De Hoop, Western Cape Province, numbers of Kelp Gulls were also highest during the breeding season, but the decrease in the non-breed ing season was less marked. Near Walvis Bay, central Namibia, at a non -breeding site, numbers of Kelp Gulls were highest outside the breedin g season, indicating dispersal of birds away from colonies after compl etion of breeding.